Beachcombers In

Solomons

Letter to the Editor HP HE statement about “beachcombers,” attributed by the Sydney newspapers to Mr. F, N. Ashley (Resident Commis sioner in the Solomon Islands) has caused indignation among the residents down here, especially the “old hands.”

In the first place, the remark was utterly tactless; and, secondly, it was incorrect, as the bond was instituted long before Mr. Ashley arrived—although it was not enforced, except in certain cases, and at the discretion of the Customs Department. Thirdly, I have been a resident here for over twenty years, and know every corner of the group, and all who have come and gone during that time, and I have never yet seen that interesting personage, the beachcomber.

Other old residents agree, and would like Mr, Ashley to name a few for our enlightenment.

Perhaps Mr. Ashley may have seen a planter, who has come to Tulagi with engine trouble, and has been in oily, dirty clothes while working on his boat. He has thought: “Ah, a beachcomber!” and drawn away, never dreaming that in birth and education the same oily individual was his equal and perhaps his superior.

Mr. Ashley seldom comes down from his house on the hill, to meet or mix with the people who really make the Solomons.

Probably, he does not know the name and status of half the residents within a

fifty miles radius of Tulagi. He lets his dislike both for people and place be very well known, which is not conducive to good feeling.

Again, Mr. Ashley may have mistaken for beachcombers some of the old, respected planters who have been thrown off their plantations after years of pioneering and struggle owing to the vagaries of the copra market, the de pression, and the complete lack of help or interest by the Government. These men. in some cases, have remained on, working for the firm that closed on them, being allowed only sufficient clothes and food to live. Others, whose places were com pletely closed down, started off again with undaunted courage to try and earn an honest penny, some freighting or re cruiting, others trading and shelling—but all working, even if only relief work, now and again.

Some years ago Mr. Ashley referred to a certain Mr. X as a beachcomber. This, briefly is Mr. X’s record.

He was born in England of an old and respected family, and he went to Africa, where he joined the Cape Mounted Police, and served through the Boer war.

While in Africa, he decided to join a relation who had settled in the Solomons in the early days.

Mr. X left his children in England and arrived in the Solomons in 1908. He started a plantation and worked happily until the Great War, when he immedia tely joined up and served in France until the Armistice. His relation then wrote that his plantation was in good order and persuaded him to come back. He returned with his two sons, only to find his place utterly neglected—his house fallen down and his prospects nil. The natives, at that time, were very in dependent and, knowing that he had little money, refused to work for him.

Alone, he tried to fight the under growth, etc. His sons became ill and went to friends, and Mr. X began to break down in health. The Government demanded rent and when it was not forthcoming, turned him off the place. He got various jobs and so carried on for years, always keeping his head up and not forgetting the tradition of his family.

Eventually, he became very ill and was taken to Tulagi hospital. It was then that Mr. Ashley made his famous remark about beachcombers and suggested de porting him. The remark aroused a storm of protest and the subject was dropped.

Mr. X has now recovered, and has returned to his old place; no house and a mass of jungle where coconuts once grew.

There he lives, all alone, no one within forty miles of him, a fine, tall elderly man with a wonderful war record —no mark against his name —a non-drinker and non gambler—noted for his old world courtesy.

That is the type of man, it seems, that our Resident Commissioner calls a “beachcomber.”

I am etc.,

Old Planter

Tulagi.

Aug. 14, 1936.

Mr. George Missen, a pioneer resident of Rotuma Island, Fiji, died at Motusa in July, aged 66. He was a well-known Is- Tands figure and in the early days of the Colony conducted a large trading busi ness.

Mr. Raymond Hill, who was for 18 months at the Melanesian Mission’s sta tion on the Ilak River, New Britain, re cently spent five weeks in St. Luke’s Hos pital, Sydney. He has now recovered and is spending the remainder of his fur lough in the south of New Zealand.