Well-Governed Tonga

Praise by Experienced Observer.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Having followed the island news in your comprehensive publication rather closely during my stay in this part of the world, I find that the com ments of some of your Tongan corres pondents are growing a trifle personal.

And, although anyone who so far lacks the courage of his convictions as to hide his identity behind anonymity is usually not worth noticing, I feel in clined to depart from my custom in this regard far enough to reply to a letter cryptically signed “Spartan.”

The point at issue, in connection with the articles on Tonga which I have published in several American newspapers and magazines, appears to be my assertion that the Tongan Poly nesians are more contented and gener ally better governed and cared for than the natives of other islands, and especially my comment on the condi tions in this well-administered group as contrasted to the abominable ones in Western Samoa.

The Tongan natives are a contented lot, and as things go in these uncertain days, their material well-being is pro nounced, especially as compared to the other islands. The thoughtful and un selfish leadership of the Premier is one reason for this; and another is the form of government of Tonga, the form which ought to prevail in every island group of the Pacific, from Hawaii to Tahiti.

It is necessary to remember, too, that Polynesian contentment and well-being does not rest primarily on economic considerations, as anyone who has any real knowledge of the race understands.

In many of the islands, particularly Tahiti, the natives are far better off in this period of what we call depression than they were when they had suc ceeded in getting together a substance which was promptly dissipated in use less and harmless expenditures, for automobiles, radios, tin-roofed houses and alcohol. Lacking all this, they are now returning to their older and simpler ways of living, and in following them they are better physically and happier, quite as in the days before the European race had contaminated them.

The notion that a journalist requires more than four or five weeks to grasp the essentials of such a place and life as that in Tonga is merely silly ignor ance, and characteristic of some of the piffling and pusillanimous personalities not uncommon in the South Seas. As to the “stray dogs” that “sniff around,” it is more or less logical for any dog' to address vociferously such braying asses as may occasionally point their elongated ears at him.

I am, Sir,

Marc T. Greene.

Auckland,

May 5, 1932.

EDITORIAL NOTE ; If. as Mr. Greene says, we inadvertently permitted an anonymous cor respondent to make a statement that was a reflection upon him, we express sincere regret.

It is not our policy to allow writers to indulge in offensive personalities, in any circumstances.

We may perhaps add that Mr. Greene is a very well-known and experienced writer, who has travelled the world as an international journalist—more recently as a correspondent of “The Christian Science Monitor.”