INDIANS IN FIJI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 831, 27 November 1929, Page 9

INDIANS IN FIJI

COUNCIL MEMBERS’ ACTION UPHELD

ONE COMMON ROLL WANTED Following the action of the three Indian members of the Fiji Legislative Council, who withdrew from the council sitting and announced their intention to resign when they were defeated in their aim to secure one common roll, a public meeting of Indians was held at Suva on November 6 which upheld the step taken by the three Indian members. According to the “Fiji Times,” the following resolutions were passed: “This public meeting of Indians upholds the step taken by the three Indian elected members and congratulates them for taking a brave and courageous stand for the recognition of the principle of common and equal rights of citizenship to all his Majesty’s subjects resident in the Colony of Fiji.” “This public meeting of Indians is of opinion that the franchise now granted in racial lines is not acceptable to the Indian community in Fiji and reiterates its demand for common franchise.” Under the new Letters Patent the Indians elect three members on a communal roll and the Europeans elect six on a separate roll. The Indians want one common roll, to which the Government and the European members of the council are definitely opposed.