Bitter Note From

Solomons

Could Australia Save The White Planters?

THE following is an extract from a letter to the editor, from a planter in the Solomon Islands. Its date is January 18, 1935: The ruin of the Western Solomons and of its British pioneer settlers and traders continues. Two more sailed by the last boat to Australia.

Vella Lavella, the most closely-settled island in the Group a few years ago, is to-day littered with abandoned planta tions. Of the ten properties on that island that were in production two years ago, eight have been closed down or aban doned. His Excellency the High Commis sioner will, no doubt, be pleased to leani that while the last two pioneers were passing, the prosperous Chinese in Gizo slapped on another trading vessel against the few remaining doomed British traders.

A deep hatred of Fiji has become pre valent here. We feel we have been

thrown to the wolves and can expect no pity nor redress from the High Com missioner. Public opinion is turning to Australia as our sole means of salvation.

There is an upsurge of feeling against the Colonial Office connection, and it is con sidered that we would get a fairer deal from Rabaul than from Suva. At least we would receive from Rabaul the sympa thetic consideration, which is denied us by Whitehall and Suva.

As all our affiliations —commercial, shipping, banking and ethic —are with Australia or the Mandated Territory, the last step, that of political union, should be taken, and freedom from the always irksome and illogical Fijian connections be bestowed upon us.

Fiji’s indifference to the settlers of the Solomons is no new development. Sir Cecil Rodwell, when High Commissioner, on a visit to Gizo many years ago, told the Secretary of the Solomon Islands Planters and Settlers’ Association that the Government “wished there were no small settlers in the Solomons —as they only added to the difficulty of Government”!

No doubt, it would have been much more simple for the High Commissioner to solve administrative problems over a dinner and cigars with the executives of a few big companies than have to endure the boredom of listening to the troubles of the small settlers. Certainly, Suva ever since has done its best to eliminate the nuisances by encouraging Chinese com against them.

Fiji can take comfort in the fact that its fell work is nearly done. Quite effec tively, and with the most satisfactory rapidity, the new policy is removing the unwanted, obnoxious white settlers. What a pity Fiji did not think of it earlier!