Learn To Understand

Your Polynesians !

THE need for the full development of a school of Polynesian studies was urged by Professor Sir Thomas Hunter, vice-chancellor of the University of New Zealand, .in an address in Auck land, recently.

“With Australia, we are becoming increasingly responsible for much im portant administrative work in the Pacific,” said Sir Thomas. “Either in co-operation with Australia or by our selves we should provide facilities for training those who are to take respon sible posts in and who are to determine the destinies of the British possessions in these southern seas. Samoa should have taught us that sympathy and good will are not enough. Knowledge and understanding are essential.”

The reference to Australia is difficult to follow. Australia has no jurisdiction over Polynesians—unless a few Nauruans come into that classification.

But there occasionally is need for a better understanding of Polynesians by the young gentlemen whom N.Z. sends to govern Western Samoa, Cook Islands, etc. One sometimes has seen lads graded as ordinary clerks in their own countries, lording it over Polynesian aristocrats who had forgotten more about good manners and noblesse ohliqe than the white official ever had learned.

Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Woodman, who had been 12 years in New Guinea, latterly as District Officer at Kavieng, has enlisted in the A..1.F and is at pre sent in command of a battalion. Lieut.- Colonel Woodman served with distinc tion in the last war and gained the rank of battalion commander in 1918.

Mr. T. Aitcheson, who died in Suva re cently at the age of 80, was connected with the Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Ltd., practically all his life. He was master of the Co.’s paddle steamer “Rarawai” until it was withdrawn from service, and later he retired on pension.