Women’s drink permit ends
THE restriction on the sale of alcohol to females was repealed in 1969. But not without its share of debate in the community and among members of the Legislative Council.
The Fiji Times of January 29 1969 reported that women members of the Legislative Council - Irene Jai Narayan and Adi Losalini Dovi - were among the first to welcome the move saying the time had come for “Fijian and Indian women to be entitled to drink without permits”.
They were supported by Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara who said: “I support the Bill because I think our women are quite capable of looking after themselves.”
The Leader of the Opposition, A.D.Patel and the General Member Eastern, W.M.Barrett described the liquor permit system as a “slur” and “insult” on Fijian and Indian womanhood.
General Member for West Viti Levu, R.H.Yarrow said he had every faith in the ability of women to “shoulder the responsibility of liquor drinking”.
But a survey conducted in Nausori by the Methodist Church at the time, revealed that 93 per cent of woman respondents opposed the abolishment of drinking permits and wanted them to remain.
The survey was conducted by the church’s Department of Christian Citizenship which claimed it was among the “widest possible cross section of Fijian and Indian women” and in the end found out that 93 per cent opposed the change.
A spokesman for the church’s Standing Committee said “while the amendment seeks to remove the evil of discrimination” it could introduce further evils which could be a “real threat to the stability of Fiji's family life”.
"The Methodist Church has asked the government to conduct the widest possible survey among Fijian and Indian woman, or even to hold a plebiscite (referendum), before this amendment is enacted," The Fiji Times quoted the church spokesman as saying.
“One responsible Fijian woman consulted on the subject described the proposed amendment as incredibly naïve."
The committee also described the amendments which enabled special licences to be issued to extend trading hours on a Saturday night until 2am on
Sunday as “an unwarranted and unnecessary provision”.
The spokesman added that the standing committee of the church protested any change "in the strongest possible terms".
He also condemned gambling during fundraising festivals.
“…there seems to be a real connection between gambling and the desperate financial plight of many urban families and everything possible should be done to curb this practice.”
As in other Pacific Islands, a permit system was set up in Fiji to control alcohol accessibility. The permit system did not apply to Europeans, but only to "Fijians and Indians”.
No permits were issued to women, either Indian or Fijian, or to young men (under the 25 years in the case of Indians, and under 30 years in the case of Fijians).
In 1958 restrictions on access to beer were removed for adult males of any race and four years later, in 1962, adult males were allowed access to any alcoholic beverage.
...Legislative Council, Irene Jai Narayan and Adi Losalini Dovi, were among the first to welcome the move saying the time had come for ‘Fijian and Indian women to be entitled to drink without permits’. They were supported by Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara who said: “I support the Bill because I think our women are quite capable of looking after themselves”