INDIAN WORKERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19869, 10 February 1920, Page 3

INDIAN WORKERS.

STRIKE IN FIJI,

By Tolejrapa—Pros. A*»oci*Uor.—Copyright Austrftlia.il said R.Z. Cftbls Agacciation.

SUVA, February 9

The Indian strike continues, but it is confined to the districts of Suva, Navua and Itcwa Other districts are not affected. The authorities have adopted preemptions to prevent rioting. A food commission is taking evidence.

N’O INDENTURED LABOUR

(Per Press Association.)

TIMARU, February 9

From a reliable source a representative of the " Timarn Herald " was able to-day to gam sonic information in regard to labour conditions in Fiji, which lias interest in connection with the present Indian trouble. Contrary to the general impression in New 'Zealand there is no indentured labour in Fiji’ Importations of Indians under the indenture system ceased some years ago and contracts lapsing since that time nave not been renewed. At .the beginning of this year an arrangement was made with the planters by which those contracts which had not'expired were forthwith terminated, and the only Indian labour now is free labour. A fine spirit was shown by the planters in allowing the contracts to bo cancelled because the time when this was done was the middle, of the planting season when labour was of the greatest importanco to them. A great proportion of 'he Indians now ,n Fiji, it was explained, did not go there under the indenture system., but were born in the islands, children of those imported at an earlier period. They were free Indians who had never been indentured at any time. When contracts expired under the former indenture system the Indian labourers had it in their power to go back to India, but almost all of Mem preferred to settle in the Islands, of which the Indian population now H very large -It was easy for the Indians to obtain land for themselves, and they were'oncournnod to do so bv the Government. The present trouble, doubtless, was mixed up with the increased cost of living. The price ofrien tlic cmef food of the Indians, had cr on c up by leaps and bounds, and the. import would be cut off entirely bv the Australian engineers-’ strike'. All the rice came Horn Australia by the Burns' i ndp steamers, which were not rum ning to the Islands now. If tlic free workers wore asking for 5s a day, that would bo a high wage for Indians' who required very little to support them. Rice would grow well in Fiji, and a mill had been established by the Government., hut neither the Indians nor the Fijians cared to grow it. One complaint against the indenture system when that prevailed had been caused by lao great disproportion between Indian men and women, and from a caste motive it had been urged since that a. special hospital should be provided for Indian women, at rthich only women should form the staff. That was a difficult requirement to fulfil. Generally speaking, the Indians in Fiji showed ittle concern for caste. Allocation-* had been made that when the influenza raged a year ago Indian sufferers were neglected by tho Europeans, but no statement could he more untrue. English girls worked in attending Indians till they could hardly stand.

Generally speaking, the Indians had been peaceful workers, though one small strike under the indenture system when that prevailed was remembered bv tin* informant. Trouble had boon made of late by a few agitators, and ir was surmised that the Indian population generally must be siding with the workers who had made demands, or the dovornop would not have thought it necessary to appeal to Now Zealand for protection of th£ white inhabitants. It was most improbable that the Fijian natives would make any joint cause with the Indians.