INDIANS IN FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18040, 15 March 1922, Page 9

INDIANS IN FIJI.

PROPOSED SETTLEMENT. USD FOR 60,000 SOLDIERS. ffATTTES AND WHITES ALARMED. [FROM OUR OWN COHRESPONDEKT.]

STJVA. March 8. It now transpires that tho Fiji Government, unknown to the public of the Colony, offered land to settle Indian ex- , soldiers. The Indian Commission's chief objective was to view the local conditions and report. When tho members arrived it was stated officially that the Government of India offered ex-soldiers as settlers. Immediately press and people rose in opposition, and feeling is daily gathering strength against any such proposal. The natives are even more alarmed than the Europeans at tho proposal. They fiercely resent the idea, and say tho land is for the use of Fijians and Europeans, but not for Indians. The natives are already organising meetings of protest. Tee Europeans nold that if any cheap land is to be made available for settlement, they, and especially white soldiers should have the first offer. It was never intended that Indians should settle in Fiji as landholders. They came as indentured labour, and it was always intended that they should return to India. Meantime tho Indians are making a herculean effort to get not only one, but both feet into local politics, and if the Government continues to ignore public sentiment there must be a clash. In connection with the Indian demand for equal status, both Europeans and Fijians are resolutely resolved to combat the demand to the limit. Last week the Fijians held a meeting at Nailaga, Ba, and passed three resolutions which were handed to the district commissioner. In them the natives said they did not approve of the presence of the Indian Comitission in the country or of the proposal to grant the Indians the franchise. They vere much alarmed at the proposal to settle 60.000 Indian soldiers on the land and stronety deprecate the immigration of any more Indians into Fiji. They oppose the landing of any more Chinese in tie Colony. They do not think the native is being honestly dealt with when these aliens are allowed to swarm into the country.

LAND AND THE FRANCHISE.

GOVERNMENT'S PROMISE.

A large gathering of Indians at Sambula recently entertained the members of the deputation Bent by the Government of Inaia—Mr. Venkatapathi Raju, M.L.A., Pandit G. S. Sbarma, M.LC, and Lieut. Hissamuddin Khan, D.S.O. Replying to their welcome, Mr. Raju explained the object of tho deputation's visit. " When the Government of India stopped the immigration," he said, " the Government of Fiji requested the Government of India to send a deputation to satisfy itself with regard to the position of Indians in Fiji, and to allow free immigral'oll! H not for labour, at any rate, for settlement Owing to the unrest among Indians here the Government sent us to enquire into the conditions of Indians already living in Fiji, before thinking of sending any more, and to examine the colonisation scheme, whether it would be advantageous to Indians to settle in this colony. I may assure you and the people outside that neither the Government of India ncr the public of India are anxious to disburden their population by footing it upon the Fiji Islands against the will of the people here. But for the request of the Fiji Government, nobody in India •would ever have, thought of re-op<J ing the question of immigration from India to Fiji. " I may briefly state that the Fiji Government is ready to repatriate those who are willing and entitled to get free passage, and give lands to those who intend to settle here, besides amending the Ipcw to confer equal rights on Indians along with the other subjects of the Crown, The deputation is trying to secure the a.bove objects without a|ny more delay, by incessantly requesting the Fiji Government to carry out the objects to which they have given assent." After referring to the question of wages, the speaker said: "At present the Government of India, in co-operation with the Fiji Government, wants to see Indians living here happy and contented. Whatever measures are necessary to secure that object, the deputation will press on the attention of the local Government and report truthfully. w-**>iout carina either for the smiles or fro ( s of anybody, to the Indian Government, what has to be done in the matter. ... I ma? tell my Indian brethren the members of tne deputation, though belonging to different schools of thought, are quite unanimous in their desire to "meliorate the condition of the people 1> every possible way. As millions of Indians are keenly watching vour interests and the Government of India is vigilant to safeguard your rights. I am quite confitH t that your position will be much better hereafter than it was before."