MR. HOLLAND IN FIJI.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 4, 9 April 1920, Page 12

MR. HOLLAND IN FIJI.

LABOUR MEMBER'S INQUIBIES Speaking in the Paramount Yheatie 0 recently, Mr H. E. Holland, chairman 1 of the Parliamentary Labour Party, ra ferred to his inquiries among tlie Indians |j in Fiji regarding the recent industrial ( I troubles. He said he had been assured 1)J I the Prime Minister before the party left New Zealand that no restrictio® J would be placed on members' investigJ'H tions. Before the party landed at FijiH Sir James Allen asked members to gir'fl an undertaking that questions woiiHH be put to the Indians. The memfceriH were going asliore as the guests of ihfl Fiji Government, and they sliould notH do anything to re-kindle industrial ■ troubles. Mr Holland refused to givil this undertaking, and when he landfllH he got into touch wdth Indian leader&M He had a "lons interview" with then ffl Later, the "Fiji Times" published a re fl port of his movement, and he was «»■ vinced that he had been watched spies. His inquiries, added Mr Holland, ^ ' h shown that the trouble in Fiji had economic foundation. The coolies l'1' manded an advance to 5s a day, ortgB to the high cost of living. Once strike started, the women took a hau , H anl "did things which probably ought not to have done" in their d'a H ir.gs with "traitors." But he had j told that the Fijian Government never have employed armed force. ■ Indian women had presented a Pe 1 J ■ to the Government on the subject of 1 ■ j ]];;J increase in the cost of living, ana i quoted figures to show that the old had become inadequate. They aske 1 I 5s a day as a reason able Vage. ■ Mr Holland condemned the ho«.ijH provided for the coolies at Fiji, an - ^ • kj| that drastic restrictions lidd been P a H on the Indians' right of rnceting^^ p, movement. He had learned that ■ were still beaten in connection witi I work, and that the moral con^lt'^s jj I longing to the employment of In 13 ^ H Fiji were a disgrace to the Bi 1 to Hj pire. Very many of the Indians wc ^ ^ geb away from Fiji, but they co do it.