Bitter Thoughts of a White Solomon Islands Planter and Trader

Sub-Inspector A. J. Chichester has now taken charge of the Rewa district.

Bitter Thoughts of a White Solomon Islands Planter and Trader ISEE in the P.I.M. that there has been some discussion as to whether the Solomons should be called the British Solomon Islands, or just simply the Solomon Islands, writes a 8.5.1. planter.

I think —and there are many more of the same opinion—that they should be called the Chinese Solomon Islands, for to make progress in the Solomons in these days it seems necessary to have a Chinese lineage.

This is no exaggeration. The Chinese, assisted by the Government, have made great headway in the last five years, at the expense of the white settlers who pioneered these islands.

Why, those “Pan Pipes” that are being played outside remind me of my Malaita days. To think that I risked my neck, many a time, up some of the rivers and in the mangroves, for money I needed to start my plantation—and, when that was expended, then off recruiting again! What a fool I was to put my money in a plantation —I should have done the same as the Chinese do now, and gene trading.

But who could have foreseen events?

There was only one Chinese in Tulagi then, and he was a tailor.

To think of and Makambo in Woodford’s time, and the congregation of vessels that would assemble to meet the old Mindina. There were not many Government men living at Tulagi then —quite different from now. Nowadays, if one does not possess that so necessary Mongolian connection, one needs an old school tie to wear.

If some of the old-timers could see things as they are to-day it would make them turn in their graves. They speak of Hitler and Germany. He, at least, does believe in Germany for the Germans. But our dictators believe in the Solomon Islands for the Chinese. I did assist my country in the last war—then surely 1 have a greater right than an Asiatic to