THE STRIKE IN FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17754, 13 April 1921, Page 7

THE STRIKE IN FIJI.

DEPORTATION OF LEADER.

AN ABORTIVE COMMISSION.

[from our own correspondent.] SUVA (Fiji), April 3. The Indians are still on strike, and everything is quiet. A staggering blow was struck at the non-co-opbrator agitators by the quiet arrest of the Sadhu, the head leader, while he was travelling round the Tailevu or Ra Coast on foot on his way to stir up trouble in Nausori and. Suva and Navua. The arrest was kept a •close secret and after the steamer Atua left the wharf for Sydney, the Sadhu (Bashishth Muni) was quietly placed on board, and was gone before any Indian knew what had happened. His going will greatly help to bring about a return to work, as the present trouble was solely due to his activity and priestly influence. The commission appointed by the Government to inquire into the grievances of the Indians has been, withdrawn, having entirely failed. First the planters refused to attend it unless the Indians first returned to work. Then the Government undismayed decided to go on and hear the case for the Indians, but to the general a-stonishment, the Indians refused to attend also, without givisg a reason. So the two parties, employers and employees, are standing idle waiting for something to happen. It is possible the Colonial Sugar Refining Company may have no crushing this year on the north and west coasts. The planters now want Chinese labour and to send the Indians to India, which would be-the best thing for Fiji. Cabled advice to-day says that the steamer Ganges has left Calcutta for Suva with 504 returning Indians on board, who found India a very much worse place than Fiji and their return will make a very great change of opinion among the coolies, most of whom do not know when they are well off.