§ 16. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the reasons which led to the calling out of the Territorial forces in Fiji to maintain the peace.
§ 23. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the nature of the recent disturbance in Fiji.
§ 24. Mr. Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the riots which have taken place in Fiji.
§ Mr. J. AmeryOn 7th December, there was a strike by employees of the oil 1623 companies. Petrol supplies were quickly exhausted, and public transport services stopped.
On the afternoon of 9th December, a crowd assembled near Suva bus station for a meeting to be addressed by the secretary of the union to which the strikers belong. The crowd was swollen by people seeking transport home from work. A permit had not been granted for the meeting and, after being ordered to disperse, the crowd became unruly and eventually had to be dispersed by force. Shortly afterwards, a party of hooligans ran about the town throwing stones at shops and cars and doing considerable damage. Some looting took place after dark.
It was thought that the disorders might spread to other centres, and on 10th December the Governor took special powers to provide for public safety. Special constables had already been called out and, the police being fully extended, the Territorials were called out, and the assistance of the military requested to maintain law and order. A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed in Suva and Lautoka and at Nandi Airport.
During 10th December, stone-throwing continued, and the crowd in Suva had to be dispersed by tear smoke. In an effort to reduce the tension a message was broadcast by Fijian leaders, and public meetings were addressed by Fijians, union officials and Indian political leaders. This had a quietening effect.
The parties to the oil dispute have now agreed to refer the dispute to arbitration, and work was resumed yesterday. The situation is returning to normal and the security measures are being relaxed.
§ Mr. RankinI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but does it not seem that this is the prelude to an old story? Is he aware that among the people of Fiji there is a growing desire to have a greater share in the running of their own affairs? Does he not realise that, according to Press statements, it is widely believed that this desire—expressed in these ways, of which we do not approve—is really the basic cause of the trouble in Fiji today; and could he say what plans the Government have in mind to give these people a greater 1624 share in the running of their own affairs?
§ Mr. AmeryI am not sure that I would go far with the hon. Gentleman's interpretation of the cause of this demonstration. It was, I think, mainly hooliganism and not in any sense an expression of organised political view. For example, it is notable that, of the arrests made afterwards, only one was of a striker, so I do not think that strike action or political action was at the back of these events. With regard to the future, I think we must wait to study the Report of the Burns Commission. As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, the Commission has already reported, but as far as I know, its Report is not yet in the hands of the Government.
§ Mr. SorensenWill the Under-Secretary give some information as to the nature and cause of the strike itself? He referred to it but did not give any indication as to what actually was the cause of it.
§ Mr. AmeryThe cause of the strike was a straightforward request for an increased minimum wage. I did draw the attention of the House a moment ago to the fact that only one striker was arrested when the demonstration was over. There were about 130 arrests of hooligans, who had no connection whatever with the strikers. They were simply taking advantage of the disturbed situation in the town. As I was saying, the cause of the strike was a straightforward economic request for higher wages. It has now been submitted to arbitration, the strike has been called off, and work has been resumed.
§ Mr. DugdaleThe hon. Gentleman's answer is not at all satisfactory. Is he aware that both the Fijians and the Indians are particularly peaceful people; that it is very strange that this sudden outburst of what he calls hooliganism should take place, and that there may well be a deeper cause for it? Will he undertake to look into this matter much more carefully and not just write it oil as being just a few hooligans floating about?
§ Mr. AmeryWe are not writing it off in that way. I was anxious to tell the House our view that this event was not the direct result of industrial or 1625 political action. It arose from hooliganism, very largely connected with the fact that public transport was affected, as a result of which a number of people were trying to get home, but could not.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeWill my hon. Friend specifically say that local Indians who, according to Press reports here, are determined to drive out British traders and administrators, are not, in fact, politically involved at all?
§ Mr. AmeryIn the last phases of the disturbance, both Indian and Fijian leaders appealed to the people to lay off disturbance and did all they could to prevent any inter-racial quarrels taking place.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonWill the Under-Secretary assure us that he will take advantage of the warning he has been given to bring about effective and swift political action in the light of the Burns Report when it comes along? Will he not consider immediately looking at the appointment of Fijians to the present Legislative Council? I understand that those appointments are made mainly on the recommendation of the chiefs and that one of the causes of political unrest is that these Fijians are not sufficiently representative.
§ Mr. AmeryI am sure the hon. Gentleman would want to see what Sir Alan Burns and his colleagues have reported before we attempt to anticipate what the next stage should be.