STRIKE AT FIJI

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 4

STRIKE AT FIJI

CABLE FROM THE GOVERNOR. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY SET UP. Ills Excellency tile Governor-Genera! has been advised by the Governor of Fiji that tho position regarding the strike of Indians in Fiji is as follows: — All Indian workers are .still out at Suva, Rewa, -and; South Coast centres. They put forward no demands before striking, and it was only lato last week that they submitted a statement of grievances by deputation to me. 1 thereupon appointed a Commission to inquire into the whole question of wages and the high cost of living which js stated to be tho cause of the trouble. The Commission has been welcomed by the public generally and by the Indians, who are selecting representatives to give evidence and preparing statements. Agitators have been trying to extend tho strike to tho sugar centres on tho north coast and west coast, but yesterday the Colonial Sugar Refining Company made a substantial offer of increased wages and the price for cane to the Indian employees and growers. L have not yet heard whether those have (been accepted. Large numbers of Indians at Suva and Rewa are out unwillingly, but the others, encouraged by agitators, are preventing them from resuming work by intimidation.”