The Tong Islands

Storing of Copra Depresses Trade

From Our Own Correspondent

Nukualofa, Dec. 20.

IT is amazing to learn that copra sold by the natives at the port of Vavau still realises £2 per ton more than Nukualofa offerings.

It is doubtless owing to this discrep ancy that many Nukualofa natives, sensing that something is amiss, are storing copra in the hopes of a better

it has been storing up within the next fortnight, there is going to be a most Rightfully depressing trading Christ mas Tongatabu in this year of grace 1930.

Pensions Bill Delayed,

It was certainly irritating to civil servants when the Legislative Assem bly at its last session turned down the

straight-out cash price from some visi ting vessel. As many of them have been now storing for five months, with out recourse to the local market, this, in itself, rather tends to explode the idea subscribed to in certain quarters that the native is oppressed.

As against this fictional “oppression” of the Native Crown towards its sub jects, it is just stark reality that owing to the natives action in holding up their product, the trading community is suffering intensely from “depres sion.”

It is no secret on the “beach” that if the local buyers (and traders in gen eral) cannot induce the Tongan “kau taha” (company) to unload the copra

revised [Pensions Bill, a Bill which, amongst its many beneficial clauses, gave them opportunity of transfer to the British colonial service on a recip rocal basis. Now, if all we hear can be believed, this scheme will come into force sometime in 1931, either as an Act or a Regulation. So do try and look happy, you servants of the Crown!

The “Overtaxed” Tongan.

The overwhelming burst of prose; the bewildering, if fearfully careless introduction of a hotch-potch of fig ures, to say nothing of the dear little poem about a pig and a hen, all found together in the columns of P.I.M. No. 4, under the caption, “The Overtaxed

Tongan,” has thrown the “beach” into a palpitating flutter of excitement, tinged with envy. I do not know what effect it will have on my Tongan friend, but he must come up to scratch and explain away that £70,000. For the present, I am marking him “Exhi bit A.”

Personal Items.

Our excellent British Consul, Mr. J.

S. Neill, is, we learn, to vacate his post here for some three months. He has been appointed to a special commission which necessitates his departure to Fiji by to-day’s steamer.

After a seven-year residence in Tonga, Mr. Stanley Rankin, our effici ent dentist, has, for health reasons, found it necessary to shift to a colder climate. He and Mrs. Rankin were the recipients of many good wishes on “steamer day.”

The outgoing Tofua will carry, among its complement of passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Aidney. A live wire business man as Tonga manager for Messrs. Morris, Hedstrom Ltd., and a keen patron of billiards, bowls and golf, he and his good lady are sure to be missed during the few months they will spend in New Zealand.

To practice here as our next Gov ernment dentist, we learn that Mr.

Franz Franzan will arrive next month from the Mandated Territory of Samoa. Mr. Franzan is not new to this group and many old residents will re call the popular “molar man,” who had his shingle up in Nukualofa some six teen years ago.

Mr. N. A. Pyne, genial Collector of Customs at Haapai, has, with his wife and family, sailed for Australia on a six months’ vacation. Mrs. Pyne’s’ health has been a source of anxiety for some time, and her numerous friends hope that a short stay in Aus tralia will have beneficial results.

A glimpse of Varan's beautiful harbour.