FIJIAN TROUBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10523, 26 February 1920, Page 5

FIJIAN TROUBLE

INDIAN RIOTING

A POLITICAL MOVEMENT: SOME FIERCE ENCOUNTERS.

(Special to the “Times.”) SUVA (Fiji), February 14.

As I have already advised you, the Indians round about Suva decided to leave work, or strike, as they put it, for higher wages, owing to the iucrcas ed cost of living—at least that was the bait tho leaders held out to get tho rank and file to join tho standard of revolt. Tho Government met all legal objections by freeing all indentured Indians, thus absolutely abolishing tho indenture system in tho colony. They further notified that they would grant the Indian community tho right to elect two Indian members to the Legislative Council. In the past the only representation the. Indians have had has been Hon. Badri Mahray, who is nominated by tho Governor, and votes with the Government on all divisions. This practically amounted to no real Indian representation at all. This, however, was not enough for the malcontents.

The wage for all agricultural labourers under indenture was Is a day, and by freo Indians Is fid. Then it was raised to Is 6d and 2s. Now all get 2s and some 2s fid. All Indians doing other work get varying wages; clerks get up to £4 a week, carpenters to £2 or £2 10s, house boys £2 10s -to £fi a month and board and lodging; many got 30s a week and more in stores, etc. There, are few who have to live in Suva on’ 2s fid a day. A man getting 2s fid a day can get board and lodging in Suva at 6s. a week, and there is no doubt that even at present high prioos most Indians are saving money. Tho Indians themselves acknowledge that they can get along well under present conditions. They were told at a big meeting of Indians they deserved os to 10a a day, and some 20s a day, and on the strength of such a glowing prospect it did not ■take much persuasion to induce them to “strike” work, as tliev were told that that was tho orthodox wav to secure their ends. So they struck. EMPLOYERS THREATENED.

All business was seriously effected, yet many loyal employees kept at work. Then these were told they must, stop on January 31st or they would be beaten. Intimidation ' and beatings occurred daily. Then the Indian women took a hand, and Mrs Manila! formed a. women’s association. The women commenced to waylay tho loyal men, and some were treated in too shocking a manner to describe. The aggressors were warned to cense these practices, and a number of white employees were sworn in as special constables. FREE FIGHT WITH CLUBS.

At this stage our defence force consisted of two* platoons of native infantry and two halt-caste machine-gun sections. On the night of January 29th a mob of 200 or 300 Indians, armed with sticks, came into town, from Toorak (Indian town), ii suburb of Sura. They were stopped by the native 'police, but insisted on going on to deal it to a European whom they disliked. A free fight with clubs ensued. A number of returned soldiers came to help the police, and all tho rioters wero dispersed. Then the Government issued a proclamation forbidding Indians meeting without giving three hours' notice to the police. This was found to bo illegal. DEFENCE FORCE ORGANISED.

Then the old Defence Force was called out, and all tho returned men and others joined up, and a good nw bile force was formed. The country rifle clubs had foolishly been disbanded some time ago, and the many country centres were really holplees and unarmed. However, a supply of rifles and ammunition was sent round to these centre*. CABLES'FOR ASSISTANCE. A message was secretly sent to New Zealand and Australia for assistance. Tho Indians had become very impudent, and feeling ran high. In response to a deputation of Indians, who promised to try to get tho men to return to work, His Excellency appointed a Commission, presided over by the Acting-Chief Justice, to inquire into the cost of living, and to make recommendations. The Commission sat for several days, Mr Mamlal supplying witnesses and appearing for them as counsel. The whole evidence given so far has been palpable humbug and misrepresentation. NATIVE POLICE ATTACKED.

On Tuesday night a mob of women were waiting for loyalists at Toorak, and when a “special” ordered, one leader to bo arrested, he and the native police were at once 'surrounded by hundreds of men armed with sticks and knives, while many women had knives. The posse were knocked about, but were rescued by other specials, who dashed in to help them. They had only small batons, and during tho scrap many of these broke. One special, Mr Savage, of tho Customs, fell, and at once he was kicked and hit into unconsciousness, being terribly battered. * Mr Charlie Caldwell, of the Treasury, had an arm broken and big cut 'in his head. An old man, George Pilkington, over seventy, tried to help tho boys, and had an arm broken and was badly knocked about. Then police reinforcements, followed by some Defence men and a machine-gun section, came on tho scene. Tho fighting was intense for a while, but at last the mob broke; 151 men and 13 women were arrested and taken to tho police station. No shots were fired, and the Indians defied the riflemen and gun, and called on them to shoot. ARMED NATIVES INTERCEPTED. Then reports came of big bodies of armed Indians coming in from Tamanna and Muniavatu, and posses met them, and with difficulty turned them back. Strong patrols and pickets were placed all round the town that night, and everybody was really under arms all night. One praiseworthy feature was the forbearance shown t.o the rioters, and the coolness, shown by the townspeople, especially the women. Boys of fifteen and sixteen donned khaki and patrolled with clubs. NEW ZEALAND FORCE ARRIVES. * On Thursday morning the Tutnnekai arrived with artillerymen and Lewisguns and a heavy gun. Tho men disembarked and were put up in the 'Town Hall. In tho meantime four bridges on tho main Rowa road were damaged by the rioters to prevent, re-

inforcements being sent to Nausori, on die Rcwa river, where there had been demonstrations in force and where a military squad and a machine-gun had oeen sent. The bridge at Nasori was badly damaged, and on Friday morning, ho sooner had tho guard left tho Kamagala bridge, which had been repaired and guarded nil night., than the wreckers started on it again. Later in the morning tho guard, including a dozen mounted men and a gun,, found 200 to 300 Indians at the bridge, determined to come to town. They suddenly refused to go back, and cried out, ‘'.Shoot 1 shoot!” A FIERCE FIGHT. A magistrate went out at 3 p.m., Aut could make no impression, and at 0 o'clock 00 special constables went out and chased the crowd. At the top of tho hill the Indians had a pile of weapons, and turning there a fierce fight ensued, some of the mounted men having to rescue isolated wllitea. The mob was chased into the scrub, and four wounded Indians were brought into the hospital. 1 The same night Indians at, Lami caused some trouble, and 15 were arrested. At Nausori, on Friday afternoon a mob made a threatening display, but the D.C.. and Captain Faddy, M.C., 0.0., were very firm, and threatened to fire unless they at once dispersed. This they did. All was reported quiet to-day at noon.

There seems a likelihood of things quietening down. Matters at Lautoka, Da, Labasa, and other Indian centres are quiet; but it is the general opinion that there will t© no guarantee of peace while the leaders are left at liberty, and their early arrest or deportation is looked for. There are no grounds for alarm for the general safety. All classes and nationalities are against the Indians. INDIANS RESUMING WORK. SUVA, February IS. The Indians are* coming in and resuming work. The Municipal Council put on 50 men on Tuesday, and many others have resumed elsewhere. All Indians must bo within doors by 7 o’clock, and none are allowed at ’Suva by day without a permit. ; Ibis has had a very quietening effect. At Nausori and Nnvua the men are returning ito work, and everything is reported quiet. There are some who pi-edict a. recrudescence of the trouble, but the coolies have had a good lesson, and should give no more trouble, although ’ there may be individual cases of repayment for injuries received.