Pacific Islands Monthly - 24 January 1935

Incidents in New Hebrides

AN incident which occurred recently in the New Hebrides throws some light upon the conditions of administration which exist in the Condominium.

A recruiter from a well-known French firm visited the island of Aoba, and for some days was the guest of a well known planter there. When the re cruiter took his departure he took with him the domestic native servant of his host —he apparently had enticed him away as a labour recruit. This form of returning hospitality was bad enough— but it was made worse because this native was the planter’s only trained house servant.

The planter was in a difficulty. He knew that it was useless to appeal to the Administration —there would be months of circumlocution and delay, while officials chattered and argued.

Meanwhile he was without a servant.

A section of the planter’s loyal native staff recognised his difficulty, and the native crew of his boat, without receiv ing any instructions, took action on their own account. They put to sea, overtook the recruiting vessel in the night, many miles away, along the coast of Aoba, crept up beside it and got aboard while the Frenchman was asleep in his cabin.

The planter’s natives, apparently, were well led. They procured some light rope, and tied up the angry and protesting Frenchman, and shut him up in his cabin. Then they aroused the crew of the recruiting vessel and compelled the latter to uncover the hold, and produce the planter’s missing house-boy. The crew of the recruiting vessel apparently were thoroughly cowed, because the miss ing house servant was produced promptly.

With the released native, the planter’s crew triumphantly returned to the plan tation and handed the house-boy over to their master.

The planter recognises that —although he is not personally responsible—the law has been broken in two or three places, and at latest advices he was sitting un comfortably, awaiting developments. But, up to the end of December, nothing had happened. * * * We have received from a correspondent in the New Hebrides a complaint about the recruiting activities of a company which has its headquarters on Santo.

This company has three vessels out, and its methods are stated to be bad. One way in which recruits are obtained is to bribe the chiefs; another is to make available large supplies of trade gin and similar commodities. It is said that the recruiting activities of this organisation in the Banks Islands are actually bring ing about a serious condition of depopu lation.

Our correspondent, in making these statements, gives names and addresses; but it is not desirable that such details be published at this stage. It does ap pear, however, that the whole subject of labour recruiting in the New Hebrides demands some official attention.

Mr. G. K. Shand, who sold out his in terests in Vavau, Tonga, last year, and returned to Australia, is living in Armi dale, N.S.W., at present, but is contem plating an early return to the South Seas.

Salamaua ’Drome

Menace to N.G. Transport System

IF something is not done soon by the Administration of New Guinea to improve the condition of the Salamaua aerodrome, the Administration may have to shoulder the responsibility of a bad aviation accident.

Complaints have been made repeatedly about the condition of this important aerodrome; but nothing has been done and the landing-ground has gone from bad to worse. It is one of the most important aerodromes in New Guinea and is one regularly used by all aviation companies which carry on the vital transport ser vices between the coast and the gold fields.

The trouble seems to lie in the original arrangement which was made between the Administration and New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., under which the aero drome was leased to N.G.G. Ltd., but with the proviso that any aviation concern was free to use the aerodrome. It was assumed, apparently, that N.G.G. Ltd. would keep the aerodrome in reasonably good order; but N.G.G. Ltd. is a concern noted for strange policies and mysterious motives, and for some reason best known to itself, it has failed to keep the aero drome in good order, although much of its important freight has to pass through this station.

In wet weather, the Salamaua ’drome is simply a shallow lake; and in dry weather it is a region of dreadful ruts, and traps for young aviators.

There is plenty of material available — gravel etc. —wheiewith to patch up the aerodrome, and labour is cheap and abundant. In view of the great import ance of the place, both as a landing ground and as a unit in the transport system of New Guinea, the least the Ad ministration should do would be to expend £2,000 or £3,000 in building a concrete runaway of about 300 yards in length, so that aeroplanes using this aerodrome might maintain their regular schedules in reasonable safety.

We have received a number of com munications on this subject; and we are given to understand that the “stand-pat” attitude of the Administration is due to the lease granted to New Guinea Gold fields Limited and the latter’s refusal to accept responsibility for the deplorable condition of the aerodrome. But it does not in any way provide the Administration with an excuse.

In the public interest the Administra tion should, if no other course is possible, deal drastically with N.G.G. Ltd. in this matter. The latter company up-to-date has been a painful embarrassment to the Administration, in connection with the non-development of gold-bearing lands, and no one in New Guinea will be sorry if the Administration takes off its gloves and shows some courage in dealing with the Salamaua aerodrome.

Senator Sir Walter Kingsmill, B.A., K.B., who, for a time, was connected with Papuan Sugar Corporation, Ltd., which acquired land at Wanigela, North-eastern Papua, to develop the sugar industry, died in Sydney on January 15. He visited Papua in September, 1933, to inspect the company’s holding there.

Tamasese’s Death

Samoan Mau Commemorates Tamasese’s Death

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Dec. 30.

DECEMBER 28, the fifth anniversary of the death of High Chief Tamasese was commemorated by a large procession of the Samoan Women’s Man, in black dresses with white stripes, the Man uni form. The procession, preceded by a brass band and wives of the leaders of the Mau Movement, Tamsese (daughter of Mr. O. F. Nelson) and Faamuina, marched through the main Beach Road, of Apia to Tamasese’s grave, upon which a large number of wreaths were laid.

In December, 1929, Mr. Smyth, one of three Mau sympathisers who were de ported from Samoa, returned to Apia at the expiration of his banishment period.

The Mau’s greeting to him took the form of a procession, wherein were several natives for whom the police were search ing. In an attempt to arrest the wanted men a riot was caused, in which a white policeman and eleven Samoans, including High Chief Tamasese, a prominent leader of the Mau, were killed.

Good Type Of Mission

Launch

A NEW 40ft. launch was recently launched from the yards of Lars Halvorsen, Sydney, for the Seventh-day Adventist mission, and for work in the St. Matthias Group, New Guinea.

This is a somewhat new type of boat for open, sea work, and has been evolved as the result of Mr. Halvorsen recently visiting the group and seeing something of the needs of fairly large vessels in open sea travel.

The boat, which has been named “Malalagi" (the Emeria word for “light”) is 40 feet in length.

having a beam of 12ft. 6in., and a draught of three feet. The hull is built entirely of New Zealand kauri and New South Wales hardwood, while the decks are of Indian teak, copper fasten ings being used throughout. It is of the raised deck type, with a good flair. Accommodation is found for the crew forward. Immediately behind this is the engine room, in which a 19 h.p. twin cylinder Gardner Diesel engine is installed, which is capable of driving her at eight knots in open: sea. Aft of the engine is a cabin, with which is built an up-to-date toilet. This cabin is glassed with plate glass, providing a good view and yet giving ample protection. An open well is right aft, this being protected by strong canvas curtains, which can be drawn all around to shut out the weather.

Steering can be done from two points. There is an emergency sail, but this will be very rarely used, the engine being of sufficient power and reliability to be the main and practically only driving power. There is sleeping accommodation on the boat for five adults and three native crew.

From the appearance and build of the vessel she should prove to be a very dry and steady boat in the open sea.

The Malalagi

to Sydney

p. 11

Chas. B. Nordhoff

Successful Author’s Visit to Sydney

EVERYONE who met him in Sydney formed a warm regard for Charles B.

Nordhoff, the distinguished American writer, who returned to his home in Tahiti in December. Nordhoff is one of that fine type of Americans whom all the world delights to honour —men who love their fellow humans, who know, nothing of personal animosities and international jealousies, and who are courteous gentle men, in all circumstances.

The Mitchell Library, Sydney—repository of Australia’s historical documents—re ceived at the hands of C.B.N. a dredging such as it had never before known. The American writer —with his equally fa-

mous collaborator, James Norman Hall— has a plan for a new book on early Aus tralian history—probably a continuation of the career of Captain William Bligh, whom they have re-introduced to the world in their successful “Bounty” tri ology. (Bligh, after the “Bounty” epi sode, was an early Governor of New South Wales.) Nordhoff discovered in the Mitchell Library, and in private col lections in and about Sydney, historical treasures which few of us knew were in existence and which, doubtless, will provide much excellent material for the clever pens of Messrs. Nordhoff and Hall.

People who spent an hour or two with C.B.N. came away in a sadly deflated condition. There never was a man with a greater capacity for extracting useful information from his willing and happy fellow mortals, and with such a passion tor accuracy and detail. He wanted data about early Australia: and, in a week, he

knew far more concerning economic con ditions and public morals in Sydney in 1800 A.D. than any hundred people who had lived there since birth. He has an amazing memory, and a mind which auto matically sorts, classifies, and card indexes the masses of facts and theories gathered by his eager, questing spirit.

Men found him interesting and enter taining, but a little exhausting. Women thought him charming and good-looking, but baffling. Nordhoff, as a matter of fact, is one of the shyest authors in cap tivity.

The accompanying photograph was ob tained by plain trickery. A Sydney friend inveigled him into a studio with a specious story about passport records.

When he saw this picture he was much distressed. “My God!” he wailed.

“They’ve made me look like a cinema star!” Then he learned that the P.I.M. had a copy, and he tried to bind the editor to secrecy. “If ever* they see that thing in Tahiti,” he said, “they will swear that I was painted and scented!”

But journalism is journalism—a foul, dog-eating profession—and here is the picture of one of the most likeable men ever sent by Tahiti to Australia.

Nordhoff’s collaborator, James Norman Hall, has just written a lively little book, “The Tale of a Shipwreck,” being an account of how he went by schooner to Pitcairn Island, in search of material for their last book; and of how, when re turning, he was cast away in the Dan gerous Archipelago. It is a delightful story of adventure —a typical product of Hall’s picture-making brain and in genious pen.

It is reported that “Mutiny”—the first of Nordhoff and Hall’s triology—has sold 100,000 copies; and that the second book, “Men Against the Sea,” is doing nearly as well. The third book, “Pitcairn Island,” which supplies much hitherto unpublished history, and gives us one of the ghastliest stories known to the Pa cific, has been issued in America and England, and is selling edition after edi tion, so quickly that no copies yet have reached Australia.

Chas. B. Nordhoff. —Photo.: Dorothy Welding.

Dragon Aeroplane for New Guinea

p. 11

New Guinea

TO replace the small aeroplane which was destroyed in a smash in the jungle near Wau, in December, Messrs.

W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd. have pur chased a Dragon Moth aeroplane from West Australian Airways Ltd. The ma chine is of similar type and age to the Dragon aeroplane which Messrs. Carpen ter bought about the middle of 1934, and which is now operating between Salamaua and the New Guinea goldfields. The machine was purchased by West Aus tralian Airways Ltd. about the middle of 1934.

The Dragon ’plane arrived from West ern Australia at Mascot, Sydney, in January, and was being assembled there in mid-January. Mr. Ferguson, one of Messrs. Carpenter’s pilots from New Guinea, arrived in Sydney in January to fly the machine from Sydney to Sala maua, where it will take its place in the Carpenter Air Service. The Carpenter Service will now consist of two Dragon ’planes and one Fox Moth.

Catholic Missionaries

p. 11

Attacked Natives Kill Three Workers in Mt. Hagen Area, N.G.

A member of the advance party of the Catholic Mission which is penetrat ing the area beyond Mount Hagen, Central New Guinea, Rev. Father Charles Morschheuser, was murdered by natives on December 16. When leaving Wokama village (about 30 miles west of Mount Hagen) with Father van Baar, Rev.

Morschheuser, who was a little behind the main party, was attacked by natives, and died from arrow wounds.

Wokama had not previously been visited by Government officials, though the vanguard posts of both the Catholic and Lutheran Missions are established in the vicinity, A strong patrol, including a district officer and three other officers, left Salamaua for the scene immediately news was brought in by aeroplane in January by one of the Leahy brothers, who was exploring and prospecting in the area.

Scarcely had the consternation following the news of the attack subsided in Sala maua when it was reported that Brother Eugene, of the same mission, and two natives, had been murdered on January 8, in the Dengaragu area, close to where the first tragedy occurred.

The “S.M. Herald” reported, on January 17:— “The district officer and detachments of native constabulary who are searching for the murderers are waiting for reinforce ments. This information was brought to Salamaua on January 16, by Pilot O’Dea, who had been delayed at Chimbu aero drome, 100 miles from Mount Hagen, in which district the murders occurred. Pilot O’Dea said he saw a large and warlike body of natives apparently waiting to at tack the police. The missionary father who went into the interior from Madang on December 7 has not been heard of since.”

Later (on January 21), it was announced that Brother Eugene had reached Sala maua, suffering from a severe spear wound in one lung. Two Assistant Dis trict Officers, with police, were then in charge of the Mount Hagen district, which was “quiet.”

Rev. Morschheuser was born in Germany, in 1904, and went to Madang from Hong kong. He had been attached to the mission for about a year. Brother Eu gene, was born in Illinois, U.S.A., in 1900.

In 1927, he went to Madang from Sydney and spent some time there before pro ceeding to the Catholic station in the Bismarck Ranges, where he was instructor in native agriculture. For the last two years he has been doing field work in the Mt. Hagen district.

Both, missionaries were members of the Society of the Divine Word, to which the work of the Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea was entrusted in 1922. They were under the jurisdiction of Right Rev. Francis Wolf, D.D., S.V.D., Titular Bishop of Bylos, who is stationed at Alexishafen, on the mainland of the Mandated Territory.

Commissioner May Replace

Western Samoa

Commissioner May Replace Administrator

A RESIDENT of Samoa, in a personal letter to the editor, says;— “There are more than a few indications that the present Administrator of Wes tern Samoa, Brigadier-General H. E.

Hart, will retire when his appointment, expires in April, 1935, and that there will be, for the present, no further ap pointment of an Administrator.

“It is believed that the New Zealand Government, for reasons of economy, will appoint Mr. A. C. Turnbull to take charge of the administration, with the status of Commissioner. Mr. Turnbull now is Secretary to the Administrator, and is Acting Administrator in the absence of General Hart.

“Such an arrangement would be wel comed by the people here, as Mr. Turn bull is held in considerable esteem, and the need for economy is generally recog nised.

N. Guinea Aviators Bride

ON January 9, Miss Helen Lindeman, of Bellevue Hill, Sydney, left by the

Montoro for Port Moresby, where she was married on January 17 to Mr. R. O.

Mant of New Guinea. Dick Mant, a popu lar aviator of Messrs. Carpenter’s Air Service, and his attractive wife will re side at Salamaua.

Rev. E. A. Clarke, accompanied by Mrs.

Clarke, returned to Sydney by the Macd hui on January 21. For two years they have been working for the Methodist Mission at Salamo, Papua, but the con tinued ill-health of Mrs. Clarke necessi tated their return to Australia.

Mrs. R. O. Mant —Photo.: Dorothy Welding.

“Devilish”

Melbourne Woman’s Visit to Pago-Pago

ATTRIBUTING her experiences to “the super-imagination, if not the menda city,” of American advertising propaganda, Miss Vida Lazarus, who returned in the Mariposa early in January from a holiday visit to Pago Pago, described the accom modation there as “perfectly devilish,” (says the Melbourne Star).

Miss Lazarus is the managing law clerk for her father, Mr. Mark Lazarus, and is well known in Melbourne.

“We were told by advertisements that there was good hotel accommodation at one of the most wonderful tourist centres in the southern hemisphere,” she said.

“What we found was a badly kept hut, swarming with ants and adjoining a native hut, where we were obliged to sleep in considerable discomfort and lack of privacy.

“I was thankful that we only spent one night there. Women visitors had no choice but to put up with the prying gaze of curious natives. There were 24 Australian tourists visiting Pago Pago at the time, and all were obliged to endure abominable treatment.

“At Leone, 15 miles from Pago Pago, which is a marvellous place, the condi tions were even worse. Unless naval offi cers took pity on visitors they were sub jected to treatment that was not fit for white people.

“Some of the natives who came into close contact with the visitors were suf fering from disease, and the hygienic conditons were thoroughly objectionable.”

Miss Lazarus expressed a desire to dis sociate from responsibility for such misleading advertising the names of the Matson line and its Australian agents, who, she said, had given wonderful ser vice throughout the voyage.

She added that Pago Pago had lived up to the reputation suggested for it by Somerset Maugham in his book “Rain," which, she believed, had been written in the “hotel” to which she took so much objection. While she was there it had rained in true style, and she was very glad to leave.

Several other passengers in the Mari posa supported Miss Lazarus in her com plaints about the accommodation.

New Gold Mine In Fiji

THE ball mill erected on the Emperor Mine, Tavua, Northern Fiji, com menced crushing on December 31.

Recent visitors to the field included Sir Henry Scott, Mr. Tommy Horne, Dr.

Lambert, Dr. Hunt, and Mr. Dan Costello; and the overseas visitors were Mr. Eric Byron Moore, Mr. May, Mr. Thomas Vic tor, and Mr. Pat Cody—all from Mel bourne, and well known in Collins Street.

Out of 15cwt. of ore sent recently by Mr. Pat Costello to Australia to be crush ed, over 37ozs. of gold were produced. The value, in Australian currency, was £ 306.

The directing force behind this inter esting development of the Fiji gold in dustry is Mr. E. G. Theodore, formerly Federal Treasurer in Australia.

Proposed Tax on Foreign

To Assist Tahiti

Sugar Trade

Proposed Tax on Foreign Grown Article

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Dec. 2.

AT a meeting of the Papeete Chamber of Commerce held recently an inter esting debate took place on the question of increasing the import duty on foreign sugar. This proposition has cropped up periodically for several years past, but has hitherto been negatived owing to lack of sufficient support. This time, however, the Chamber voted in favour of a vari able or compensatory tax upon imported foreign sugars, designed to reduce the margin between the cost price of such sugars and that of the locally grown article.

During the course of the discussion it became apparent that the sugar produc tion from Atimaono plantation—the sole enterprise of this kind in the Colony at present—has increased very largely dur ing recent years, and is now in the neighbourhood of 900 tons per annum.

This local industry is now obliged to compete with foreign sugar—mostly of Chinese origin—which is imported by local Chinese merchants at a very low c.i.f. cost (about 0.90 francs per kilo), and which does not, of course, benefit the Colony by providing employment for local labour, as is the case with Atimaono sugar.

Other speakers stressed the consumers’ interests, and were against the imposi tion of increased import duties, but eventually the proposal was carried by a small majority and a recommendation in accord therewith forwarded to the Ad ministration. It is thought that a tax of 0.30 frs. per kilo will be sufficient to even up costs at the present time, to be sub ject to future variation depending upon the c.i.f. price of foreign sugars. The recommendations of the Chamber have been sent to the Minister for the Colo nies in France, from whom a reply is shortly expected.

Queensland Geologist

To Survey Morobe

ON the 15th of the month Mr. N. H. Fisher formerly assistant geologist with Mt. Isa Mines Ltd., Queensland, joined the Morobe Mining Warden’s staff as geologist, said the Morobe Mining War den’s report for October. Prior to taking up his duties at Wau, Mr. Fisher geo logically examined and reported on the Tugi Tugi goldfield, New Ireland district.

The geologist will be principally en gaged on the Morobe goldfield in assist ing prospectors, and in generally outlin ing those areas most suitable for pros pecting, and in mapping the favourable structures and formations within them.

Later he will commence a systematic geological survey of the goldfield. It is hoped that an assay laboratory will be established at Wau in the near future.

Sir Eyre Hutson, formerly Governor of Fiji, arrived at Sydney from London by the Ormonde on January 17.

Tropicalities

p. 13

THREE mission workers have been killed by natives in the newly-discovered Mt.

Hagen region. Central New Guinea. Police have gone out to seize the “murderers.”

There are indications that a good deal of fighting will occur and many men be killed, before this “incident” is done with.

There was no need for all this blood shed, disturbance and waste. Last year, when the missionaries began rushing in to “convert” the new-found natives, we urged that the tribes be left alone, to live as they have lived for thousands of years. We said it would be time enough for missionaries to get busy when miners and other European advance guards took the “blessings of civilisation” among the primitive tribes, and the lat ter needed protection accordingly.

But it was no use. The evangelists, with zeal and courage as admirable as their enterprise is unwise and deplor able, have gone In among the untrained natives: and many lives, in the result, are to be sacrificed. Missionary martyrs —punitive expeditions—disappearance of native population. Pacific Islands his tory merely repeats itself —but, the pity of it! * * * AS we predicted, the New Year “Honours List” and Prince Henry’s “Honours List,” announced with the usual newspaper burblings about “public service,” do not contain the name of General Tom Griffiths, who retired re cently from the Administratorship of New Guinea. But knighthoods have been con ferred upon all sorts of professional poli ticians and social limelighters. Mr. Colin Stephen, chairman of the senior Sydney racing club, is now Sir Colin Stephen; but heaven alone knows what this gentle man has done for the public weal, beyond handing out complimentary tickets to distinguished visitors who could well af ford to pay for them.

General Griffiths rose from the ranks, by sheer merit, to become a distinguished and most successful military leader and administrator. There never was, in a re sponsible position, a man who carried out his duty with more conscientious thorough ness than General Griffiths—he gave his great talents unsparingly to every im portant post he occupied. His last term in New Guinea put the coping-stone on a splendid career. He found the Territory surging and seething with grievances and general discontent. His predecessor, in his last years of office, had virtually sur rendered his authority and his judgment to bureaucracy; and Rabaul officialdom was making a welter of it. Griffiths, al most in a day, altered all that. Any man in New Guinea could personally interview the Administrator and could rest assured that his case would be considered with absolute impartiality, free from the in fluence of unimaginative and convention alised departmentalism. Within two years, the praises of General Griffiths were be ing sung by every man in New Guinea— including the bureaucrats whose claws had been clipped. Even the powerful new companies which the gold industry brought into being praised his scrupulous fairness and his liberal point of view. The General did not achieve that result easily—as a

matter of fact, only an iron constitution could have stood up to the immense tasks he imposed on himself. Withal, he remained plain Tom Griffiths—a simple, kindly, unostentatious man, a consistent hater of swank and limelight. He is the sort of man whom this young nation should have been delighted to honour.

But he goes into retirement, unsung and undecorated, while all sorts of useless hangers-on collect titles and gee*-gaws.

The “honours” system, as a method of acknowledging genuine public service, has much to commend it; but Australian governments are reducing it to absurdity.

People already are beginning to giggle when they are introduced to “Sir Something This or That.” Is it to be wondered at? * * * STEAMER fares in the Pacific are sheer murder!” writes a correspondent. "£50 is the minimum return rate between Sydney and Suva, and all other routes in proportion.” We agree that the high rates seem out of proportion to the cost of a great many other things.

There is another side to the picture, however. Recently, we saw the wages lists of a moderate-sized ship which runs in the Pacific on a regular schedule, and on Australian articles. Those lists showed that the chief cook receives monthly in wages more than the captain; the scullion more than the third officer, some of he firemen more than the chief engineer.

The members of the crew are paid at rates prescribed by the Australian industrial awards, in which the monthly sums are properly proportioned between professionals and labourers—between technical skill, and mere brawn. But strict conditions as to hours, and over-

time rates, are provided for the unskilled workers, while there is little similar pro vision for the skilled people. The net result is that the less important people on the ship—kitchen hands, stokers, cooks, etc.—draw in overtime almost as much as their regular wages; the ma jority of them, in addition to being sup plied with food and quarters, receive from £25 to £40 per month. No more need be said. There, in a nutshell, is the principal cause of high fares in the Pacific. * * * A PARAGRAPH in the P.I.M. of Novem ber made unflattering reference to the “Maui Pomare,” the vessel which maintains communication between N.Z. and Western Samoa. This has brought from Mr. L. Derrett, of Hororata, N.Z., who travelled in the vessel in 1934, a spirited defence of the ship and the ser vice. He says: “The vessel is not large—1159 tons gross —and one could not expect the equipment and facilities of a large ocean liner; but she is a good little sea boat. The accom modation is adequate, and comfortable; the equipment sufficient and of good quality: and the whole ship as clean as a new pin. I believe the pantry is near the lavatory, but the galley and dining saloon are some distance away. The food is of first-class quality, well cooked, and tastefully served, while the quantity is greater than any person could possibly eat. In addition to three usual meals, tea in bed, morning beef tea, afternoon tea, and supper are available. The ser vice on this vessel is particularly effi cient and home-like. The stewards know their work and do it well. The ordinary sailors on the boat are very obliging and seem of a better type than one usually meets in such positions. The captain and officers, while quite unobtrusive, do everything possible to make the trip en joyable, both on the boat and ashore. At no time have I been better looked after or made feel more at home than during my trip on the Maui Pomare.”

Advertisements & other items, p. 13 (1 item)

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Yams—How to Cook and Eat

p. 14

Them

IN the December issue a correspondent, Mr. A.

J. Vogan, of Pymble, N.S.W., asked for infor mation regarding the cooking of yams. A reply has been received from Mr. A. H. Joubert, of the Tweed district, Northern New South Wales, who has cultivated and experimented with them.

“Yams can be fried, mashed, grated, boiled, or roasted,” he writes. “If boiled they require to simmer for a long period— most failures to cook yams properly are due to insufficient cooking. Each variety has a different flavour and texture, and takes a different time to cook. I find yams best roasted with a joint (beef or mutton), or baked in their skins and served with butter. They are better than baked or boiled potatoes, and taste quite good if eaten with butter or used as a salad.

“Some people have found the big Australian grown yam insipid; this is due to the acid volcanic soil, and, to a degree, the wet autumn weather.”

About Islands People

p. 14

Dr. Thomas Moore Clouston, recently appointed Senior Medical Officer at Nauru, was married on December 20 to Miss Mona Duncan of Sydney. They left Mel bourne for their new home by the Triona on January 5.

Rev. F. R. Elder, who had been doing faithful work for the New Guinea Mis sion at Eroro, Papua, for over 20 years, recently relinquished active field work in the Territory, and returned to Australia.

In December he was appointed rector of Mulgoa (New South Wales), and, with his wife and three children, has now settled down in that peaceful country district.

Father Rockliff, who is described as “the international promoter of the Apos tleship of the Sea,” arrived in Sydney from Europe by the Oronsay on Decem ber 19. He left on the Makura the fol lowing day for the Society Islands, where he intends to make scientific researches regarding current changes, and, by sound ings determine the variations of the ocean bed due to submarine volcanic dis turbances. Father Rockliff holds a master mariner’s certificate.

Mr. A. H. Fletcher and Mr. H. S. Hipkin passed through Sydney on their way to New Zealand on furlough early in January, after serving for a considerable time at the Melanesian Mission at Siota, Solomon Islands.

Right Rev. W. H. Baddeley, M.A., D.S.O., M.C., Bishop of Melanesia, will visit Sydney in March next. The object of his visit is to place a number of pro minent matters concerning his large dio cese before the Australian Board of Mis sions, which, together with the Anglican Church in New Zealand and England, maintains the mission.

Miss Winifred Wilson, Melanesian mis sionary in the Solomon Islands, recently arrived in Sydney. Some months ago, at San Cristoval, she was bitten on the foot by a scorpion; the wound became serious, and, after being treated in Tulagi Hospital for a time, she was sent to Sydney for special medical attention.

Mr. D. Lloyd Francis, who has been studying theology for six months at St.

John’s College, Morpeth, N.S.W., left Sydney in December for Siota, B.S.I., where he was to be ordained as deacon.

When Mr. Francis was formerly in the Solomons he was stationed at the Melane sian Mission, Santa Cruz.

Mr. James Raines, headmaster of New stead State School (Victoria), has been appointed Director of Education at Nauru Island. As well as controlling the Euro pean school and supervising the native school, he will train the young Nauruan teachers and have charge of the boys’ farms. With his wife and son Ian, Mr.

Raines sailed for Nauru by the Triona on January 5.

Mrs. R. H. Green, wife of Rev. Green, of Lakeba, Fiji, returned to, the Colony by the December Monterey, after a short vacation in Australia.

Mr. I. H. Grabowsky, general manager of Guinea Airways, Ltd., who arrived in Australia at the end of December, has been seriously ill. He had no sooner reached Melbourne than he suffered a very bad attack of cerebral malaria, which apears to have complicated the thrombosis condition for which he came to Australia to receive attention. The doctors took a grave view of his case, and, in an at tempt to prevent serious developments of the thrombosis, they operated on Janu ary 14, and amputated the lower part of one of Captain Grabowsky’s legs. On latest advices he was doing as well as could be expected, and the doctors were confident that if he made the good general recovery they anticipated, he would be quite able to return to New Guinea and resume the duties of his important posi tion there.

Mr. G. H. Davis, who has been post master of the Cook Islands for the past four years departed from Rarotonga by the Makura with his wife on December 31. Judge Ayson. Resident Commissioner, in presenting Mr. and Mrs. Davis with a suitable gift, praised the courteous manner and mild patience exhibited by Mr. Davis during his term of office.

When You Visit Sydney

p. 14

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Advertisements & other items, p. 14 (1 item)

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About Islands People

p. 15

Rev. R. Godfrey, Anglican Archdeacon of Southern Melanesia, arrived in Sydney from Vila, New Hebrides, in December by the Morinda to seek expert ocular at tention.

Mr. T. W. Alport Barker was re-elected Mayor of Suva, Fiji, at a special meeting of the Suva Municipal Council, held on December 5.

Major H. S. N. Robinson, general sec retary and treasurer of the Melanesian Mission, who was secretary of the New Zealand Finance Board of the mission before being transferred from Auckland to the new headquarters at Sydney, will resign shortly. It is understood that he is sorely distressed at the failure of cer tain Sydney authorities to co-operate willingly with him in matters affecting the mission.

Rev. Ian H. Stockdale has resigned from the Anglican Mission in New Guinea and returned to Australia, after two years’ work at Sag Sag, New Britain. At the end of December he was invested by the Bishop of Armidale as Vicar of Nar rabri, N.S.W.

Mrs. A. D. Lelean, wife of Rev. Lelean, Ra, Fiji, arrived in Melbourne by the Monterey on December 7 with her child ren, and is staying at Camberwell. Rev Lelean will join his family in Victoria at the end of this year, and probably will be appointed by the Methodist Mission to circuit work in Australia.

Mr. M. V. Quinn, of New Guinea Gold fields, Ltd., Wau, returned to the Man dated Territory after furlough in Aus tralia by the December Macdhui. He is the hon. secretary of the Wau Progress Association.

Mr. A. S. Gaye, newly-appointed United Kingdom representative of the British Phosphate Commission, arrived in Syd ney by the Monowai on December 31, en route to Nauru and Ocean Islands, on a tour of inspection. He left for Central Pacific at the beginning of January.

Rev. R. L. McDonald, chairman of the Fiji district of the Methodist Church, made a hurried trip to Australia in De cember in connection with matters relat ing to the finances of the Fiji district.

He arrived in Sydney by the Monterey on December 3, and returned to Suva on the same vessel on December 15.

Mr. D. S. Aarons, has been appointed general manager for New South Wales of the Vacuum Oil Co. Pty. Ltd. Formerly he was assistant general manager and has been with the company for 32 years, having served in Melbourne and Western Australia. During the War, Mr. Aarons was in the 16th Battalion and rose to the rank of Captain. He was decorated with the Military Cross and Bar. Mr. J.

D. Rogers is now assistant manager for New South Wales.

Sister E. Field, of Malaita, B.S.I., was in Australia early in December. Later she sailed for New Zealand to spend the remainder of her short furlough in the Dominion. Miss Field is on the staff of the Melanesian Mission Hospital at Mala.

Mr. J. Nason-Jones arrived in Port Moresby from the Lakekamu goldfield, Papua, on December 20. He left the fol lowing week by the Montoro for Sydney on a short holiday. While in Australia he will confer with his directors of Guinea Gold N.L. and acquaint them with the progress made on the extensive pro perties held by them in the Lakekamu area.

Mr. Eric Ramsden, a Sydney journalist and a well-known writer on Polynesian topics, left for Tahiti in December, in company with Mr. C. B. Nordhoff. He will spend several months in the Poly nesian Islands and in New Zealand be fore returning to Sydney.

Nurse Muriel Ward, who returned to Australia from New Guinea early in 1934 owing to ill-health, has now recovered satisfactorily. She left Brisbane to con tinue her work at the Methodist Mission, New Britain, by the Macdhui on De cember 21.

Pastor A. H. Ferris, has retired from work at the Seventh Day Adventist mis sion on Lord Howe Island, where he has been stationed for 25 years. He returned to Australia by the Morinda on December 28. Mr. Ferris’s three sons are S.D.A. missionaries in the South Seas. One is at Ambrym (New Hebrides), another at Suva (Fiji), and the third at Guadalcanal

(B.S.I.),

Mr. H. F. Pearson, Assistant Warden, and Mr. I. W. Morley, Inspector of Mines and Machinery, of the Mining Warden’s staff, Wau, New Guinea, resigned from the service in November. Mr. Morley is the joint author, with Mr. Harold Tay lour (Warden of Morobe goldfields), of a valuable handbook entitled the ‘‘Devel opment of Gold Mining in Morobe, New Guinea.”

Advertisements & other items, p. 15 (1 item)

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p. 16

Shareholders in Solomon Islands Development Co. Ltd. have been asked to agree to proposals by the directors that the capital of the company be reduced from £100,000 in shares of £100 each, issued and paid up to £95, to £50,000 in shares of £50 each, paid to £45.

It is to be suggested that the reduction be effected by cancellation of paid up capital, which has been lost or is unrepresented.

The company paid a dividend of 2 per cent, in March, 1932, when its planted area comprised 3*92 acres under coconuts and 190 acres under rubber.

Why Suva Council Was Abolished

pp. 16-17

Interesting Phase of the Indian Common Roll Problem

From Our Own Correspondent.

Suva, Dec. 24.

IN a world which is swinging rapidly from democracy to dictatorship, the micocosm which is Suva must needs re flect the spirit of the times.

One by one, the countries of Europe are discarding their systems of demago gic government for popular dictatorships —a reversion to the benevolent despotism of Elizabethan days. Thus the impending changes in the constitution of the Suva Municipal Council are not without in terest.

At present, the Suva Municipal Council consists of eight members elected by about 700 ratepayers of all nationalities, the franchise being given to any person who pays rates on any property within the town area, and who can read, speak and write the English language. Ten years ago the population, within this area was estimated at about 7000 —to-day, it has grown to nearer 13,000.

The necessary revenue for the admini stration of the various services of Suva is provided by a rate upon the unim proved capital value of the lands within the Municipality, and their value is es timated at over £ 500,000. The rate struck by the Council for 1935 was 8¼d in the £. The administration of the Council’s varied activities has been con ducted efficiently and economically and Suva, to-day can point with pride to many miles of tar macadam, with con

crete pavements or concrete kerbing; to an electricity undertaking which is treat ed as a commercial proposition and was rapidly paying itself off—although the price of current has been reduced year after year; and, above all, to the con tinual inspection which ensures that the many dwellings, etc. of the coloured population are kept in sanitary condition.

The total expenditure is in the neigh bourhood of £50,000 per annum, and the check on outgoings is so keen that rates have shown a yearly tendency to decline.

It is obvious that the ratepayers of Suva have been well served by their Municipal Councillors and staff. There is no suggestion that the present method of civic government has produced in efficiency or extravagance—definitely the reverse. Much credit must be given to these public spirited citizens who have occupied the Mayoral chair —names such as those of Sir Henry Scott, Sir Henry Marks, Mr. Grahame and the present Mayor, Honourable Alport Barker, come to one’s mind as those upon whom the responsibility for the direction of affairs has fallen.

What, therefore, is the reason for a change in the system? Broadly speaking, it is the necessity for broadening the present Municipal franchise by the in clusion of languages other than English in the qualifications test.

For the higher body, the Legislative Council, the principle of the inclusion of five Indian languages in the literacy test of electors has already been accepted and incorporated in the Letters Patent of the Colony. It could not, therefore, be denied in a subsidiary body.

The result of such a change is not difficult to gauge—the European popu lation of Suva has increased in ten years by perhaps a couple of hundred; but the Indian and other population has jumped well over a couple of thousands. As Sir Maynard Hedstrom said in Legislative Council: “I think there is no doubt that with the introduction of a bill to establish a Municipal Common Roll, the majority of the names on the electoral roll, within a period of five or six years, will be non- European.”

Even if the literacy test were not ex tended to include the Indian language, there can be no doubt that with the in creased facilities for learning English, the non-Europeans would in the course of a decade or two swamp the Europeans on the electoral roll of Suva.

What was the alternative? To scrap the present democratic system of govern ment by people for on and behalf of the people, and to revert to a system of gov ernment by bureaucracy. What a lovely dish to set before an Elected Legislative Council!

It takes more than courage to raise such an issue—it requires that discretion which is much more than valour to settle it peacefully. Sir Murchison Fletcher deserves to live in the history books of Fiji as the statesman who by the sheer logic of his arguments persuaded the people of Suva to give up governing themselves and to hand the job over to him —a remarkable achievement. The action of Sir Henry Scott in assembling the electors of Suva in the Town Hall, and pleading an obviously unpopular

cause, was noteworthy and decided the issue in the minds of most responsible folk.

However, the governor prudently left it to the three communities themselves to make their own choice of their municipal future government. On October, 1933, he told the European, Fijian and Indian communities, through their elected rep resentatives in the Legislative Council, that there were two alternatives: (a) The introduction of the Common Roll for electors in all Munici palities; or (b) The acceptance of government control of Municipalities through Municipal Councils with nomin ated representatives of the three communities.

He said it was impossible to allow matters to remain as they were, and that the communities must choose for them selves that alternative which they pre ferred. The government officials would take no part in the discussion, nor in the voting upon the decision.

The debate brought forth an interest ing expression of views. Four out of the six European members, and all three Fijian members plumped unhesitatingly for government control; the other Euro peans and the two Indian members, for widely different reasons, voted for the first alternative.

The Secretary of State has now been Informed of the decision of the Colony— for it is a decision in which the whole Colony is involved by reason of the major political issue (to have, or not to have, a Common Roll). Legislation will shortly be introduced abolishing the ex isting Municipal Councils and substitut ing in Suva a Municipal Commission of thirteen (what a tactful choice of num bers!) of which the chairman and six members will be government officials.

Two members each from the Fijian, European and Indian communities, se lected by the governor, will form the unofficial element.

And so Suva joins the rest of the world in voluntarily destroying her little demo cratic institution and setting up, of her own free will, her own little dictatorship!

Mr. Harry Hemus, travelling inspector for the well-known Auckland firm of A. B. Donald, Ltd., recently returned to New Zealand by the Makura, after a stay of several months in Tahiti.

Mr. Lewis Armstrong, general mana ger of Messrs. Burns Philp & Co., Ltd. returned to Sydney by the Monterey on December 3, after a trip to Europe and the United States.

A striking photograph of the new covered cement pathway the Hotel Rabaul, New Guinea, con necting the hotel with the street.

Advertisements & other items, pp. 16-17 (2 items)

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New Season’s Khadrewi Dates, loose 4d. lb., 3/9 doz.

Schooner Red Salmon, ½b. tins 9½d. tin, 9/- doz.

Brunswick Canadian Sardines, ¼lb. tins ... 4½d. tin, 4/- doz.

Capital Mango Chuntey, 11oz. jars ... 11d. jar, 10/9 doz.

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Unemployment in Samoa

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, Dec. 1.

THE unemployed question in Samoa was discussed in the Legislative Coun cil recently, and the Administration as sured Council members that it is doing its utmost to cope with the problem. The number of totally and partly unemployed among the European residents of Samoa is larger than appears on the surface.

There has, unfortunately, been a ten dency on the part of the Administration to import officials with high salaries from New Zealand for positions which could easily and efficiently be filled by local Europeans, who would gladly work for lower wages. Recently the N. Zealand Reparation Estates imported two em ployees from N.Z., one of whom was ap pointed to a responsible position on a plantation, though he had no previous experience of tropical agriculture. There are a large number of people available here with good experience of plantation work, who could have filled the position.

The action of the N.Z.R.E. has caused consideration dissatisfaction and criticism in Apia. - Mr. J. R. Clay, managing director of Messrs. J. R. Clay and Co. Ltd., Papua, has been on furlough in Australia. He returns to Papua by the January Macdhui.

Gypsum

High Duty On

N. Caledonia May Retaliate on Australian Trade

From Our Own Correspondent.

NOUMEA, December 6.

AT the session of the Council-General held on November 25, the question of the importation into New Caledonia of Australian gypsum for the Societe Caledon Nickel was discussed. In past years Aus tralia has had a crippling tariff on man ganese entering the Commonwealth from the French colony, and the Council is now advocating a reciprocal policy regarding gypsum.

New Caledonia is a good customer of Australia. According to latest available figures she bought, in 1933, goods (flour, butter, potatoes, gypsum, foodstuff, etc.) to the value of 17,902,000 francs, whereas Australia took only 576,000 francs of New Caledonian produce and minerals. Thus the balance of trade is much in favour of Australia, and is being adversely com mented upon locally.

Much might be done to create better trade relations between these two close neighbours if the facts were placed clearly before the Federal Parliament and care fully studied by them. Great Britain, for instance, entered into a trade agreement with New Caledonia some time ago, and. now many British goods (particularly foot wear) in spite of the additional freight costs, are cheaper in Noumea than those coming from Australia; similarly with American canned fruit, fish, etc.

When the agreement was first mooted, the short-sighted and judgmentless Aus tralian politicians refused to acquiesce to> it. thereby putting the Commonwealth out side all favourable trade relations.

On Strike!

(The minimum wage rate in the Solomons has been reduced from 20/- to 10/- per month.) Brother belong me he talk allsame.

Wages ten shilling, he true. What name- You tink me feller work straight— No more, allgedded stop along Malait.

Me stop along station, now me fimshi four years; Buy one feller Mary, might be no too dear.

He savvy work along garden belong me alright.

Allesame be friend along me long night- Me tink dis Guv’ment he crank alright.

What name me go Tong station more, me no fright.

Got knifle, blanket, waitim ackis.

Dive for shell for pay this tackis.

Ten shilling no fit for work all day.

More better sit along card, make play Catch plenty tambac, lava-lava, mon’, Allgedder no savvy work Tong sun.

Might bimeby me want some rice— Alright, plenty boy make play Tong dice- Plenty meat and ricie stop along store, He no dear too much allsame before.

Time schooner come for boy, and rouse,.

No matter, he laff, stop inside dis house- More better for laze while sun he hot.

Work for ten shilling? No savvy! No got!

Desne.

Advertisements & other items, p. 18 (1 item)

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Can Copra-Producers

pp. 19-20

Organise Against Combines ?

Letter to the Editor.

THE Malayan Committee appointed to report on the economic condition of the coconut and other oil producing in dustries, lays particular stress on the want of co-operation among the producers in Malaya.

The same and worse can be said about us copra producers in these Islands. Cooperation or combination is unknown. We kave no representative Planters’ Associa tion or other body to voice our views and grievances. We are just the obedient slaves of those juggling with our product (to their own advantage) from the date it leaves the estate.

Meanwhile, we copra-producers live on the “bread line,” with little joy or pleasure in life, not knowing when we shall be compelled to abandon our es tates, or hand them over to others, who have been good enough to loan us money, to carry us through the depression. We pioneers of the islands who, with hard earned savings, managed to plant and bring to production the “Consols of the East,” are fools enough to sit down now and take anything that comes to us "without protest, when by co-operation and action we could approach Govern ments and others to right some of our wrongs.

In the Westminster Bank Review of October, 1934, the following remark is made in an article dealing with world trade: “On the one hand, there has arisen a very widespread impatience with the working of democratic institutions in times of crisis. At the same time, there lias been a growing awakening to the de gree of monopolization which has de veloped under the system of private en terprise, accompanied by a fear of the economic power wielded by great combines.”

How true in our industry! The vast combine of Unilever controlling our oil and fat markets —buying out opponents, one after the other, scrapping many of them, but still having to find interest on the purchase of these abandoned fac tories, all of which must react against the raw product price, in the way of over head.

Does this combination benefit mankind?

I doubt it—and so does the housewife, when buying her margarine, soap, candles, cooking oil, etc., etc.

In the case of margarine, they have been compelled to bring down the price in competition, brought about by the over-production of butter, which is produced more or less by hand by millions

of hardworking farmers, who are just eking out an existence. A margarine factory is just one vast bulk-handling by mechanical means, employing a minimum amount of labour. Yet the so-called fin ancial wizards, with all the wealth, scien tific and mechanical means at their dis posal, cannot compete in grade or price with “the small fella,” who milks the cow!

Do you not think if, by way of propa ganda, we showed the housewives of England moving pictures of the produc tion of present-day ingredients of mar garine, they would turn in disgust, and go back to butter for all purposes, or else demand a margarine with vegetable oil and milk contents only: 1. Imagine the film of a whaler depot ship, filth from topmast to keel, and not the slightest supervision by any Govern ment. 2. Compare the farm-dairy and butter factory, the essence of cleanliness and under constant Government supervision. 3. Compare the orderly, well-conducted coconut estate, with its mechanical drier, turning out a fine, white, clean product.

What have Unilever done to bring down the price of the manufactured product?

As an employer of native labour, I have to make a weekly soap issue. The main ingredients of common soap are the low est grade tallow, fats and oil— coconut oil is used only for high-class soaps, etc.

Yet, I have to pay £35 per ton wholesale for common bar soap to issue to the na tives who are producing first class copra for me, for which I nett £5-£6 per ton, Port Moresby.

Here, again, we show ourselves fools, Why buy soap? Why not make it from coconut oil and caustic soda, on our estates?

In writing the above I have tried to explain the necessity of co-operation by planters in the Pacific. What can we do? 1. By proper representation, we can ob tain a better tariff for copra, desiccated coconut, copra oil and cake, throughout the Empire. 2. We can erect central crushing-mills in these Islands. 3. Or we can even have a coconut-oil plant at sea, calling at each estate or depot, treating the product on board, in the same manner as they handle whale oil.

4. Central factories to deal with copra shell-charcoal and coir, both valuable products.

The possibilities are immense, and with money so cheap, one can hardly credit the backward state we are in. Every day one reads in the papers of the flota tion of mines for vast sums, with per haps only the surface scratched, and with poor chance for the investor, of ever getting his money back. Yet capital will not come to the Islands. Why?

I am, etc,,

G. A. Loudon.

Eilogo, Papua, 22/12/’34.

Mr. James Nason-Jones, the explorer and gold-prospector, who is well-known in Papua and New Guinea, was married on January 9 at St. Mark’s Church, Darl ing Point, Sydney, to Miss Margaret Jean Mackay, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

Donald Mackay, of Warialda, New South Wales.

Mr. John E. Donoghue, chairman of directors of the Rabaul and District Elec tric Light Supply Co., Ltd., died in Syd ney, aged 60, at the end of December.

He was an expert on electrical engineer ing matters, and was connected with most of the big Sydney electric supply cor porations.

Advertisements & other items, pp. 19-20 (1 item)

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School House offers a solution of the problem of education by providing a home for boys attending school in Sydney.

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McMahon’s Point :: :: Sydney

MINING AND ASSAY

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BALANCES, CRUSHERS, FURNACES,

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Incubators, Sterilizers, Centrifuges, Microscopes, Microtomes, etc.

Measures, Dispensing Scales, Enamel Ware, Bandages, Cotton Wool, and all Dispensing Material.

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BULLETIN PLACE :: SYDNEY

Box 173D, G.P.O.

SURFACE SWIMMING FISH

As Kingfish, Mackerel, Bonito, Tunney, etc., can be easily caught trolling spinner or lure behind a launch. Here’s a selection: Knowles Auto Striker ... No. 4,6, 7 39 6/6 8/6 New Zealand, Dummy ... 2/6 Mounted Feather Lures ... 3/- 3/6 4/6 Glendon Stewart Spoons .. 4/- 5/6 and Sil Rohu Trolling Combination for holding dead Garfish, which will not spin, 2/6 & 3/6.

Flexible Steel Traces, 1/6, 2/-, & 2/6 each.

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Write for my Fishing Tackle Catalogue Sil Rohu, (late A.I.F.) Gunsmith, Importer of High-grade Firearms and Fishing

OIL KUnU, Tackle Specialist.

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ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS

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Special attention will be given to any enquiries from the Pacific Islands.

Address all communications to BOX 2690C, G.P.O., SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES. :: Telegraphic Address: Dongrif., Sydney.

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Carpet Snakes

p. 20

One Way of Dealing with the Rat Pest

RATS are the outstanding curse of the coconut islands. The pest is worse in some islands than in others; but, what ever its condition, it is a menace to the coconut industry and to the bird life of the Pacific.

There is no keener student of natural history than Charles B. Nordhoff, of Tahiti, well-known American writer; and this scribe recently heard a conver sation which started as a joke, but de veloped into consideration of a practical plan for the elimination of rats. Nord hoff and Ion Idriess, Australian author, were chatting about Australian beasts and reptiles, on which Idriess is an authority; and Idriess became lyrical on the subject of Australian snakes. There are few men—and they mostly are de lirium tremens specialists—who have seen more queer reptiles than Idriess.

In due course, Idriess came to carpet snakes—the big, friendly chaps which are non-venomous, and which are greatly in favour among Australians because of the prompt and efficient manner in which they deal with rats. Hundreds of them are kept as cherished pets in Sydney warehouses. When a carpet snake ar rives in a waterside building, every rat within whistling distance becomes a hasty migrant.

“We could do with a few of those fel lows in Tahiti,” said Nordhoff; and he told us some moving tales of the vicious rodents —how they apparently live per manently in the palm-tops, and crawl from the frond of one tree to the frond of another, thus rendering usless the tin cylinders with which the planters enclose the trunks of the palms.

“Why not take a few carpet snakes to Tahiti?” suggested Idriess. “They do not harm human beings, and they surely would clean up your rats.”

“But how would they manage about the palm-trees?” asked someone.

“They will climb the trees as easily as the rats,” said Idriess.

Nordhoff, who at first was inclined to class the idea with the famous plan of erecting a steam-hammer to kill a wasp, began to be interested.

“These snakes —won’t they harm chil dren? What will they do to the poultry yard? Would they destroy our native birds? Do they like duck-eggs?” He had a dozen questions.

The enthusiastic Idriess gave Monsieur Carpet Snake an excellent character. He insisted that this particular species, like the dog and the horse, is the friend of man.

Nordhoff was not convinced, but he was thoughtful. “It might be worth consider ing,” he said. “The idea of introducing snakes to Tahiti seems fantastic, at first glance. Yet he would have to be a very bad snake to be worse than the rats, which are an absolute curse. I’ll talk it over with some of my friends in Tahiti.

The Administration might be favourable to the idea of making an experiment on one of the small, coconut-covered islets, where the rats have become a plague. It would be interesting to turn a few carpet snakes loose there and see what happens.”

Mr. Philip Osborne-Gibbes, of New Zealand, who was for many years a trader in the Gilbert Islands, died in hospital in Sydney on December 18.

Copra Rises!

pp. 21-22

Price Up £3/5/ -per Ton in Five Weeks

THE copra market has moved at last, and in no uncertain manner.

Sundried and smokedried is at £12 per ton, London, which is equal to £15 per ton Australian; hot-air-dried is at £12/15/- London, or just under £16 per ton, Australian. This is a rise, within five weeks, of £3/5/- sterling per ton — an astonishing development.

These are the best prices since Janu ary, 1933.

Economic conditions in Europe are better, if anything—certainly, they are no worse—but the real cause of the market improvement comes from the other side of the world. Several months ago, the United States adopted a new tariff ar rangement, which virtually shut out all Philippines copra and threw it onto the depressed European market. Recently, there have been some readjustments: with the result that Philippines copra is flowing back to U.S.A. We do not know, yet, exactly what has happened; but it is clear that, under the rearrange ment, the Philippines shipper gets about 10 dollars per ton more by sending his copra to U.S.A. than to Europe. The consequent improvement of the European market has been marked.

Another factor, we are informed, is Mexico. This big country, for some reason, has become a large and active buyer of Pacific copra; and this is help ing the market. Other factors are a tem porary butter shortage in Europe; and a great improvement in the German poli tico-economic outlook.

Copra producers are beginning to enjoy again three square meals per diem; but the price must hold to its new level and even improve further if the plantation owner is to make a fair return on his enterprise and invested capital.

Certainly, during the disastrous 1932- 34 period, production costs and over head charges have been ruthlessly cut down, and it is most unlikely that these charges will ever return to the extravagant levels established during the post-war boom period. For that reason, some planters probably will be better off with copra at £15, plus exchange premium, than they were in the good old days, with prices around £25 per ton. There are some very shrewd observers in Sydney to-day who fore cast £14 or £15 per ton, c.i.f. London, at no distant date.

Information is meagre, and it is diffi cult to say whether this new rise will hold. Cautious merchants say that this “jump” is the result of European con sumers being caught short by the Philip pines development, and that the price must soon fall back a little; but they think that perhaps two-thirds of the new advance will hold.

But, if the copra industry is to be stabilised at from £12 to £15 per ton, within the next year or two, much atten tion will have to be given to the problem of capital costs. So far, the thorny sub ject has been left well alone. Govern ments, banks and trading houses have declared a kind of general moratorium, by simply refraining from trying to col lect interest payments, or reductions of principal, from plantation-owners. But the fact that all these thousands of plan tations still are loaded with debts, based on valuations made when copra was

away over £20 per ton, is something that is much in the thoughts of both planters and financiers.

Little has been said on the subject by either class. The planters have been only too glad to let the subject lie dor mant; while the financing institutions, with their thoughts on the assets column of their balance-sheets, have allowed the matter to sleep, in the hope that copra may come back to profit, and thus re store the earning capacity and capital value of the plantations. Copra may come back to £15 or even £17 per ton; but, unless there is a far-reaching inter national development that now is en tirely unforeseen, the price will not in this or the next decade be restored to £25 per ton. This means, simply, that there must be, sooner or later, a writing down of plantation values. And who will bear the loss?

The problem is not peculiar to the copra business. It is common, just now, to every primary industry that “boomed” between 1920 and 1928, and then fell into the depression. The occupiers and part owners of producing lands are holding on grimly, hoping against hope that they may not be dispossessed; while the finan cial institutions, equally grimly, are holding on to and trying to maintain their equities in scores of thousands of properties thus affected.

Where the solution lies, no man can say. It is not a pretty picture. How ever, the comforting fact remains that copra prices are returning to a point where at least they will allow the planter to live.

Mr. G. G. Smith, of Port Moresby, Papua, and Mrs. Smith, have been spend ing a holiday in Melbourne.

Advertisements & other items, pp. 21-22 (1 item)

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New Guinea Missionaries

p. 22

This group photograph, which is reproduced by courtesy of the “Mission Review,” shows the Methodist missionaries who attended the New Britain District Synod, recently held at Rabaul. Back row (from left to right): Mr. R. N. Wayne (Ulu), Rev. E. M. Tuckett (Piniqidu), Rev. B. Chenoweth (Kavieng), Rev. A. E. Brawn (Nakanai), Rev. J. H. Margetts (Vunairima), Miss M. Harris (Watnabara), Rev.

W. D. Oakes (Ulu), Dr. C. S. James (Stewart Hospital, Vunairima), Rev. C. W. J. Mannering (Nama tanai)). Front row: Miss Alice Mills (Rabaul), Mrs. J. H. Margetts (Vunairima), Rev. F. G. Lewis (District Chairman, Malaikuna), Miss J. March (Vunairima).

New Caledonian News

p. 22

From Our Own Correspondent.

Noumea, Dec. 7.

M. LE BOUCHER, the new Secretary-general of the Colony, arrived by the November Cephee from Tahiti, where he held a similar position.

M. Frey, formerly a director for the Societe le Nickel, who has been living in France for 14 years, is paying a short business visit to this country, with Madame Frey. His wife’s family are largely interested in the pastoral industry of N. Caledonia.

M. Frey was in the Jameson Raid many years ago when he was mining in South Africa.

The Cephee left on November 21 for Marseilles via Tahiti, Martinique and Panama. She took from here 600 tons of nickel, 11 tons of tinned meats, and 6 tons of coffee. At Vila she loaded copra.

The Ville d'Amiens departed on November 23 for Brisbane, where she loaded a cargo of wool for France. She took from Noumea 1183 tons ol cargo and 611 tons from New Hebrides.

It was with regret that the death of Mr. Moore was announced on November 2. He arrived in New Caledonia from England in 1888, as chemist for the Societe le Nickel. Later, in 1896, he en tered the service of the Laboratoire du Service Local, which post he held until 1909.

November was an exceedingly hot month here, but relief came towards the end of the month in the form of storms. December was ushered in with a really heavy one which replenished the failing waterholes and smaller creeks and refreshed the cattle pastures, much to the relief of the “eleveurs,” as the pastoralists are called here.

The rainy season is during January and Feb ruary, so that the long dry period this year has ended earlier than usual.

Economies In Fr.

pp. 23-24

Oceania

Governor Comments on Budget Plans and Taxation

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Nov. 1.

DISCUSSING the Administrative Bud get for 1935 during the second ses sion of the Financial and Economic Dele gation, which was held recently in Pa peete, His Excellency Governor Montagne said that the estimated expenditure for 1935 of 12,900,000 francs (as compared with 15,400,000 francs for 1934) repre sented a considerable step towards the re-adjustment of expenses to diminished revenue, and that the present figures were only 3.79 times greater than in 1919 (when the franc was five times its value to day). Thus the Colony of French Oceania had achieved a reduction in Administra tive expenditure which was greater than in any other part of the French Empire.

Among other economies effected during the past year, His Excellency drew atten tion to the following items: The reduc tion by two-tenths of the “Supplement Coloniale” (extra Colonial pay for offi cials); Declassment of the Superior Court of Appeal and other economies in the Judicial Service; reduction by one-third of the effective strength of the Colonial Gendarmerie; and the suppression of the Service of Ostreaculture and its replace ment by a simple laboratory. It was also noted that the number of Home officials in the Colony at present amount to 57 (of which seven are magistrates) as com pared with 61 in 1885.

Communications

Dealing with the question of communi cations, His Excellency said that these had been maintained and vigilantly de veloped to the extent permitted by the modest credits at his disposal. He looked upon Tahiti’s circular road as an all important factor in the economic and social life of the people, for the transport of the sick to hospital, and the facilita tion of medical tours to the outlying dis tricts, and also for the development of the tourist traffic. In this connection it was considered that the proposed tax on gasoline—which had been previously dis cussed and rejected—was a matter worthy of renewed examination, as it was calcu lated to yield an additional revenue of 160,000 francs.

Public Health Plans

If the proposed tax on gasoline were adopted the Administration would be able to give serious study to the important question of extending the public health service in the country districts, the plans for which would ultimately be completed by a Sanitarium on the West Coast, where debilitated infants and young people could recover health and vigour.

Public instruction would also be benefited by the innovations he had in mind; these would comprise a school for apprentices, an agricultural farm, and an open air school for infants equipped with free transportation facilities for children at a distance.

Taxation Rate

Commenting upon the per capita rate of taxation in the Colony, His Excellency drew an interesting comparison between the present time and the year 1913, when

the rate was 109.85 francs per head on a population of 31,000, while to-day it works out at 64.50 francs per head on a popu lation of 40,000. Undoubtedly the system of taxation applied in French Oceania was one of very great merit, but a system which could count upon only 17.18 per cent, of direct revenue while the balance of 82.82 per cent, was raised by indirect (and therefore uncertain) means was not without its risks from an Administra tive standpoint.

It had not been found possible to carry out in their entirety all the improvements in agriculture and stockbreeding fore cast in 1933, nevertheless some ameliora tions had been accomplished. During the year 1934 the veterinary service had created hygienic slaughter houses where all meat destined for human consumption was subjected to a rigorous inspection.

Certain measures had also been taken which would ensure an improvement in the quality of fruits and vegetables placed on sale in the Papeete market. A matter of great interest to agriculturists was the liquidation of the old Caisse Agricole and its reorganisation on a new basis as the “Credit Agricole Mutuel.”

His Excellency concluded with a brief resume of his visits to the outlying archi pelagoes of the Colony, some of which were so remote from Papeete that in at least one island the outbreak of the war was not known till 1916. On these tours he had been obliged to travel some 5000 kilometres in order to visit merely a small portion of the French possessions in the South Seas.

Rev. J. W. Raton Gillan, principal of the Presbyterian Mission Teachers’ Train ing Institute at Tangoa, New Hebrides, arrived in Sydney from the Condominium by the Morinda on December 12.

Advertisements & other items, pp. 23-24 (1 item)

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Guinea Gold Will

p. 24

Appeal

Shareholders in Guinea Gold N.L. (the well known Adelaide Company which hold shares in Bulolo G.D. Co. Ltd., Guinea Airways Ltd., the Lakekamu field, etc.) have received a memorandum from the directors of the company that prelimi nary steps have been taken to institute an appeal to the High Court against the decision of the South Australian Supreme Court in the taxation test case.

An extraordinary meeting of share holders has been called for January 4, with the object of securing authorisation for the appeal.

The test case was brought about when Mr. A. E. H. Evans (secretary of Guinea Gold N.L. and Guinea Airways Ltd.) ap pealed against income tax assessments made on 120 shares in Guinea Airways Ltd., 1080 shares in New Guinea Gold fields Ltd., and on an amount of £300 representing a cash distribution of 10/- a share by Guinea Gold N.L. The Chief Justice, Sir George Murray, decided in favour of the Deputy Commissioner in a judgment delivered at the end of Decem ber. The case was heard several months ago.

Jungle Crash

p. 24

Pilot Crisp’s Lucky Ecape in Mishap near Wau

PILOT DONALD CRISP, who is engaged in the New Guinea goldfields aerial transport service conducted by Messrs. W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., had a fortunate escape from death when his ’plane crashed in the jungle country near Black Cat Creek, between Salamaua and Wau.

On Sunday, December 16, while flying a Fox Moth machine loaded with freight, he ran into a heavy thunderstorm over Bitoi Gorge. The down currents pre vented the machine rising, and he crashed on the treetops. Though the ’plane was totally wrecked, Pilot Crisp escaped with only a slight shaking and bruises.

Relating his experiences after being rescued, the airman said that as the ’plane crashed the engine, cargo, and front of the cabin fell 70ft. to the bottom of the gorge. His safety belt held him to the rear portion of the machine, which remained suspended in the trees. Even tually he descended safely.

He made several unavailing attempts to light a fire to signal the searching ’planes sent out when he was posted missing. On the following Tuesday he set out on foot, and hacked his way through the dense forest until he reached the camp of a miner named Reynolds, on Black Cat Creek. From there native runners were despatched to inform the search parties. He arrived at Salamaua on December 21.

Tahiti Artist

p. 24

Mr. Alister Macdonald's Final Exhibition

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Dec. 1.

Mr. Alister Macdonald, The Cele

brated water-colour artist, whose ex quisite reproductions of Island scenery and colour are so well known to Tahiti visitors, is now holding a final exhibition of his works in Papeete, preparatory to leaving this colony, where he has been a resident for many years. Some of his finest examples—the result of a mature experience—are contained in the present collection.

Although he has already attained man’s allotted span of three score years and ten, he is still imbued with an unbounded enthusiasm and activity in the pursuit of his profession. He has been a life-long devotee of the brush, and is a realistic artist of the old school, who believes in fidelity to nature —something which is rarely found in these days.

Mr. Macdonald recently toured the Marquesas Islands and the Tuamotu Ar chipelago to make a representative series of paintings for the big French pictorial, “L'Illustration,” and he also provided the jackets for Messrs. Nordhoff and Hall’s two latest books —works which evoked universal admiration. If his present plans are carried out he will be greatly missed in Tahiti, but we hope that it may yet be possible to persuade him to remain with us.

Tung Oil

p. 25

No Success Yet Reported In The Islands

MUCH space has been given in this journal during the past three years to discussion of the possibilities of the tung oil tree as an industry suitable for the Pacific Islands.

Tung oil is coming into use throughout the world to an increasing degree, and its production is profitable. It came origin ally from China. One species, Aleurites Fordii, is grown in Central and Northern China. Another variety, Aleurites Mon tana, flourishes in the tropical regions of Cochin China, and thereabouts.

The Fordii variety of tung tree was established in Florida, U.S.A., many years ago, and has flourished, so that there is now a large and valuable tung oil indus try in America as well as in Asia.

After consideration of the available data, we expressed the opinion some three ago that experimentation with tung seeds in the Pacific Islands was worth a trial; but that it appeared that the Fordii variety definitely was not suitable for Pacific Islands cultiva tion. We thought, however, that the Mon tana variety had possibilities.

During the ensuing years experiments with tung oil cultivation have been made to our knowledge in New Guinea, the Solomons, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, and Northern New Zealand; and we have not been able to ascertain that planters have had any success whatever. It ap pears that the tung tree grows vigour ously and apparently healthily in its early years, but that it does not fruit and pro duce nuts in the way that it does in China and North America.

In July last we published an article by Mr. McIntosh Ellis, who stated that a company for which he is technical ad viser had succeeded apparently in estab lishing tung tree plantations in Queens land. Mr. Ellis urged as a result of his experience that experiments with tung trees should be persisted with in the Pacific Islands.

Mr. Ellis’s experience only bears out the opinion that has been repeatedly ex pressed in this journal—i.e., that the tung tree will fruit properly if it is grown on a land mass, such as Asia, North America or Australia; but that it will not run its normal cycle of life if it is cultivated on a small land area, where the climate is oceanic.

An interesting contribution to the dis cussion came recently from a correspon dent in Western Samoa, who said that the well-known candle-nut of the Islands is a species of tung tree and that, as candle nut flourishes so well in all the Pacific Islands, there should be an investigation of its possibilities as a producer of pos sibly a useful variety of tung oil.

If any Pacific Islands planter has had more success with tung oil cultivation than is indicated in the foregoing sum mary we shall be very glad indeed to have details. Some of our friends urge that Islands planters should persist with tung tree experiments, but all our infor mation up to date is that tung cultiva tion in the Islands is a “washout.”

Tung Oil Cultivation

p. 25

“AS a result of your article on tung oil (‘Cultivation of Tung Trees,’

P.I.M. 19/7/1934), we have had a large number of enquiries from your subscri bers and have made available to planters supplies of tung seed for testing,” writes Mr. L. Macintosh Ellis, consulting forest engineer to Queensland Forests Ltd., which has established a large tung plan tation in North Queensland.

“I believe that in many parts of Oceania the culture of Aleurites Fordii and its brother species Montana will be quite successful. If we had listened to the condemnations and negative head shaking of the various Government offi cers in Queensland there would have been no plantation in that State. But despite discouragements received, my principals had enough faith to proceed with the pro ject, and I am glad to say that it has attained a measure of success. There is nothing to be lost in trying, and if it is successful in only a restricted part of the Southern Pacific Islands, then some ad vance will have been made.”

M4\ Ellis adds that an inaccuracy oc curred in the article mentioned. It was stated, inter alia, that the Queensland

company’s plantation when in full bear ing could produce enough Tung oil to fill the requirements of the Commonwealth and also export a quantity to England.

Mr. Ellis points out that his company alone could not do this, but that there is in Australia a large area of suitable coun try which if planted could produce enough oil to fill Australia’s requirements and ex port a surplus.

Advertisements & other items, pp. 25-26 (1 item)

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WEEKLY

from £3/10/- Rd., King’s Cross.

M. HARPER

MANDOLI AN A ISLAND,

NORTH GELA, B.S.I.

Postal Address: P.O. Box 6, Tulagi, Solomon Islands.

Recruiting Contracts Undertaken.

Auxiliary Vessels “Papari” and “Trader” available for Charter.

Full details of Services from

BURNS PHILP (S.S.) CO., LTD.,

Makambo (B.S.I.) and Sydney.

To Planters I am a Buyer of

CASTOR OIL SEED

IN ANY QUANTITY.

Send Sample for quote, stating quantity available.

Castor Seed Shellers, any capacity.

Advice and Instructions Regarding Planting, Harvesting, and Packing of Castor Oil Seeds given freely. Selected Seed for Planting available.

C. GRAHAME

4 DALLEY STREET SYDNEY.

advt

Aunt Mary's

“Defiance”

Brand

Canned

Goods

PURE FOOD

PRODUCTS

—are prepared and packed by the proprietors of Aunt Mary’s Pure Food Products.

The finest quality goods are hermetically sealed to withstand tropical heat and give to consumers maximum satisfaction.

Supreme in quality and flavor, these pure food products have been supplied to the people of the Islands for more than thirty years. Specially manufactured and packed to meet Island conditions, they give complete satisfaction to both retailer and consumer.

Prepared and Packed only by—

TILLOCK & CO. LTD.

PURE FOOD MANUFACTURERS

KENT AND LIVERPOOL STREETS,

SYDNEY, N.S.W.

Sir Raphael W. Cilento

AMONG the list of recipients of New Year Honours was Dr. Raphael West Cilento, M.D., B.S. (Adelaide), D.T.M. and H. (London), Director-General of Health in Queensland, who is well known in Melanesia for his work in con nection with tropical hygiene. He was created a Knight Bachelor.

Born in South Australia in 1893, Dr.

Cilento joined the A.I.F. in 1915 and at tained the rank of captain in the Austra lian Army Medical Corps. In 1920 he was appointed by the British Colonial Service to the Malay States, from whence a year later he accepted appointment to the Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine.

The following year he was made Director of the Institute. In 1925 he was trans ferred to New Guinea as Director of Public Health and remained there for three years.

Dr. Cilento last year presented his rare collection of Melanesian brains and New Guinea skulls to the Australian Institute of Anatomy. Included in this collection were some of the most perfect known specimens of primitive surgery by stone age people.

"Sempill Here!”

An Unexpected Visitor

LORD SEMPILL, flying solo from Somerset, on the Queensland coast,, landed at the Kila-Kila aerodrome, Port Moresby, at about 2.30 p.m. on December 15, and took off again for Wau early on the following morning.

Although his arrival was expected, it was not anticipated that he would strike the coast to the east of Port Moresby and land quietly at Kila-Kila without flying over the town; and more than one of Port Moresby’s commercial executives got rather badly tangled.

One well-known gentleman was sitting at his desk, wondering whether tropical life was really worth living, when the telephone rang.

B.D. (lifting the receiver): “Hullo!”

Distant Voice: “Is that Blank and Company?”

B.D.; “Yes. B.D. speaking.”

D.V.: “Are you the manager?”

B.D. (suspecting a leg-pull); “Who the h— do you think I am?”

D.V.: “Sorry! Sempill here.”

B.D. (now sure of it); “Oh, go to hell!”' Adequate apologies were made later.

Lord Sempill left for Wau (New Guinea) early on December 15, accom panied by Pilot Denny in a Guinea Air ways Fox Moth, and returned to Port Moresby on December 18, continuing his flight to Australia early the following morning (December 19th). His intention was to make Cairns or Townsville tho same day. A small letter mail for Aus tralia was despatched by the ’plane.

Lord Sempill dined with the Lieut.- Governor (Sir Hubert Murray) at Gov ernment House, on the evening of his arrival.

New Ice Works At Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Dec. 34.

A NEW company, under the name of the Rabaul Freezer Limited, has opened a new ice works in conjunction with a butchery business. It is situated in the vicinity of the Rabaul electric

light works.

Its advent has caused a reduction in meat prices and ice prices are down 25 per cent. The service in connection with these commodities is improved, as orders are now delivered to customers, and the doors are open all day instead of for only a few hours each day. Which goes to show the value of competition.

Exhibit of Plantation Machinery