Fijian general election, 1917

Fiji
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Fiji

General elections were held in Fiji in 1917.

Electoral system

Changes were made to the constitution on 20 July 1916, increasing the number of nominated members in the Legislative Council from 10 to 12; eleven were civil servants and the other had to be a British subject not holding public office.[1][2] The number of elected Europeans remained at seven and the number of appointed Fijians at two.

The Europeans were elected from six constituencies; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Suva, Vanua Levu & Taveuni and Western. Voting was restricted to men aged 21 or over who had been born to European parents (or a European father and was able to read, speak and write English) who were British subjects and had been constinuously resident in Fiji for 12 months, owning at least £20 of freehold or leasehold property and not on the public payroll.[1]

Constituency Geographical area
EasternLau Province, Lomaiviti Province
NorthernBa District, Colo North Province, Ra Province
SouthernColo East Province, Kadavu Province, Naitasiri Province, Namosi Province, Rewa Province (except Suva), Serua Province, Tailevu Province
SuvaSuva Municipality
Vanua Levu and TaveuniBua Province, Cakaudrove Province, Macuata Province
WesternColo West Province, Lautoka District, Nadi District, Nadroga Province

Results

Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
EasternJohn Maynard HedstromUnopposedRe-elected
NorthernFrederick Clapcott67Elected
Henry Lamb Kennedy30Unseated
Informal votes3
SouthernRobert CromptonUnopposedRe-elected
SuvaHenry Marks187Re-elected
Henry Milne Scott179Re-elected
F.F. ReimanSchneider123
Informal votes2
Vanua Levu & TaveuniJoseph MacKay78Elected
T.A. Montgomery70
James McConnell5
Informal votes3
WesternReginald Harricks66Elected
Charles Wimbledon Thomas27Unseated
Informal votes1
Source: Fiji Elections

Aftermath

Badri Maharaj was reappointed as the twelfth nominated member, representing Indo-Fijians.[3]

The results of the Vanua Levu and Taveuni seat were later annulled by the Supreme Court. As a result, a by-election was held in November 1917 which Joseph MacKay was again elected,[4] receiving 84 votes to the 50 of J. Harper received 50 votes and three for James McConnell.[3] However, MacKay died on 6 December.[4] John Francis Dyer was subsequently elected in the constituency in another by-election in 1919.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 1917 Legislative Council Election Fiji Elections Archive
  2. ↑ Fiji, The Stationery Office, pxli
  3. 1 2 1917 Fiji Legislative Council elections Fiji Elections
  4. 1 2 Fiji Royal Gazette 1920, p57
  5. ↑ Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1919, p89
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