RIOTS AT FIJI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8431, 1 May 1907, Page 5

RIOTS AT FIJI.

POLICE FIRE ON INDIANS,

By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 30. Details of a riot at Labasa, Fiji, have been received by the steamer Talune. On April 15th, 52 Indians proceeded to the police station at Labasa, and complained to the Magistrate that an agent in India had recruited them under false pretences. They had been told that they were to work for the Government as soldiers and policemen, and at similar work. They denied having signed an agreement to work for the sugar company. The Magistrate promised to ascertain the terms of their agreement and advised them meanwhile to return to work and await the result of his enquiries. The Magistrate also promised to enquire into a. complaint with regard to their rations. Some of the men who expressed an. intention to return to work were assaulted by ten of their companions. Warrants were issued for the arrest of the assailants, and the arrest was made by armed police. ' The remainder of the strikers followed them to the police station, but were marched back to the plantations by Inspector Boldero and six constables, with fixed bayonets. On arriving at the plantations the Indians armed themselves with knives, hoes and spades, and prepared to resist. The police were warned to halt, but continued to advance. A few shots were fired and three Indians were wounded. One was shot through the leg, another through the arm, one in the hand. The police arrested five Indians and took them to the station. An eye-witness of the shooting incident at Labasa says that about 11 a.m. he was near the Punjabis' lines at Labasa. Sub-Inspector Boldero, with a large number of Indians and Fijfan police, armed with rifles and fixed bayonets, and about 40 or 50 natives in war paint, with clubs and spears, came to the lines and rounded up about 100 of the Punjabis. The men were met by several Europeans on horseback, including a man supposed to be Mr Duncan, the Sugar Company's manager, who tried to reason with them. It is said that four or five Punjabis went forward as spokesmen, and said they would not work any more. Mr Duncan put his hand on the shoulder, of one Punjabi whilst speaking, and the Punjabi made a movement as if to draw his sheath-knife. Fearing bloodshed, someone gave an order either to get ready or to fire. The result was that the rifles spoke, and four inen were injured. One man was shot through the arm. He put up his hand to shield his face, with the result that a bullet cut off his little finger and grazed his forehead.' A second man received a Jballet in the thigh, a third man was* shot in the ca.lf, and a fourth man rer csived a bayonet wound in the shoulder. Some of the ringleaders were seized. The vest went back to the lines. The ; Sugar Company's management then consulted Mr Russell, Immigration Inspector. Mr Duncan told Mr Russell that he would have nothing; more to do with the Indians, aiui that they would be taken back ,to Suva, as they had broken their agreement. The men struck work on Monday. Various reasons are assigned for their conduct. One was that they were put on to task work, and out of 8d per day had 4d deducted for rations. Their flour was also stopped. The main cause, however, seems to be that the men object to work in the canefields.

Most of them are ex-soldiers of the Indian Army. One was a sergeant, - who expected to be put on police and similar duties in Fiji.