INDIAN LABOUR IN FIJI.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8800, 30 April 1907, Page 2

INDIAN LABOUR IN FIJI.

Alleged Misrepresentations.

Per Press Association,

Auckland, April 29. Details of the riot at Ladasa, Fiji, have been received by the Taluue. On April 15, 53 Indians proceeded to the police station at Labasa and complained to the Magistrate that the agent in India recruited them under false promises that they were to work for the Government as soldiers aud policemen and in similar work. They denied having any agreement to work for the sugar company. The Magistrate promised to ascertain the terms of their agreement, and advised them meanwhile to return to work aud to await the result of his inquiries. Some of the men who expressed an intention to return to work were assaulted by ten of their companions. Warrants were issued for the arrest of the assailants, and the arrest was made by armed police. The remainder of the strikers followed to the Police station, and Inspector Boldero aud six constables marched the latter back to .the plantations with fixed bayonets. On arriving at the plantation the Indians armed themelves with knives, hoes and spades, aud prepared to resist the police. They were warned to halt, but continued to advance, aud a few shots were fired. Three Indians were wounded, one shot through the leg, another through the arm, aud one in the hand. The police arrested five Indians, and took them to the station.

An eye witness of the shooting incident at Labasa says that about eleven a. m. lie was'near the Punjabis lines at Labas when Sub-Inspec-tor Boldero with a large number of Indians and Fijian police armed with rifles with fixed "bayonets and about 40 or 50 natives in war paint with clubs and spears came to the lines and rounded up about 100 Punjabis. 'The men were met by several Europeans on horseback, including a man supposed to be Mr Duncan, the Sugar Company’s manager, who tried to reason with them. It is said four or five Punjabis went forward as spokesmen and. said they would not work any more. Mr Duncan put his hand on the shoulder of one Punjabi whilst speaking and the Punjabi made a’ movement as if to draw bis sheath kiiife. Fearing bloodshed someone gave the order either to get ready or to fire and the result;was the rifles spoke and four men were injured: Some of the ringleaders were seized and the rest wont back to the lines. The Sugar' Company’s management then consulted Mr Russell, Immigration Inspector. Mr Duncan told Russell that ho would have nothing more to do with Indians, that they would be taken back to Suva as they had broken their agreement. The men struck work on Monday. Various reasons are assigned for their conduct. One was that they were put on task work and out of* 8d per day had 4d deducted for rations and their flour was also stopped. The main cause, however, seems to be that the men object to work in the oanefields. Most of them are cs-sol-diers of the Indian" Army, one was a sergeant and expected to be put on police and similar duties in Fiji.