The Tongan Islands

Road Upkeep Costly Car Tax Appears Advisable Banana Crops Suffer from Flying Foxes

From Our Own Correspondent

NUKUALOFA, February 20.

NO Government is kinder to motor ists by way of taxation than the Government of Tonga.

On purchasing a car for private use, the buyer registers its number at the police office for a fee of 2/6, and every year he has to renew the registration for that ridiculous fee. With the in creasing number of cars, it is now dis covered that they are “shaking the tar” out of the roads, and the Govern ment is faced with the necessity of heavy appropriations not for new road construction —but for the upkeep of existing routes.

During the last two years the roads have been allowed to get into a dread ful state. Most other countries have imposed either an extra petrol tax, wheel tax, axle tax or H.P. tax, which, under a highways scheme, is earmark ed for their roads. Tonga must follow suit sooner or later; for preference, let it be sooner, says the wise man.

Discussing the subject recently with an irate motorist, who had just com pleted a bone-shaking ride in his car, he surprised his listeners by remark ing: “Of course, the Government should stick a tax on cars, for any one who can afford a car can afford a ‘tenner’ a year towards the roads he knocks about!” And this, mind you, from a car-owner!

As I am not now a car-owner, and, as it is not my intention to buy an other, I simply pass his suggestion on to the Government for action.

Flying Fox Menace.

One of the show spots of interest to tourists visiting Tonga is at the village of Kolovai, where there exists the

original island colony of flying foxes.

Although not protected by law, the natives of that district would assur edly give a sportsman an uncomfort able time did he but attempt to “pot” any of these bate. The quaint little beggars are “tabu,” and, according to the Tongan Christianity notwith standing— each flying mammal is the reincarnation of some departed soul.

And as long as the colony confined itself to the ironbark trees at Kolovai, nobody worried about them, but it is now noticed that they have so multi plied that, not only is Kolovai swarm ing with them, but the pests have spread and made habitation in all the other districts on the main island.

Working silently at night they raid the fruit trees —bananas mostly—and with such increasing damage that planters are beginning to sit up and take notice.

A grower has predicted that at least one-fifth of his present banana crop will go down the throats of the chir optera. It will be interesting to see whether the native Government takes steps towards their extinction, or, in deference to the “reincarnation” belief, allows them to multiply to the extinc tion of the banana.

Trading Stations Plentiful.

According to a New Zealand publica tion, a recent visitor to our island group gained the impression that Tonga “. . . is simply bristling with churches.” One wonders why the num ber of existing trading stations did not equally attract him.

Taking a village at random, a curious traveller discovered that it consisted of 15 homes, 4 churches, 5 trading sta tions, 3 schools and 3 bakeries. This last appears particularly extraordinary, until one realises that the native, hav ing been persuaded, rightly or wrongly, that bread and buns are good for him, consumes prabably three times the quantity that satisfies the European; moreover, bread and buns are said to yield good profit.

If this is a fair sample village, it will be agreed that it is extremely un likely that any country nearly ap

proaches Tonga for service to its people gastronomically, intellectually and spiritually.

“Cabaret” Evening.

A variation in the mundane round of social amenities has been conceived by a progressive section of our young er set. It takes the form of a “cab aret” evening, and so, once a month, the Public Victoria Memorial Hall is to be devoted to this modern form of amusement.

The opening night, January 30, dis closed the whole scheme to ticket-pur chasers. Your correspondent, blunder ing in, found the body of the hall a mass of foliage and people, with here and there on the verandah a cute little table “surrounded by three trees.” Be ing of a retiring nature, he selected the most retiring-looking table in the dark est corner, only to discover, after seat ing himself, that on the darkest side of the table was already seated a love ly blonde who quickly indicated that, although he was occupying someone else’s seat, the cost of two glasses of iced drink only ran to a shilling.

Some time later, I drifted round the hall and came upon those serious folk who delight to pretend that Hoyle in vented bridge after he had found every other game apoalling. Unfortunately, I got roped in as referee to settle a ter rible argument—and I don’t know even now whether she was justified in call ing two in a minor suit over a “no trump” bid by her partner—but I got another iced drink out of it.

Then the music started and dancing commenced. The ladies’ dresses were very beautiful and, to the eyes of a mere male, a revelation. Most of them

were the “below' the knee” style, but a few, following the advice of some Parisian dictator of fashion, appeared in “ankle-deep” creations, and I got tangled up in one of them. . . .

Still, no matter, the various designs and shades were very effective. . . I danced a lot and had some more iced drinks. .. I was happy—l think every body was. It was a great night, and I think the “cabaret” ought to be open every night. ... I’d like to meet that blonde again. . . .

Flying Foxes clustered on the Sacred Trees at Hihifo, Tonga. Flying Foxes have been raiding fruit trees in the Group, causing much damage to crops.