Tonga’s Constitutional

Difficulties

(To The Editor) Sir, —It is surely taxing the mental capacity of your readers to ask them to “construe these exasperating twelve words of the 12-points” imposed by Commander Wilkins, in 1905.

May I invite them to a far easier task —namely, to a moment’s review of your Correspondent’s article on the subject, which means nothing and points nowhere.

Consider that these “12 words which so seriously infringe the excellent Treaty” were subscribed to by Tubou the Second, a quarter of a century ago. That is far longer than any existing Minister of the Crown has been in office. The net result is—vide your Correspondent—a “little kingdom with probably the most stable Govern ment in the world, with no national debt, and a Treasury surplus of £150,000.” . . . “Consider this: One man and the destiny of 26,000 natives.”

In view of the results claimed by your writer, it is surely unduly taxing the credulity of your readers to expect them to sympathise with the postu late that undying fame awaits any obscure politician in the Old Country who will “out of curiosity start asking questions, which will lead him (the politician) to a solution”; which, your Correspondent hopes, may be soon “for the good of the little kingdom,”

“the betterment of Government,” be cause “the country never needed it more.”

Comment is unnecessary. It will be interesting to see how your Corres pondent extricates himself from the dilemma on which his obviously illog ical article impales him.

I am, etc.,

Toga-Maa-Toga.

Nukualofa, 2nd March, 1931.