THE FIJIAN GENERAL ELECTION, THE FIRST UNDER A NEW CONSTITUTION GIVING FIJIAN MEN AND WOMEN A DIRECT VOTE, FINISHED LAST MONDAY (APRIL 29TH).UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTION THE PEOPLE OF THE CROWN COLONY -INDIANS, EUROPEANS, AND NATIVE FIJIANS - HAVE A MORE DIRECT SAY IN GOVERNMENT MATTERS, HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE SEEMED UNAFFECTED BY THEIR NEWLY ACQUIRED RIGHTS AND POLLING WAS UNEVENTFUL.

THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION WAS SEEN AS AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE COLONY'S LINKS WITH BRITAIN.TWO OF THE FIJIAN MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE ELECTED UNOPPOSED; THE OTHER THREE HAD BIG MAJORITIES.THERE ARE FOUR INDIAN AND FOUR EUROPEAN ELECTED MEMBERS.

ALL THE FIJIAN MEMBERS ARE STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF FIJIAN'S DIRECT LINKS WITH THE BRITISH CROWN.THEY HAVE STRENGTHENED THE FIGHT AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO WEAKEN THE TIES WITH BRITAIN WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.