Vegetable Raids

What Australia Is Doing To New Guinea

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Mar. 20.

SINCE the drought and bush-fires in Australia, which were responsible for a shortage of fresh vegetables in that country, it is noticeable that over seas vessels, arriving at Rabaul from Aus tralia make a point of taking on large stocks of vegetables. As a result, com plaints have been made by Rabaul house holders that they are unable to obtain their usual stocks of lettuces, beans, bananas, pineapples, etc.

It has been pointed out that the Ad ministration, after considerable persua sion, enticed the natives to grow these vegetables, even providing the seed in the

first instance, and it is not a fair thing for wealthy shipping companies to make considerable raids on this produce, be cause it is cheaper than in Australia.

Meanwhile, Rabaul householders are compelled to go without the fresh food which is so essential in a tropic coun try.

Rev. H. S. Hipkin returned to Gela, where he is engaged in mission work for the Melanesian Mission, by the “Malaita” on April 1, after spending long leave in England.

Rev. C. F. Gribble, M.A., who has been appointed Principal of the Methodist Tubou College in Tonga, is spending a few months in Melbourne studying educational methods before proceeding to his new post at Nukualofa. t, , , Judge H. F. Aysom C.M.G., Resident Commissioner in the Cook Islands, reached New Zealand from Rarotonga by the March “Matua”.