work with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. He was initially employed as a telephone operator, but when he complained that he was not being given the promised job, he was sent to work in a cane field. He wrote to the I.I.A. and Manilal Doctor forwarded his case to the Anti-Slavery Society of London. The Society approached the Colonial Office and Veeraswamy was able to buy his freedom and get employment outside the indenture system. After the appointment of Badri Maharaj as the nominated member representing Indians in the Legislative Council (Fiji), the I.I.A. took on the role of an opposition party because Badri Maharaj had little support amongst the Fiji Indians. The I.I.A. was allowed to present an address of welcome to Admiral Lord Jellicoe, on behalf of the Indian community, during his visit to Fiji in 1919. On 26 December 1919, the Association organised a conference in the Suva Town Hall, which Manilal chaired and which passed a number of resolutions, including a call for independence for India, sympathy for the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and other resolutions relating to Fiji Indians. On 29 December 1919 the Association sent a list of request to the government which included the following: Immediate cancellation of all remaining indenture agreements Repeal of the Masters and servants ordinance Improved educational facilities Training of Indian medical officers like the Fijians Permission to repatriate gold sovereigns Establishment of sugar-cane board Abolition of hut tax and hawkers licences Agricultural training and financial help for Co-operative credit societies or agricultural banks Better pay for skilled Indian workers such as locomotive drivers and those handling dangerous machinery Worker's compensation Better roads to Indian settlements Easier acquisition of land without distinction of race Better railway and steamship facilities Amendment to municipal ordinances to enable most Indian ratepayers to vote Amendment to all Fiji's ordinances to enable Indians to do most of the things permitted to Europeans only. The Colonial Secretary, ignored the requests. The Demise of I.I.A. Following, the strike of 1920, and after the Government decided to deport Manilal, the I.I.A. organised petitions in different languages, asking for him to be allowed to stay in Fiji. After Manilal was deported from Fiji in 1920, the I.I.A. collapsed. In the 1920s attempts were made to revive the I.I.A., having representatives from all sections of the Indian community, with Ilahi Ramjan as President, Ram Singh as Secretary