Fiji Legislative Council Elections 1940

Changes to the Constitution on 1937 provided for a triennial Legislative Council consisting of the Governor as President, not more than seventeen nominated members who must be public officers. In addition, there were five non-official members from each of the three major ethnic groups (Fijians, Indians, and Europeans); Indians and Europeans directly elected 3 members each, with a further 2 being appointed by the Governor; all 5 Fijian representatives were appointed by the Governor from a list of ten names submitted by the Great Council of Chiefs.

For the election of European members the Colony was divided into five electoral divisions, each electing one member, except the southern division which elected two members.

The qualification to be registered as European a voter was as follows:

The son of parents of European descent, or, being the son or lineal descendent of a European father and being able to read, write and speak English.
British subject by birth or naturalisation.
Age of 21 years or over.
Has been continuously resident in the Colony for 12 months.
Is in possession of either,
1. freehold land or leasehold property within the Colony of the net total yearly value of Ł20;
2. or of an annual income of not less than Ł120.
Not in receipt of a salary payable out of the public revenue of the Colony.

The qualification of elected European member were as follows:

Qualified to be registered as an elector and has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years.
Has possessed freehold property in the Colony, under his or his wife's name, of the net value of Ł500, or net total yearly value of Ł50 for at least 12 months before the election. OR
Has been in occupation for at least 12 months before the election of freehold or leasehold property in the Colony, either under his name or his wife's name, to the extent of 500 acres. OR
Has rented for at least 12 months before the election, freehold or leasehold property in the Colony of the yearly value of Ł100. OR
Has an annual income from all sources of not less than Ł200.

For the election of Indian members the Colony was divided into three electoral divisions, each electing one member. The qualification to be registered as European a voter was as follows:

The son of parents of Indian descent.
Age of 21 years and over.
Is a British subject or a native of the territories of any Indian Prince or Chief under the suzerainty exercised through the Governor-General of India or through any Governor or other officer subordinate to the Governor General of India.
Has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years.
Can read and write a simple sentence and sign his name in any of the following languages to the satisfaction of the registration officer: English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Gurmukhi, Gujarati.
Has for a period of not less than six months immediately preceeding the date on which the electoral roll is closed either;

been in possession of freehold or leasehold property in the Colony of a total yearly value of five pounds over and above all charges and encumbrances thereon OR

been in possession of a net annual cash income of seventy-five pounds OR

been and remains the holder of a Government or municipal licence issued under any ordinance, the annual cost of the licence being not less than five pounds.

Civil servants could not be voters and females were not permitted to vote. ¹

1. Reference: The Colony of Fiji: 1874 - 1936, Government Printer, Suva, Fiji, 1936, pp.13-16

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	Changes to the Constitution on 1937 provided for a triennial Legislative Council consisting of the Governor as President, not more than seventeen nominated members who must be public officers. In addition, there were five non-official members from each of the three major ethnic groups (Fijians, Indians, and Europeans); Indians and Europeans directly elected 3 members each, with a further 2 being appointed by the Governor; all 5 Fijian representatives were appointed by the Governor from a list of ten names submitted by the Great Council of Chiefs. For the election of European members the Colony was divided into five electoral divisions, each electing one member, except the southern division which elected two members. The qualification to be registered as European a voter was as follows: The son of parents of European descent, or, being the son or lineal descendent of a European father and being able to read, write and speak English. British subject by birth or naturalisation. Age of 21 years or over. Has been continuously resident in the Colony for 12 months. Is in possession of either, freehold land or leasehold property within the Colony of the net total yearly value of Ł20; or of an annual income of not less than Ł120. Not in receipt of a salary payable out of the public revenue of the Colony. The qualification of elected European member were as follows: Qualified to be registered as an elector and has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years. Has possessed freehold property in the Colony, under his or his wife's name, of the net value of Ł500, or net total yearly value of Ł50 for at least 12 months before the election. OR Has been in occupation for at least 12 months before the election of freehold or leasehold property in the Colony, either under his name or his wife's name, to the extent of 500 acres. OR Has rented for at least 12 months before the election, freehold or leasehold property in the Colony of the yearly value of Ł100. OR Has an annual income from all sources of not less than Ł200. For the election of Indian members the Colony was divided into three electoral divisions, each electing one member. The qualification to be registered as European a voter was as follows: The son of parents of Indian descent. Age of 21 years and over. Is a British subject or a native of the territories of any Indian Prince or Chief under the suzerainty exercised through the Governor-General of India or through any Governor or other officer subordinate to the Governor General of India. Has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years. Can read and write a simple sentence and sign his name in any of the following languages to the satisfaction of the registration officer: English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telegu, Gurmukhi, Gujarati. Has for a period of not less than six months immediately preceeding the date on which the electoral roll is closed either; been in possession of freehold or leasehold property in the Colony of a total yearly value of five pounds over and above all charges and encumbrances thereon OR been in possession of a net annual cash income of seventy-five pounds OR been and remains the holder of a Government or municipal licence issued under any ordinance, the annual cost of the licence being not less than five pounds. Civil servants could not be voters and females were not permitted to vote. ¹ 1. Reference: The Colony of Fiji: 1874 - 1936, Government Printer, Suva, Fiji, 1936, pp.13-16	Fijian nominated members - Lala Sukuna - Edward Cakobau European elected members Indian elected members North Western Division - B.D. Lakshman Southern Division - Vishnu Deo Eastern Division - Tularam Indian nominated members - K. B. Singh - Said Hussain
Last modified on 03 Jul 2007 \| Email me \| Š Surjeet Singh