Tongan Notes
p. 56 · Read in the full issue
Nukualofa, May 10.
Although there is over £143,000 accu mulated surplus lying to the credit of this little kingdom, not one penny has yet been spent for the relief here of people suffering from the depression.
The Government, still pursuing its re trenchment policy, has retired the cap tain, engineer and other men formerly
employed on the Government’s motor ves sel Hifofua, and the vessel has been put out of commission.
There is agitation for more retrench ments. It is said that one European could administer the Treasury, Customs and Post Office: and that Tongan officials could administer the Police, Audit, and Agriculture Departments. It is pointed out that £50 per annum is paid to one officer to act as editor of a Tongan news paper, and that there never has been any such newspaper.
A New Zealand man is coming to take the place of the late Mr. W. Angus, who for many years was Government engineer.
A well-known resident of Nukualofa, Mr. Cowley, is on his way back to Tonga and is expected some time in May.
Several Europeans have died here in recent months. The last to pass on was Mr. J. Clements, who has died in Auck land, where he had gone in order to have an urgent operation performed.