Neglected Solomons

Economic Surveys Urged in Criticism by Old Resident

A THOUGHTFUL and constructive monograph, dealing with the present condition and probable future of the British Solomon Islands, has been writ ten by a gentleman with a long experi ence and intimate knowledge of the affairs of that protectorate.

It is too lengthy to reproduce here ; and, in any event, it is not now timely, because it discusses commercial and transport conditions as they existed nine months ago. Since then, those conditions have changed very much.

A number of the writer’s observations and recommendations deserve considera tion, however—if he can pei'suade any one to consider them. The fact is, how ever, that this anxious and harassed world to-day—and probably for some years to come—will regard a little topsy turvydom in the Solomons as among the least of its troubles.

THE writer makes the point that, in abandoning the sterling basis and accepting the Australian £ as the unit of its currency, the Solomons administration did private planters in the

Solomons a grave injustice, while un necessarily giving the Australian trad ing firms a rich bonus. He urges a return to sterling and the establishment of a Solomons bank, which would print and issue its own currency. He proceeds:— Such a bank would be a complete check upon the individual income and profit of those operating by production or trading in the Protectorate.

We suffer under another great dis ability. It is being tied under the Gov ernment of the Fijis. We have no con tact with that Colony, and I think they must regard us as being a perpetual pro ducing dairy cow to be milked regularly without it being necessary for them to provide any feed whatever.

All our revenue should come by direct taxation upon copra. None of our imports should be burdened with customs of any

description. We should be a free port excepting only, I am inclined to suggest, an impost upon certain luxuries.

All our endeavours should be turned to producing more copra, more gold, and harvesting the unexploited natural pro ducts already available and ripe, such as timbers, fibres, canes and kapok. Other crops which could be grown profitably are coffee, cocoa, rice, tobacco, .ginger and curry root. These are non-perish ables but all require the labour of women and children, which we are not allowed to use. Realistic economic reform is here vital. The present state of the independent grower is one of insolvency.

Government aid to the independent producer should be granted from the surplus funds in the hands of the Gov ernment (funds which copra produced) not only to save those producers, but to save the Solomon Islands.

Our currency would very quickly assume its proper valuation in the world by virtue of the natural increase of exports.

Our gold should be held as a backing for our currency issue. For every addi tional £1 value of gold in our Treasury, or our Bank’s treasury, we could issue notes to the extent of £5.

There are, and have been, many laws made for the alleged protection of the native, and the question of paternalism toward the natives will bear analytical consideration.

The attitude of the native toward the Government has a very strong element of cunning contempt, similar to that of a son who has a too indulgent father, and his insignificant contribution toward the upkeep of the Protectorate, or the British family, is due solely to the pater nal laws or attitude, without insisting that he contribute to the harvesting of the resources which nature has provided.

To encourage him to work would not inflict a hardship, as far as labour is concerned, but would add to his wealth, his self-respect, and possibly his ambi

tion. The native is certainly of a docile and happy disposition, and he is most happy when working hard under just treatment for a white man. My short experience is that he enjoys work and takes a certain amount of pride in accomplishment.

I will now refer to two elements in the Protectorate that to me are uneco nomic from a Government standpoint. (1) The Chinese trader is not a producer, depending as he does upon the labour of the producer, mostly native. (2) The Chinese mechanic is some asset, his labour hours being constructive.

Another element, very delicate to touch upon, is the missionaries. In some cases they do produce crops for their own con sumption and sale; they also educate the native in crafts which he is able to absorb and which are useful when once taught. It is not, however, the disposi tion or capacity of the native, in the main, to become a mechanic. Neither, do I believe, from a world-wide experi ence, that theoretical learning adds to the happiness or integrity of such a population of mixed breeds as those which we call the native of the Solomon Islands.

IWILL close with two very strong recommendations. The first is that

an agricultural survey be made by such a man as Professor Johns, who not only is a scientist but a practical scien tist, with his feet rooted in the soil. Dr.

Tempany, in London, informed me that Johns was undoubtedly, amongst the younger men specialising in agriculture, the outstanding man upon coconuts. I estimate his fee at between £3,000 and £5,000, and Professor Johns should have at his disposal a soil and water analyst.

Outside of this, from an agricultural standpoint, reasonable help and encour agement should be given to those who will give the time, labour and land for experimentation with new profitable plants, such as the cocoa tree especially, and, secondarily, the date palm, both of which products never reach less than 2d. a pound wholesale, and are two of the greatest food products in the world from a tropical standpoint. There are a number of other plants that I am satisfied would do well in these islands, but it is very questionable as to their economic value for revenue.

THE second recommendation is a geo logical report upon the metalliferous formations. I am convinced that the islands of Guadalcanal and Malaita are especially interesting. The first report should be what is known as a General Structure Report, which for an island like Guadalcanal, would cost about £7,000. If a general report and economic report were required they would probably cost a further £3,000. I am convinced that this would be the cheapest money that was ever spent in these islands.

These two reports should show the way to double the ouput of wealth from the islands in not more than five years.

OTHER matters warranting the most serious investigation and analysis include the depopulation of these islands since the establishment of the Protectorate. From an original popula tion of over 200,000 natives the number has fallen to 90,000 at present, and is still on the decline, according to all the information obtainable.

Every source of information admits that the medical department has now complete control of those epidemic diseases which took toll in the past, so we must look for other causes.

The first and most obvious cause is the segregation of the sexes by labour regu lations, which only allow males to be employed under two-year contracts, dur ing which period the most ambitious only go out to labour and are taken out of circulation for their most important use of reproduction. It is interesting to note that the percentage of crime is very high from sexual offences owing to the above segregation. We must remember that every native under restraint as an offender, is out of circulation as a pro ducer of wealth, and is a charge on the producer.

It is of vital interest to the welfare of this Protectorate to investigate the present cost of the Government. It is in the position of being probably unique in the Empire, and most likely in the world, inasmuch that for every two and a quarter white men engaged in pro duction of natural resources (not trad ing) one Government official is required.

The present Empire situation demands and requires the marshalling of all our efforts in production of war materials and wealth if we are to survive as a free people.

Mr. C. R. Graham, of Apia, Western Samoa, arrived in Australia recently.