MORAL CONDITIONS IN FIJI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 8

MORAL CONDITIONS IN FIJI

AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. ■ Bj Tolßßrauh.—Press Association. Greymouth, May 28. Rome time in February lust u .statement emanating from Mr. Howard, of Christchurch, a prominent member of the Labour Party, was published in the newspapers of the Dominion with reference to immoral conditions prevailing anion? the industrial labourers of Fiji. These conditions, which wero as bad as the alleged nationalisation of women in Russia, it was said, wero tolerated under the British flag, therefore the British people hod no right to criticise the Bolshevists. '

A resident of Gre.ymonth wrote to the Colonial Secretary of Suva, and forwarded him a copy of Mr. Howard's statement. He had just received tho following reply: "Inform you that statement that when married man and his wife go out to Fiji i under indentured labour) and that when he gets there ho is at once told that lie must lot his wife bo used by other wen, is untrue. Under ordinance No., 1, 1892, provision is l'mde for tlie protection of newly-mar-ried immigrants, as well as others, and section 1" of the ordinance provides for a heavy penalty in respect to any person interfering with the wife of an imniignuit. The provisions of this .sprtion are explained by tho immigration officers to immigrants on arrival in the colony,"