Fiji And Tahiti

A Comparison That is Odious!

SOME comparisons, unflattering to Fiji, were made by Mr. J. R. Gray, a former resident of Tahiti, in an article published in the “Fiji Times” recently. Mr. Gray was eight years in the French islands, and has been eight een months running a copra planta tion in the Lau Group, in Fiji.

He says that in his section of the Lau Group there is an annual copra production of 2,700 tons yet the Euro pean community there have neither wireless communication, proper postal service nor reliable shipping facilities.

Mr. Gray, in strong terms, condemns the miseraole little ships which are used in Fiji to carry on communications with the outlying islands. He says that they are mostly overloaded, and the condi tions under which passengers are forced to travel are a disgrace to the Red Ensign. In Tahiti, the outlying islands are served by schooners of 100 tons or more —mostly good, seaworthy and rea sonably comfortable vessels.

Mr. Gray cannot understand why a shipbuilding industry has not been de veloped in Fiji—that is to say, one cap able of giving the Colony plenty of small trading vessels. He thinks that if the Government gave the industry some encouragement, the vessels could be built for about £5,000 each.

Mr, Gray asks why seaplanes are not more used in Fiji. He points out that, In Tahiti, there is a seaplane base and, when the seaplanes are not required for defence purposes, they make periodical visits to the outlying islands, as part of their exercises, and they carry passen gers and mails at a reasonable rate.

Why should that not be done in Fiji?

He unequivocally condemns the lack of roads and wharves in the Lau Group and he concludes: — “At one time there were good roads on this island and a wharf at Loma Loma. To-day, the roads have gone back to jungle and one cannot land dry shod from even a dinghy at the capital town of Lau.

“When the new Government yacht is in commission and officials may travel in comfort, they may find time to visit this group. They will see at Loma Loma a well-kept Government Com pound and a number of minor officials, sleek and well dressed, and, no doubt, very content with life, but I very much doubt if they will hear anything of the dilapidated native villages or realise the appalling state of apathy and slackness into which the Fijian seems to have fallen under our system of Govern ment.”

A CONFIRMED Islands bachelor, on furlough in Sydney, was lecturing about the South Sea Islands.

“Men.” he said, “are so numerically superior to women that every woman there can be sure of at least one hus band.” Addressing the female members of his audience, “Even you might be able to get one.”

An indignant young lady rose and stalked away. As she reached the door, the lecturer said: “Madam, there is no need for hurry; there isn’t a boat till next week!”

Rev. William Burvill, vicar of Thurs day Island for 10 years, has been ap pointed to the parish of Ballma, North ern New South Wales.