Tropicalities

Written for The Pacific Islands Monthly by “Sea Serpent.”

ELSEWHERE in this journal are figures showing the imports and exports of Norfolk Island. N.I. is part of Australia—a Federal Territory. It is not large but it is highly productive —a rich and beautiful place with a peculiar charm for tourists. Its trade is valuable and, since the Territory is a responsibility of the Common wealth, that trade should belong to Australia. But Australia is so indif ferent about overseas trade that, actu ally, much of Norfolk Island’s business is going to New Zealand—half the exports and a third of the imports, as a matter of fact. N.Z. gives better prices and better service. Australia has been warned again and again that, through indifference, she is losing her valuable Islands connection. But one might as well hammer on a stone wall.

Nobody cares. * * * * THE importance of wireless to the Islands was emphasised during the recent floods and hurricane in Fiji.

The Fiji manager of Amalgamated Wireless Ltd. (Mr. Farquhar) showed enterprise and ingenuity in providing radio communication with Lautoka, thus permitting the Administration to provide relief measures quickly and efficiently. A.W.A. is now experiment ing with a wireless station at Lautoka; and it is such a boon that there is not much doubt that the arrangement wall be made permanent. The effect of radio communication on the growth and development of the Islands trade and industry, during the last decade, has been extraordinary. * * * *

Congratulations To Rev. J. W.

Burton on the journalistic enter prise displayed in The Missionary Review of May 5. The lengthy graphic and well edited accounts of “The Hurricane and Floods in Fiji,” and the numerous striking photographs of the devastation wrought in the several dis tricts, not only make a striking story of courage and resource, but also pro vide a valuable record of one of the most severe visitations in the history of the Colony. * * * * OWING to the unsatisfactory prices for copra and the generally de pressed conditions, purchasers of Ex propriated plantations in New Guinea were granted a suspension of payments until the end of June next. The mat ter will then come up for further re view. The Custodian of Expropriated Properties, who has his office in Mel ourne, is at present examining the situation, but nothing definite has yet been decided on. It can be stated, how ever, that the Government is anxious to assist the planters to get on their feet again, and that no harsh meas ures will be adopted.

RETURNING to Auckland from Suva, after having been pilot for nine months for Mr. A. H.

Marlow’s Dornier flying boat, Mr.

W. Man gave the newspapers an interesting interview. He said that Mr. Marlow found the seaplane doubly useful. It not only saved time in visiting his contract work in various parts of the group, but it also bucked up the native workmen tremendously, and they finished jobs much more quickly. “A party working somewhere in the bush was afraid to go slow, be cause the men never knew when the machine would appear over the tree tops,” said Mr. Man. Sounds like “a tale from the far seas” —but it’s an in teresting theory, anyway. * * * * THE effects of the Great War are passing slowly. An unnoticed item in the Commonwealth Government Gazette the other day, repealed the German Admissions Ordinance of 1927, so that Germans may now enter the Territory of New Guinea on the same terms as any other foreigner who complies with the immigration laws.

Previously, any German who had been a resident of New Guinea before May 9, when civil administration was res tored, could not re-enter the Territory without special permission. * * * * AS there are many thousands of In dian farmers in Fiji; and as In dians usually bury their money in the ground, in preference to banking it; and as the recent hurricane and floods shifted a lot of soil, and altered many landscape contours—it is said that the western districts of Viti Levu, after the storm, saw more frantic treasure hunts to the square mile than was ever before recorded in history. * * * * THE Scullin Government’s tariff schedules are now being debated in the House of Representatives. Not the least important are the timber dulies. They have already been the subject of protests, notably by South Australian and Western Australian members. Representatives of firms which have established plants in the South Sea Islands, and are handling kauri and cedar, have made very strong representations to the Minister with a view to the lowering of duties on these logs. But it is not likely that the Government will agree to any re duction, as it is contended that Queensland is capable of supplying all the kauri and cedar required by Aus tralia. It is considered that 90 per cent, of the Government supporters will vote for the timber schedule as it stands, and any amendments will be only of a minor character. It is only another example of the way in which Australia’s tariff-mad politicians con tinue (in spite of the tragic and grow ing evidence of their foolishness) to close the door against oversea trade.