Answer to Correspondent

C.A.S. (Sydney): We have pleasure in sup plying you with the following information about Tonga: Only leasehold land is obtain able. After obtaining the consent of the chief in whose district the land is situated, application is made to the Minister for Lands.

In the case of Crown lands, application is made direct to the Minister. The average rental of unemployed land is 4/- per acre.

Cocoa has not yet been planted commercially, but individual trees seem to thrive well. Pas sion fruit is not cultivated, but when sown on abandoned clearings and old yam patches, it grows profusely. There is no direct tax on Europeans, but they pay a general import duty of 12 per cent, ad valorem. Apart from Government Gazettes, there are no publica tions or newspapers. English currency is used, but it is supplemented by an issue of Tongan Treasury notes. There are no banks, but money transfers can be made through the trading firms. Exchange varies in sym pathy with the N.Z. and Fiji exchange. The cost of living is about 20 per cent, higher than in Australia and N.Z. Boarding house charges vary from £8 to £12 per month.

Ordinary labourers receive about £4 per month and keep. Native carpenters are paid from 10/- to 16/- per day; and European carpenters 25/- per day