In Extremis

Plantation Owners in the Solomons

From a Special Correspondent.

Tulagi, July 30.

To show that it is necessary that the Administration take steps, promptly and urgently, to assist the coconut plant ers in this group, it is necessary only to take stock of the privately owned plan tations. Let us make a tour in the north ern islands.

On this tour we will not take into ac count Levers’ plantations, because Levers are not in quite the same position as the independent owners.

Starting in the far eastern end of the Gizo district at the Marovo Lagoon, we will proceed west to Vella Lavella and Ranonga at the other end, and take stock on the way. Names of persons and es tates must necessarily be omitted for fear of hurting troubled folks’ feelings.

In the Marovo two of the four princi pal coconut plantations are now run by one of the Big Firms, while of the men who owned or leased them one died (of worry, largely, it is alleged), and the other has gone out. The other two prin cipal estates in the Lagoon are holding on with skeleton labour forces.

On Rendova Island, our next call, is an abandoned plantation of about 250 acres, smothered in jungle. The other estate on this Island is carrying on with greatly reduced forces.

Coming into the Roviana Lagoon, we find the property of an old pioneer sold to pay his debts; the next property, also that of a very old timer, practically fore closed by one of the Firms; whilst, lastly, a 500-acres estate is in process of being closed down.

On Ranonga Island, one of the three estates there has practically been fore closed on, while the other two are being held by greatly reduced forces.

Then comes Vella Lavella. Of eleven properties, one estate of 300 planted acres has been abandoned, and four others to talling 1050 acres virtually so, while the owners of the others are fighting for their lives, striving their hardest to keep off, or to slip no further down, the toboggan of debt.

Finally, news comes from Choiseul that an estate which in the not so very long ago gave employment to two white men and about 40 or 50 boys is about to be closed down.

The tour is ended. Is the evidence suf ficient to convince the Administration that the industry is in grave danger? Its pulse is very low. A little lower, and it will turn to the Government no more for justice or succour. For it will be dead.

To paraphrase Dickens: “Dead, Your Excellency! Dead, our High Commissioners and Resident Com missioners! Dead, our Special Commis sioners and Commissioners of every kind, born with never a trace of Heavenly com passion in your hearts. And dying thus around us every day.”