FIJI AND THE HINDOO COOLIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 7

FIJI AND THE HINDOO COOLIE.

In the House of Representatives, Melbourne, on August 22, attention was called to the increase of Indian coolies in Fiji, as likely to become a menace to the Commonwealth. Regarding this matter, the Fiji Times, of August 25, says:" We supposethe Federal Prime Minister of Australia cannot help any one of the members of the Commonwealth House of Representatives directing his attention to the increase 'in the importation of the Indian coolie to Fiji's shores—as if the Hon. Premier was not already aware of it; but he may readily be excused for ambiguity in refusing to be drawn upon the point or to admit that the increase was likely to become a menace to the Commonwealth. We are certainly at a loss to comprehend how Fiji's enterprise, in stocking the country with agricultural labourers can in any way affect Australia, or how by any possible reasoning it can at any time, now- or hereafter, become a menace to it. In introducing the Hindoo in increasing numbers. Fiji is merely doing what most other people of the British, connection would do under similar circumstances. The aboriginals— natural tillers of the . soil(as most • well-informed people are aware) are rapidly passing, and without the introduction of some other distinctive race or races to supplant the expiring one, Fiji would become a howling wilderness. What more natural than that the resident British colonist, to prevent such a calamity overtaking the country. should turn his eyes to the teeming millimis of British fellow subjects in India, and encourage their introduction into Fiji. -