Alfred Hancock Witherow (25 February 1872 –10 September 1948) was a New Zealand-born Fijian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Council between 1908 and 1911.
Witherow was born in Hawke's Bay in New Zealand. He emigrated to Fiji in 1894 and initially grew sugar cane in Rewa. [1] He later switched to growing bananas and became a major exporter to Australia and New Zealand,before concentrating on dairy farming. [1] He married Lily Bailey in 1904,with whom he had two sons and four daughters. [1]
In the 1908 general elections he contested the Planters seat and was elected to the Legislative Council. He did not run in the next elections in 1911.
Witherow died at his home in Waila in Rewa in September 1948 at the age of 76. [1]
RatuInoke Matavasona Kububuabola is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. He is the former leader of the opposition and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Since 11 August 2022,he has been a High Commissioner to New Zealand.
RoTeimumu Vuikaba Kepa is a Fijian chief,former Member of the Parliament of Fiji,and former leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She was the first Fijian woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition. She previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the Qarase-led Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) government from 2001 to 2006. As the paramount chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy,she holds the title Roko Tui Dreketi.
RatuSir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau was a Fijian chief,soldier,politician and cricketer. He was a member of the Fijian legislature from 1944 until his death,also serving as Minister for Commerce,Industry and Labour and Deputy Prime Minister. During the 1940s he made two appearances for the Fiji national cricket team.
RatuJosaia Naulumatua Rayawa is a Fijian Chief,religious minister,Father to Bulou Rayawa,Tunaulu Rayawa,Aca Rayawa,
Manoa Rayawa and Dikele Rayawa,also has a grandson named after him and was born in 2007 was also former political leader. He served in the Senate from 2001 to 2006 as one of nine nominees of the Fijian Prime Minister,Laisenia Qarase. He had previously been President of the now-defunct Christian Democratic Alliance (VLV),which won three seats in the 1999 election.
Pt. Vishnu Deo OBE was the first Fiji born and bred leader of the Indo-Fijians. From his initial election to the Legislative Council in 1929 to his retirement in 1959,he remained the most powerful Indo-Fijians political leader in Fiji. He was a staunch supporter of Arya Samaj in Fiji and also the editor of the first successful Hindi-language newspaper to be published in Fiji.
Parmanand Singh was one of the three Indo-Fijians elected to the Legislative Council of Fiji in October 1929 when Indo-Fijians were given the first opportunity to elect their own representatives. The other two were Vishnu Deo and James Ramchandar Rao. Singh was a landlord from Ba and undertook several business ventures which included publishing newspapers.
Ayodhya Prasad Sharma was an Indo-Fijian farmers' leader and politician. He formed the most successful farmers' union in Fiji and forced the Colonial Sugar Refining Company to make concessions to farmers after 60 years of total control over Fiji's economy. However,other Indo-Fijian leaders formed rival unions and his initial success was not repeated. He also served as a member of the Legislative Council between 1953 and 1959.
Ben Mohammed Jannif was an Indo-Fijian businessman,scout leader,soccer administrator and politician. He was one of the architects of Fiji Indian Football Association and served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1950 to 1953.
This is a synopsis of organisations formed by Indians in Fiji. When they became free from the bondage of indenture and were able to organise themselves,they founded numerous organizations to seek social and political justice. These organisations promoted the teaching of Indian languages and religious practices and also to help others in time of need. Some of the successful organisations are listed below in the order in which they were established. Some,such as the National Federation Party,are no longer exclusively Indian,but are still predominantly so.
Ewen William Alison was a conservative politician who sat in both the House of Representatives (1902–1908) and the Legislative Council (1918–1932) of New Zealand.
Charles Hayward Izard was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand,and a Wellington lawyer.
Henry Leslie Michel was Mayor of Hokitika for several years,and served on the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1918 until his death. He had stood for the New Zealand Parliament on four occasions,in later years for the Reform Party,but was unsuccessful.
Henry Carson was an Australian politician who served in both houses of the Parliament of Western Australia,as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1906 and from 1908 to 1911,and as a member of the Legislative Council from 1914 to 1920. He stood for parliament twelve times in total,but won election only four times.
General elections were held in Fiji in 1929. They were the first in which Indo-Fijians were allowed to vote.
Sir Henry Marks was an Australian-born Fijian politician,serving as a member of the Legislative Council of Fiji for over twenty years. Alongside Robert Crompton,John Maynard Hedstrom and Henry Milne Scott,he was one of the 'big four' that heavily influenced the Fijian economy and political sphere in the first half of the 20th century.
RatuGeorge Cokanauto Tuisawau was a Fijian chief and politician. He was Roko Tui of Rewa from 1936 until 1961,and spent two decades as a member of the Legislative Council.
Harold Brockett Gibson was a New Zealand-born Fijian solicitor and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives in three spells between 1937 and 1972. He also represented Fiji in the lawn bowls competition at the 1950 British Empire Games.
Captain David Robbie was a Scottish-born businessman,planter and politician in Fiji. He served as a member of the Legislative Council between 1905 and 1908.
Charles Wimbledon Thomas was a Fijian businessman and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council three times between 1911 and 1923.
Alipate Vuate Sikivou was a Fijian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council from 1966 until his death in 1970.