INDIANS IN FIJI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21329, 2 November 1932, Page 15

INDIANS IN FIJI

COMMON ROLL QUESTION WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION [FROM OVR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SUVA, Oct. '2l As forecastcrl in a previous letter, the question of a common electoral roll lias been raised by tho two newly-elected Indian members of the Fiji Legislative Council. In tl>e course of t'tie discussion on a motion on tlie subject, the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, said he was anxious to remedy all possible inequalities under which the Indians might suffer, but he had to consider all sides of the. question. Jin had to consider the inequalities suffered by the l'ijians and Europeans in comparison '.villi the Indians. He was satisfied that, on llie whole, the Indians in Fiji came, out pretty well in comparison with the other races. As to the common roll, the latest authoritative pronouncement on the subject had laid it down very completely that the time was not ripe for the institution of a common franchise. "Franklv, I cannot understand the Indians' contention that they cannot enjoy equal citizenship without a common roll," said His Excellency. "What is there in a common roll that gives them equality witih the Europeans? The Europeans arc not on a. common roll with the Indians, and surely what is sauco for the gooso is sauce lor the gander?" His Excellency said that, the Europeans in Fiji, like tho Moslems in India, desired a separate franchise because they were both afraid of being dominated by the other parly. He felt sure that if there were as many Europeans in Fiji as Indians, there would be no desire for a common roll. "I have firm faith in the Indian community," continued the Governor, "whose advance both financially and physically since the old indentured days has been phenomenal. What tho Indians want are leaders—not the leadership of the politicians who come to sow hatred and dissension in their minds, bub the leadership of the best men in the community—leaders whom I know to be there." At the request of tho Governor, tho motion in favour of a common roll was withdrawn.