Where Socialism

Operates

Strength and Weakness of Tonga

(Written for the P.I.M. by J. T.

Goedicke, of Haapai, Tonga, 80 years of age, and an old resident of Tonga.) THE little kingdom of Tonga is with out a parallel in the countries of the world, for it has neither poverty nor serious crime, nor a national debt, and a system of virtual land nationalisation prevails.

The Government is constitutional, with the British Consul and Agent as the power behind the throne. The people are happy, if not prosperous. The conditions of life are easy, and every Tongan has his bit of land —or should have it. Edu cation is universal, and in some respects it is up to colonial matriculation stand ard —although an agricultural education would be more suitable. The Tongan’s health is well looked after by European doctors and native medical practitioners.

While there is no poverty in Tonga, there is no wealth. The immemorial tribal system is opposed to the accumu lation of property. A man’s relations have the right to come and live with him, and share what he possesses.

Some years ago a Tongan high chief lost his wife, and married a Samoan of high rank. One result was that he was bothered by his wife’s Samoan relations, who were all related to him because they were related to her. Those Samoans came to Tonga with nothing; they re turned with well-stocked sandalwood chests which they had “cadged” from their relative’s husband. He would not break Polynesian etiquette by refusal — he would rather be heavily in debt to the traders!

In Tonga are to be seen the strength and weakness of Socialism—“a people without poverty, but a people without in dividualism”. The Tongan may be ready to utilise the inventions and discoveries of others, but he will not invent or dis cover for himself. The man who wants to rise above his fellows had better leave the country. To those whose ideal of life will be realised in short hours of labour, abundance of food, and neither poverty nor riches, Tonga will be Uto pia.

But whether humanity at large would be content with that Utopia becoming world-wide is a matter of speculation.

Social and economic conditions must alter in civilised lands —but then will not fol low the Polynesian pattern where the changes are affected.