General elections were held in Fiji in June and July 1917.[1]

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.[2][3] The number of elected Europeans remained at seven and the number of appointed Fijians at two. The Governor served as President of the Council.[1]

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 continuously resident in Fiji for 12 months, either owning at least £20 of freehold or leasehold property or having an annual income of at least £120, and were not on the public payroll.[2]

Constituency Geographical area Election date
EasternLau Province, Lomaiviti Province22 June
NorthernBa District, Colo North Province, Ra Province21 July
SouthernColo East Province, Kadavu Province, Naitasiri Province, Namosi Province, Rewa Province (except Suva), Serua Province, Tailevu Province23 June
SuvaSuva Municipality21 July
Vanua Levu and TaveuniBua Province, Cakaudrove Province, Macuata Province
WesternColo West Province, Lautoka District, Nadi District, Nadroga Province20 July

Results

Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
EasternJohn Maynard HedstromUnopposedRe-elected
NorthernFrederick Clapcott6769.1Elected
Henry Lamb Kennedy3030.9Unseated
Informal votes3
SouthernRobert CromptonUnopposedRe-elected
SuvaHenry Marks18738.2Re-elected
Henry Milne Scott17936.6Re-elected
Francis Reimenschneider12325.2
Informal votes2
Vanua Levu & TaveuniJoseph MacKay7851.0Elected
T.A. Montgomery7045.8
James McConnell53.3
Informal votes3
WesternReginald Harricks6671.0Elected
Charles Wimbledon Thomas2729.0Unseated
Informal votes1
Source: Ali

Appointed members

The nominated members were appointed on 3 August.[1]

Position Member
Governor (President)Ernest Bickham Sweet-Escott
Agent-General of ImmigrationRobert Malcolm Booth
Attorney GeneralAlfred Karney Young
Chief Medical OfficerGeorge Lynch
Colonial PostmasterHerbert Paul St. Julian
Colonial SecretaryEyre Hutson
Commissioner of LandsDyson Blair
Commissioner of WorksWilliam Akerman Miller
Receiver GeneralRichard Sims Donkin Rankine
Registrar-GeneralRoger Green
Secretary for Native AffairsKenneth Allardyce
Superintendent of AgricultureCharles Henry Knowles
Representing Indo-FijiansBadri Maharaj
Fijian memberJoni Madraiwiwi I
Fijian memberJoni Antonio Rabici
Source: Fiji Blue Book[1]

Aftermath

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.[5] However, MacKay died on 6 December.[4] John Francis Dyer was subsequently elected in the constituency in another by-election in 1919.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1917, p91
  2. 1 2 1917 Legislative Council Election Fiji Elections Archive
  3. Fiji, The Stationery Office, pxli
  4. 1 2 Fiji Royal Gazette 1920, p57
  5. 1917 Fiji Legislative Council elections Fiji Elections
  6. Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1919, p89
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