Working Hours In

The Islands.

Plea for the Natives.

A MATTER that should receive serious consideration in many of the Pacific territories is the hours of the day during which white people work.

In some of the islands, for instance, during most of the year, business places such as stores, open at 7 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. During January, February and March, the closing hour is 3 p.m. From 8 to 3 are the hottest hours of the day and it is pitiful to see native hands working in the sun, and in shops, during those hours.

The native lives closer to nature than the white man and, with less social life to occupy his evenings and nights, re tires early. He rises early and would be ready and willing to commence work at 5.30 or 6 a.m. if the white man were like wise ready. At that hour the air is fresh and invigorating.

The first shift of work should be from 5.30 to 10.30 in the summer and, say, 6 to 11 in the winter. The afternoon might be from 3 to 4 in the summer and 3 to 5 in the winter.

The native’s habit of commencing work at daybreak and ceasing in the forenoon, to lie down and rest, has given rise to the notion that he is a lazy, use less being. Unlike the white man—offi cial and shop hand—he gets no term holiday in a temperate zone and, there fore, he should keep as close as possible to his ancient custom. The white man is really the lazy one, by lying in bed in the freshness of the morning when he should be at his job.

A memorial service for the late Pilot Frank Drayton, who was killed when a ’plane crashed at Wau on December 26, was held at St. Mary’s, Waverley, Syd ney, on February 26. The Rev. F. Riley officiated.

The Orient Company has decided to send the liners “Otranto,” “Oronsay” and “Orama” on winter cruises, presum ably to the Pacific Islands. The “Oron say” will also make a cruise to Nou mea at Easter.