RIOT AT FIJI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10959, 30 April 1907, Page 2

RIOT AT FIJI.

.a*. INDIANS GIVE TROUBLE. REFUSE TO WORK IN CANEFIELDS. FOUR MEN WOUNDED. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day : i Details of tlie riot at Labasa, Fiji? received by the s.s. Talune, show that on - April 15 fifty-two Indians proceeded to the police station at Labasa and complained to the Magistrate that the agent m India recruited them under false promises, that they were to work for the Government as soldiers and policemen, and to do similar work for the Sugar Company. The Magistrate promised to ascertain the terms of their agreement, and advised them meanwhile to return to work and await the result of liis enquiries. The inngiKtrate also promised t6 enquire into their complaint itt regard to the rations. Some of. the men who expressed the "to return to work, were assaulted ,by ten of their companions. Warrants Were issued for the arrest of the assailants. The arrest was mode by nrm«*d police. The remainder of the strikers followed to the police station. Inspector !| Boldero and six aonstables marched the latter back to the plantations with fixed bayonets. On arriving at the plantations the Indians armed themselves with knives, hoes, and spades, and prepared to resist the police. They were warned to lialt, but continued to advance. A few shots were fired. Three Indians were wounded, one being shot through the leg, another through the urm - and one m the hand. The police arrested five Indiana, and took them to the station. An eyei-witness of tlie Bhooting incident at Labasa cays that about li a.m. he was near the Punjabis' lines at Labasa. Sub-inspector Boldero, a large number oK Indians ahU Fijiian police, armed with rifles, with fixed bayonets, and about 40 or SO natives m war paint, with clubii and speara, earn© to Ihe lines and rounded upr about 100 of the Punjabis. Tlip men Were met by several Europeans on horseback, including a mini B_p v - po_ed 7 to n|e Mr Duncan, the Sugar^Btttopany's manger, who tried to reason with, them. It 1 is said that four or five Punjabis went forward as spokesmen, and said they [would not work any morp. Mi' Duncan put his hand oh the shoulder of , one . Phnfabl whilst speaking. The Punjabi made a movement as if to draw his sheath-knife. Fearing bloodshed, someone gave the order either to get a ready or to fire. The result was the r rifles spoke and four men were injured. One man was shot through the arm. He kept up Mr hand to shield his face, with the result a bullet cut off his little finger and grazed his forehead. A second man received a 'bullet m the thigh, and a third m the calf. A fourth man received a bayonet wound m the shoulder. Some of the ringleaders; were seized, and the rest went pack to the lines. The Sugar Company's manager then consulted with Mr Russell; immigration inspector. Mr Dvuican told Mr Russell that he vt*ould have nothing more to do with the Indians; that they would be taken back to Suva, aa they had broken their agreement. The mep struck work on Monday. Various reasons are assigned for their conduct. (One was that they were put on _k work j and out of 8d per day had 4d deducted - ifor rations. Their flour, was also stopped. The main cause, however, seems to be .the" men object to work on the canefields. Most of them are eX-sol-diers of the Indian army. „ One was a sergeant. :; Tbey expected to_ be put on police and; similar duties m Fiji. ''>_____________________» '■-'