General elections were held in Fiji in July, August and September 1920.
Electoral system The Legislative Council consisted of 12 official members (eleven civil servants and a British subject not holding public office),1920 Legislative Council Election Fiji Elections Archive seven elected Europeans and two appointed Fijians. 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 Province30 JulyNorthernBa District, Colo North Province, Ra ProvinceSouthernColo East Province, Kadavu Province, Naitasiri Province, Namosi Province, Rewa Province (except Suva), Serua Province, Tailevu Province2 SeptemberSuvaSuva Municipality21 AugustBua Province, Cakaudrove Province, Macuata Province2 SeptemberWesternColo West Province, Lautoka District, Nadi District, Nadroga Province3 September
Results ConstituencyCandidateVotes%NotesEasternJohn Maynard HedstromUnopposedRe-electedNorthernFrederick Clapcott6058.3Re-electedL. Davidson4240.8N.S. Chalmers11.0SouthernFrancis Riemenschneider8055.9ElectedRobert Crompton6344.1UnseatedInformal votes1–SuvaHenry Milne Scott24236.3Re-electedHenry Marks19429.1Re-electedS.H. Ellis12318.5James Burton Turner10716.1Vanua Levu & TaveuniHerbert Valentine Tarte6245.9ElectedW.C. Fisher3828.1E. Duncan3525.9Informal votes3–WesternCharles Wimbledon Thomas6356.3ElectedJohn Percy Bayly4943.8Informal votes4–Source: Ali
Appointed members The nominated members were appointed on 15 October; one of the Fijian posts was left unfilled. PositionMemberGovernor (President)Cecil Hunter-RodwellAgent-General of ImmigrationPercy Robert BackhouseAttorney GeneralAlfred Karney YoungChief Medical OfficerGeorge Cecil StrathairnColonial PostmasterHerbert Paul St. JulianColonial SecretaryThomas Edward FellCommissioner of LandsDyson BlairCommissioner of WorksHenry Berry LeesDistrict Commissioner, RewaRichard Rutledge KaneReceiver GeneralWilliam Henry BrabantSecretary for Native AffairsDouglas Ray StewartSuperintendent of AgricultureCharles Henry KnowlesRepresenting Indo-FijiansBadri MaharajFijian memberJoni Antonio RabiciSource: Fiji Blue BookFiji Blue Book for the Year 1920, p87
Aftermath A by-election was held for the Vanua Levu and Taveuni seat on 4 October 1922, which was won by William Edmund Willoughby-Tottenham.Fiji Blue Book for the Year 1922, p83
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