Vigorous Development

Policy of Government of French Oceania

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Dec. 8.

TE VEA MAOHI” reports a speech made recently before the Council of Finance by His Excellency, M.

Chastenet De Gery, Governor of French Oceania. He reviewed the work of the Administration and outlined a very ex tensive programme to increase and ex tend the services of the Departments of Education, Medicine, Agriculture and Public Works.

Since the beginning of the year, the services of education have been co-ord

mated and measures adopted to increase efficiency, not only on tne larger islands, but in tne remote parts of tne Colony The same is true of the medical ser vice. Additional doctors, and general and maternity nurses are to be made avail able for regular service among the more distant archipelagoes. A new power schooner—the “Tamara” (now nearing completion)—i s to take the place of the Muette” (wrecked on Amanu), and smaller craft will be provided for inter island medical inspections and services in the several groups.

The prospectus of the Department of Public Works includes a new concrete wharf at Uturoa, Ra’iatea (now under construction); other wharves in the Lee ward Islands and in Moorea; the laying of new and the extension of old water systems in various parts of the Colony the hard surfacing of the main road around Tahiti; new road-making, and the reconstruction and strengthening of bridges and culverts on Tahiti, Moorea and Ra’iatea.

The Department of Agriculture is be ing equipped to offer practical instruc uon to young people in cultivating sci entifically the indigenous food plants; to conserve and extend forests; and to re gulate and limit the cutting down of large trees.

These works will be financed by sur plus funds now available at the Colonial Treasury.