CONDITIONS IN FIJI

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1921, Page 3

CONDITIONS IN FIJI

INDIANS AND SUGAR INDUSTRY

The present position regarding the sugar industry in Fiji is detailed by a correspondent, who writes from Suva under date of August Ist. lie says: While all the sugar mills in Fiji have started crushing, and many of the Indians in ; h<-> disaffected districts have returned f ' work, there are thousands of Indians still idle. Some of the leaders have been imprisoned, but the | others are fighting hard, hitting hack j at the Government in ati endeavour to embarrass the industry in the country. [ The Indian Government has advised ihat a committee, consisting ol a Furopean and two prominent Indians, one J of whom is Snstri, the Indian delegate to the Imperial Conference, will visit Fiji to enquire into conditions affecting the Indians there. Af the same time, the embargo on Indians leaving India for Fiji was withdrawn, so far as those who could pay I heir passage money were cor.eerned, hut there are hundreds clamouring to leave Calcutta for I'iji.Many Indians who have gone to India from here during the past two years find life there very much more strenuous than in I'iji. Others wish to come because of good reports they have heard of the colony. Some 700 were booked by the steamer Clienab pi leave last month, hut the strike leaders lieic cabled to India that such loads of Indians would not help to end the strike, and praying the Gandhists in India to protect them by blocking emigration. In this wily move they have so far proved Rueeessful. and advices have reached here that the Chenah’s sailing has been cancelled. The Government have cabled to India that the strike has been broken, and the men are daily returning to work, and active correspondence is now passing on the position, but so lav no news of the embargo having been lilted has arrived. “Some extraordinary statements are being cabled from London to the Press ol Australia and New Zealand about the conditions hero, stating, that dm demanded that the indenturing in I'iji ~f Indians shall cease, and that Indians shall he allowed to take up land earlier, than after a five years’ residence and indenture, and so on. This is all moon shine. All indenturing of Indians automatically ceased in Fiji in January, ,’<wo ufter the passing of legislation by I!•(. Government in I'.Wh All Indians j,, I'iji are free agents, and can hire tlcin-clves to whom they will- Again. , • .. ti-.i.-v up laud at any ij | | ; .»ys t [.(' ph'jhis to <lo SO :in I. ;is |„»on o:i«i«‘r W lioliiios to • 1,..' bind than lor Kuropcans. A . ,| misrepresent atum of Fiji ns.-b circulated during ~ tv; - i couple' ol \ears. .