Tahiti Chinese

Fierce Storm But No Ripple On Surface

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Feb. 10.

Chinese colony in French Oceania, * like Chinese colonies everywhere, while physically and economically in the place of its habitat, is mentally and poli tically resident in China.

The complexion of the local community has closely followed the political changes of Southern China. At one time, there were sharply divided monarchical and republican divisions. But as the Kuomin tang developed ascendency at Nankin, that organisation at Tahiti has drawn into its allegiance all but a few die-hards.

The average Chinaman is garrulous enough about things in general, through the medium of pidgin Tahitian or (in the case of the educated) of French and English. When it comes to political and community affairs, however, everything is transacted behind the wall of the Chinese language, and very little of what is going on leaks out to alien ears.

The Kuomintang has erected a hand some building in the heart of Papeete.

The lower floor is used for school rooms to instruct Chinese children. The upper apartments are executive offices and club rooms. Until recently this institution

has been in receipt of an annual sub sidy from the Nankin Kuomintang.

From its inception, the Tahiti Kuomin tang has been controlled by the directors of Kong Ah and Co. and their allies When that widely-spread commercial cor poration came to grief, an investigation, forced by the anti-Kong Ah members of the Kuomintang, disclosed the practically total disappearance of the very consider able treasury funds of the association.

Then ensued a battle royal for control.

The situation, reported to Nankin, re sulted in the discontinuance of the sub sidy until the matter should be cleared up.

After a strenuous campaign the oppo sition to the Kong Ah control has won a sweeping victory, and a special delegate has been despatched to China to expose to the higher authorities the situation and to plead for the resumption of the subsidy.

All this has transpired without the least ripple on the surface of Chinese life in the islands that could be detected by an outsider.

Dr. A. M. Reid, who was formerly geologist to the Tasmanian Government, returned to Sydney from Noumea by the Pierre Loti in February after carrying out a survey for Chrome Alluvials Ltd., of Melbourne. Having

closely inspected the properties in the

south of the group which the company has under option, he recommended that Chrome Alluvials take up the leases.

The steam-yacht Corsair, the property of Mr. J. P. Morgan, the internationally known United States banker, arrived at Papeete on February 8, 1937. The yacht navigated among the dangerous Tuamotu Islands calling at Fakarava before going to Tahiti. From there the voyage was continued to Moorea, and on to the Lee ward Society Islands and thence to Suva, Fiji. The Corsair is one of the world’s largest and most costly sea-going yachts.