Tongan Reforms

An Election Next Month

Letter to the Editor PERMIT me to thank you for the pub licity you have given to “Leftist” views in regard to Tonga. Something has been achieved at last. At the recent Parliament certain improvements were registered. Briefly, they are:— (1) An extension of Public Works (which will give some further em ployment) . (2) The abolition of arrears in the Poll Tax up to 1937 inclusive (a big thing this), and a reduction in the tax of 1/- per quarter. (3) Reduction in motor lorry licenses on the smaller vehicles.

(4) Rate per day for prisoners paying off their arrears of Poll Tax in future to be 2/6 per day instead of 3d. per day—this latter ini quitous rate having been the law for 63 years. (5) An increase of duty on other than British goods, to give some assist ance to British imports against Jap. (mainly). This is right in principle, but should have been done years ago, or, rather, the Japanese should never have been allowed in.

With regard to No. 2, a proposition was brought forward in Parliament to abolish the Poll Tax altogether and, had it not been for the stupidity of one of the people’s representatives, it would have been carried. But at the decisive moment he let his people down. The proposition was voted upon, and it was found to be 10 in favour of the abolition of the tax and 9 to retain it, one member not hav ing voted. Somebody asked him, “What about it?”, and he voted with the Govern ment’s 9, thus making it 10 all; and the casting vote with the Speaker who, as is usual, voted to maintain the status quo.

The gentleman who let his constituents down is one of the three run by the Wes leyan Mission at the last election, 3 years ago, when the people were told in the sermons from the Wesleyan pulpits to vote for three named Wesleyans.

There is a strong fear here that this Wesleyan Mission and certain high per sonages—all Wesleyans—are simply work ing together to get as much out of the common people as they possibly can. The people are beginning to see the position, and at the next election of people’s re presentatives, in November, it is hoped that they will clear these three out and get three more in place of them who will faithfully discharge their trust.

I am, etc.,

Observer.

Nukualofa, Tonga. 22/9/’3B.