FIJI INDIANS STRIKE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 14

FIJI INDIANS STRIKE.

TIRM ATTITUDE PROCLAIMED.

• . SUFA (Fiji),. March 21. Prom being a purely industrial upheaval,, commanding the sympathy of a large section of the European comtaunity, the Indian strike has developed into a purely racial and political demonstration, full of ugly possibilities. The\liidians drew up somo preposterous demands at a big meeting at Ba. The terms included r. demand of 12s a day, 6s a day while sick, a .six-hour day,. and a five-day week, a free house and fiveacres of land, and grazing for fivo animals, free medical attendance, the recall.of Dr. Manilal, the Indian agitator, and the release of all Indian prisoners now in gaol in connexion with .'last- years riots. The beitpr class Indians ridiculed the terms a-s'absurd, and said the real demands would l>e made at Nadi on Sunday, March 11th. for submission to the Colonial Sligar Refining Comnanv, but to the amazement of everyone the latter meeting simply reaffirmed these impossible demands. They wero formally presented by.an Indian deputation to the. manager at Lautoka last Friday. Mr Farquhar promised to bring the requests before his head office. ■ Tip. to this stage the Government, beyond providing police protection, had remained aloof, believing that industrial disputes should be settled as between employers and their employees. Brit the demands of the strikers 'indicate that the movement is of a more serious character," and that the Sadhu, ,wb.o represents Gandhi, the wild fanatic "of India, and his extremist followers v are aiming at the Indians seizing equal [political power in the colony with the. •whites. This was Manila!'s boast at a .Suva meeting, fifteen'months ago. The become political, 'owing to the demands about Manilal anck the the Government delivered an --ultimatum to a large meeting of Indians held at Tavua yesterday by the .moutH: of Captain Kane, M.C;, who is 'specially representing: the Government -.iii-the disaffected area.

:;;.. : in an address, said he "was instructed to . announce that the

'■'■'■ Governor had appointed a commission vjcomgosed of the Chief Justice of Tonea, A. Hamcks, ex-M.L.C., and'Mr i!| V.' M. • Pillay, an influential In'dian '•.; :ijstorekeepGr, to enquire into' the ireatlie strike, and to advise tho iyVvGavCTninpnt on steps to settle tho Government insisted 0 -ifliv'fcb£ men returning 'to work. Failing the object s of tbe commission would Indians'against'being led arid,-, ill-men--with no interest in the and concluded with these sigjUfioaat words: • "The Governor's aiithofeN*tyiijs'•paramount in the Colony,land deal fieverelr. with any person attempts .to undermine it,-.pr hold false of demands.'' k Kane delivered afperVfroin his' Excellency, ?B|;M#rtopressibn as to the attitude of Iffiiße&Goverrimerit'. tbWards demands As-to/.thi'de-the imprisonExcellency said: |''lnMpatemirfds should bo einphaticalljr*disidea that there is|any of their being ofttcrSixipneai!, ■or^thit.■ '*hey: are. even |». be. consideration,'!' 'peoplo in Australia i^Mi^JjlewiZealand may.appear somwhat .it -means that' 30,0®. to• ?iwhov "can becomolwild fear ;«>rk-; i aio to its immediate i itiori but the' armed;; ncht' to and; bose • I to'- the .;pos!nbilitie; | be* Jjfa%the!jintentibn ; 'is;t<y.r' ioye dfi&anflisbme of bis leaden xoni ffia^6f^iia ; Tievru. =' 'This \ buld iailejrs ;tO|ai head' and resol - tho ?it. may lie called noy into ly'andtistnal .dispute. . -..'j : published on lonSadhu had be de-