Tropicalities

THE appointment of J. R. Halligan as Acting - Administrator of Norfolk Island has not gone unnoticed by the quidnuncs of the Pacific Territories’ ser vices. “Ha, ha!” and “Oh, oh!” they said. ‘ This is an indication that Halligan is in line for one of the big jobs—Papua or New Guinea, maybe.” It may not be all idle chatter —and it would not be a bad thing if it were not. Mr. Halligan is one of the very few men who have climbed up the public service ladder without de veloping the outlook of the public servant and bureaucrat. The average public ser vant, while efficient and trustworthy, has an inelastic mind and an absence of initia tive, so that, in an emergency, he simply glues his nose to “the letter of the regu lations,” and stays there. Such a man, in a high administrative job, is a perpetual irritation to the public, and a pain in the neck to his staff. Mr. Halligan is one of the exceptions. In spite of many cramp ing years in the Prime Minister’s Depart ment, Mr. Halligan has maintained a broad and independent outlook on affairs, and confidence in his own judgment; and, with that training and character, plus an at tractive personality, he should be useful in a bigger job. Hundreds of people who have met him as an efficient and always courteous officer of the Prime Minister’s Department will wish him “Good luck!” during his Norfolk Island sojourn. * * * TTHUS Mr. Marc. T. Greene on the Sa moan situation, as he sees it from London: “Nelson is and will continue to be as long as he lives a symbol to the Samoans, a symbol of their grievances against the white man and of resistance to them.

“They always have had and will go on having, from their own point of view, those grievances, and no such policy as New Zealand seems now to be embarking upon—offering a friendly hand and asking to be forgiven—will make any impression whatever upon the" Samoans. They are no doubt laughing in their sleeves now at this new regime in N.Z, The only thing they respect is firmness, and that’s why they respected the Germans.

“The difference between their attitude toward Germany and New Zealand is sim ply that, while they liked neither, they respected the former and despised the lat ter.

“The Samoans, who are as unlike the Maoris or the Tahitians or the Hawaiians a Frenchman is unlike a Spaniard, must be dealt with firmly; but, as I have re peatedly pointed out, firmness need not be accompanied by injustice and stupidity, as it has been ever since N.Z. took over these islands.” * * ♦ THE recent appointment of both new m Governor and new Chief Justice to Fiji, calls to mind the amusing picture conjured up in the diary of the first Gover nor of Fiji (Sir Arthur Gordon, afterwards Lord Stanmore) in his strained relations with his C.J. of those days.

Apparently they did not like each other and the C.J. seemed to try every method possible to harass His Excellency.

The Governor was extremely anxious that some sensible sort of dress might evolve to suit tropical conditions, and most folk agreed with him in wearing white trousers and shirts, with bright cummer bunds, and with a bright puggaree about a white helmet.

The C.J. at this time began to irritate

the Governor by taking, as his regular morning “constitutional,” a row in a dinghy from the town proper up to Gov ernment House at Nasova and back, clad, if you please, in the customary Vic torian style of long frock coat and tall silk hat. This stretch of water, it might be said, can be particularly hot in the morn ing when the sun glints off the sea on to the ironstone cliffs. —“The Padre.” ♦ * * HENRY DEXTER—who, although he is a beardless, sprightly man, calls himself “Old Trader Horn of Papua”—is on the Mongolia, due in Sydney early in January.

Dexter made a modest “pile,” trading in Milne Bay, and decided in 1934 to retire and live in England. He stood it six months, and returned to Papua. Then family matters called him and, after a few weeks in Samarai, he sailed for England.

He had been there only a few months when his sister died. Then he bought a store, and decided to settle down in Hampshire Three months of English winter were suf ficient to lift him out by the roots. He has sold out, and is again looking for the warmth of the southern seas. * * * TO hand from Mr. J. H. H. Millett, presi dent of the Suva Bowling Club, is an interesting brochure, giving the history of the Suva Bowling Carnival. This is be coming one of the highlights of the bowlers’ year in the South Seas. It is held every year in July, when climatic condi tions in Suva are ideal; and every bowler in Australia and New Zealand who can afford it puts dull care in the toolhouse and locks the door, takes his wife and daughter firmly by the arm, marches them aboard a trans-Pacific liner, and proceeds to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime. For two weeks, Suva’s picturesque streets are made more picturesque by crowds of flam boyant blazers: wives and daughters go on excursions around Fiji and explore the mysterious shops of All-Nations Street; and the famous hospitality of Suva resi

dents is given full play. And as for the bowling !

Mr. Millett “ventures to prophesy that the Suva bowling carnival will become the greatest bowling festival in the Pacific.”

He is betting on a certainty. • • • JAPAN’S administration of her mandated islands in the South Seas was sharply criticised at the sitting of the Mandates Commission on November 10.

Differences of approximately one-third between imports and exports—the latter being greater—led to the suggestion that the Japanese were draining the islands of their natural resources, giving the natives little in return.

The Japanese delegate (Mr. Ito) despite a five hour cross-examination,'was unable to supply information beyond that contained in his Government’s report, although the official reason of his presence was to furn ish particulars as required. His denials were so firm that the Commission did not attempt to obtain information about the fortifications alleged to exist in the islands, contrary to the Versailles Treaty. Nor did it deal with the series of air bases being ■erected, according to the Japanese, to fol low the movements of fish.