INDIANS AND FIJI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18320, 10 August 1921, Page 7

INDIANS AND FIJI.

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. LETTER FROM A RESIDENT. (Fkou Oob Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, August 9. Writing from Fiji under date August 1, a correspondent says: “While all the sugar mills in Fiji have started crushing, and many of the Indians in the disaffected districts have returned to work, there are thousands of Indians still idle. Some of the leaders have been imprisoned, but others are fighting hard, hitting back at the Government in an endeavour to embarrass the industry in the country. The Indian Government had advised that a committee consisting of one European and two prominent Indians, one of whom is Sastri, the Indian delegate to the Imperial Conference, will visit Fiji, to inquire into conditions affecting the Indians here. At the same time the embargo on Indians leaving India for Fiji was withdrawn, so far as these could pay their passage money were concerned. There are hundreds clamouring l to leave Calcutta for Fiji. Many Indians who have gone to India from here during the past two years find life there very much more strenuous than in Fiji. Other# wish to come because of the good reports they have heard of ( this colony. Some 700 were booked by the steamer Ghenab to leave last month, but the strike leaders here cabled to India that such loads of Indians would help to end Hie strike, and praying the Gandhists in India, to protect them by blocking the emigration. In this wily | move they have so far proved successful, and advices have reached here that the Chenab’s sailing has been cancelled.. The Government cabled to India that the, strike has been-broken, and men are daily., returning to work and. active correspondence is now passing on the position, but go far no news of the embargo having been lifted has arrived.

Some extraordinary statements are being cabled from London to the press { Australia and Now Zealand about the conditions here, stating that it is demanded that the indenturing in Fiji of Indians.-mwst cease, and that Indians will be allowed to take up land earlier than after a five-years’ residence, and indenture, and so op. .This is all moonshine. All indenturing of Indians automatioallv ceased in Fiji in January, 192ff1, after the passing of legislation by the Government in IM3. All Indiana in Fiji are free agents, and oap hire thenselves to whom they will. Again, any Indian can take up land at any time, if he has means to do so. In fact; it nja been easier for Indian* to take un. lapd than Europeans. A great deal of rpTsrijgrosentation of Pin has been purpotflv I circulated during the past couple of- jp^ars-*’