1917 Fijian general election

none General elections were held in Fiji in June and July 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.1917 Legislative Council Election Fiji Elections ArchiveFiji, The Stationery Office, pxli The number of elected Europeans remained at seven and the number of appointed Fijians at two. The Governor served as President of the Council. 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. ConstituencyGeographical areaElection dateEasternLau Province, Lomaiviti Province22 JuneNorthernBa District, Colo North Province, Ra Province21 JulySouthernColo East Province, Kadavu Province, Naitasiri Province, Namosi Province, Rewa Province (except Suva), Serua Province, Tailevu Province23 JuneSuvaSuva Municipality21 JulyVanua Levu and TaveuniBua Province, Cakaudrove Province, Macuata ProvinceWesternColo West Province, Lautoka District, Nadi District, Nadroga Province20 July Results ConstituencyCandidateVotes%NotesEasternJohn Maynard HedstromUnopposedRe-electedNorthernFrederick Clapcott6769.1ElectedHenry Lamb Kennedy3030.9UnseatedInformal votes3–SouthernRobert CromptonUnopposedRe-electedSuvaHenry Marks18738.2Re-electedHenry Milne Scott17936.6Re-electedFrancis Reimenschneider12325.2Informal votes2–Vanua Levu & TaveuniJoseph MacKay7851.0ElectedT.A. Montgomery7045.8James McConnell53.3Informal votes3–WesternReginald Harricks6671.0ElectedCharles Wimbledon Thomas2729.0UnseatedInformal votes1–Source: Ali Appointed members The nominated members were appointed on 3 August. PositionMemberGovernor (President)Ernest Bickham Sweet-EscottAgent-General of ImmigrationRobert Malcolm BoothAttorney GeneralAlfred Karney YoungChief Medical OfficerGeorge LynchColonial PostmasterHerbert Paul St. JulianColonial SecretaryEyre HutsonCommissioner of LandsDyson BlairCommissioner of WorksWilliam Akerman MillerReceiver GeneralRichard Sims Donkin RankineRegistrar-GeneralRoger GreenSecretary for Native AffairsKenneth AllardyceSuperintendent of AgricultureCharles Henry KnowlesRepresenting Indo-FijiansBadri MaharajFijian memberJoni Madraiwiwi IFijian memberJoni Antonio RabiciSource: Fiji Blue BookFiji Blue Book for the Year 1917, p91 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,Fiji Royal Gazette 1920, p57 receiving 84 votes to the 50 of J. Harper received 50 votes and three for James McConnell.1917 Fiji Legislative Council elections Fiji Elections However, MacKay died on 6 December. John Francis Dyer was subsequently elected in the constituency in another by-election in 1919.Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1919, p89 References Category:1917 elections in Oceania Category:1917 in Fiji 1917 Category:1917 elections in the British Empire