Tropicalities

THE P.I.M. cordially acknowledges and reciprocates many good wishes for the New Year. Some were conventional; some were not. We were amused by this one: — “Sincere good wishes for a happy Xmas.

Here in Rarotonga it will be: A flower behind the ear—a cold fowl in one hand —a lump of taro in the other—shuffling around with the mob—an Islands Christmas!"

THE system under which the Administration arbitrarily appoints a village headman, who is often an ex-police boy, is criticised in an article in the “Melbourne Herald" by Mr. Ian Hogbin, an anthropologist, who recently spent several months in the Solomons. Mr. Hogbin contends that the present system makes for and unrest; and proceeds:- "The most effective method of dealing with the problem appears to me to establish councils of senior men in each district, with a man who has some idea of the principles of British law as a sort of chairman. For this purpose a good ex-police boy would be admirable. The council could deal with all offences and be empowered to adjust many matters without special reference to the district officer. Serious crimes would, of course, have to come before this official, but the council could be allowed to make a recommendation This need not necessarily be followed, but if not then an explanation ought to be given. The chairman, with his knowledge of English, would make an effective go-between for the council and the district officer.

In areas where I have had personal experience I am sure that it would be possible to bring this scheme into operation,

I have also discussed it with one or two officials who are of the opinion that it would be effective. The scheme naturally presupposes that the district officers are trained in anthropology and are familiar with the customs of the area which they have to administer.”

A RESIDENT of Tahiti in a confidential note to the Editor says that journals comments on the new French copra tax caused a good deal of outspoken comment by French residents of that part of the Pacific. The French point of view is that we have forgotten some of the rather outrageous taxes placed upon French produce by British Dominions.

There was, for instance, the tax of 4/or 5/- per case imposed by the New Zea land Government on oranges from Tahiti, thus killing a very healthy trade and depriving New Zealand consumers of an excellent supply of good fruit which had been coming in to the Dominion in the depth of winter. This, of course, was done by New Zealand to protect the Cook Islands orange trade; but the manner in which it was regarded bv the French growers can be as easily imagined as described. The tax, in its incidence and character, was no worse than the French copra tax.

Our correspondent goes on: “In the financial column of the weekly edition of the ‘London Times' of at least twelve months ago, there appeared an analysis of the balance sheet of Unilever, which showed the colossal profit of over £5,000,000 made in 1931. The comment was made that although the depression deepened during 1932 the profits increased by one million pounds during the previous

year. To everyone but the dividend takers this must smell to high heaven, and would have been a fitting subject to deal with in the P.I.M. It is monstrous that the octopus should fatten in times like these on the misery and losses of the toilers in the South Seas.”

AN interesting relic is in the possession of Mr. E. G. Seagoe, of Vila, New Hebrides. Many years ago a native, working in a yam garden near Port Reso lution, Tanna, dug up a bronze medal, which is one and six-tenths of an inch in diameter and is inscribed as follows. On one side is a head of George III, and around the margin the words: “George III., King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, &c.” On the other side are shown two ships, one sailing before the wind and one with sails furled. Around the margin are the words: “Resolution and Adventure.” Below the ships is the in scription: “Sailed from England March MDCCLXXII.” The medal was sold about 1886 by the native to Captain Champion, a well known Frenchman then resident in New Hebrides (but now deceased), who was on a recruiting cruise to Tanna.

About 1908, Captain Champion sold the medal to Mr. Seagoe.

It is recorded in Captain Cook’s voyages that at various places in the New Heb rides and New Caledonia he distributed medals to natives, and this apparently is one of them. There is another of them (which was found at Balaba, north New Caledonia) in the Mission Museum at Saint Louis, New Caledonia. There is a silver replica of the medal in the Sydney Museum, but not a bronze one. It has been suggested that Mr. Seagoe’s medal should be acquired for the Mitchell Lib rary in Sydney. If anyone is interested he should communicate with Mr. Seagoe direct.