1929 Fiji Legislative Council elections

Changes to the Constitution on 1 May 1929 provided for a triennial Legislative Council consisting of the Governor as President, not more than thirteen nominated members who must be public officers. There were also six elected European members, three elected Indian members and three nominated Fijian members chosen by the Governor from a list of not less than four and not more than six , who are able to speak and understand the English language, provided 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:

1. 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.
2. British subject by birth or naturalisation.
3. Age of 21 years or over.
4. Has been continuously resident in the Colony for 12 months.
5. Is in possession of either,
   1. freehold land or leasehold property within the Colony of the net total yearly value of £20;
   2. or of an annual income of not less than £120.
6. Not in receipt of a salary payable out of the public revenue of the Colony.

The qualification of elected European member were as follows:

1. Qualified to be registered as an elector and has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years.
2. Has possessed freehold property in the Colony, under his or his wife's name,  of the net value of £500, or net total yearly value of £50  for at least 12 months before the election. OR
3. 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
4. Has rented for at least 12 months before the election, freehold or leasehold property in the Colony of the yearly value of £100. OR
5. Has an annual income from all sources of not less than £200.

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:

1. The son of parents of Indian descent.
2. Age of 21 years and over.
3. 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.
4. Has been continuously resident in the Colony for two years.
5. 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.
6. Has for a period of not less than six months immediately preceeding the date on which the electoral roll is closed either;

1. 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
2. been in possession of a net annual cash income of seventy-five pounds OR
3. 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

European Elected Members

Southern Division

T. W. Alport Barker	438	*
Henry Marks	313
Henry Milne Scott	471	*
Informal	7
Total	1,229

Eastern Division

John Maynard Hedstrom

unopposed

*

Vanua Levu and Taveuni

E. Hathaway	15
W. E. Willoughby Tottenham	120	*
Informal	32
Total	167

Northern Division

Hugh H. Ragg

unopposed

*

Western Division

J. P. Bayly	59	*
P. Costello	49
P. W. Faddy	24
Charles Wimbledon Thomas	50
Informal	7
Total	189

Indian Elected Members

Southern Division

Vishnu Deo	419	*
John F. Grant	162
Informal	13
Total	594

Eastern Division

James Ramchandar Rao	63	*
Khalil Sahim	20
Informal	5
Total	88

Northern and Western Divisions

Champadan Manakandan Gopalan	222
Parmanand Singh	309	*
Informal	57
Total	588

Fijian Nominated Members

Popi Seniloli	nominated	*
Deve Toganivalu	nominated	*
	nominated	*

* Elected or nominated members

1. Reference:  The Colony of Fiji: 1874 - 1936, Government Printer, Suva, Fiji, 1926, pp.13-16