Society's Gathering

Tahitian Soldiers at Pacific Is.

ONE of the most successful gatherings held by the Pacific Islands Society took place in Sydney on May 28.

Over 160 members and guests attended and, in addition to an address by M.

Andre Brenac, leader of the Free French movement in Australia, they were given a very entertaining exhibition of Poly nesian songs and dances.

M. Brenac, who with Madame Brenac and Commandant F. Broche (leader of the Free French Pacific Forces), was guest of honour, said that since the first day of the French capitulation the whole of the French people in the Pacific colo nies were of the opinion that they should continue to fight alongside the British Empire. Some of these were unable to clarify their position earlier because they lacked leaders, but later they were able

to do so. He traced the history of the French Pacific Colonies and referred to their strategic importance to Australia; some of them —New Caledonia, for in stance, with its valuable ores—produced goods which were of considerable value to the Commonwealth.

Dressed in colourful pareus, 15 Tahi tian members of the Free French Forces now in camp in Australia, and Miss Anna Laurenson, of Samoa, performed a wide range of songs and dances —Tahitian, Hawaiian and Samoan. The dancing programme was arranged by Mr. Charles Pitz, a member of the Tahitian contin gent, who, incidentally, is an accom plished pianist.

The sight of a pretty Samoan girl dancing in the centre of a circle of stal wart young Polynesians, who provided the vocal and musical accompaniment, as well as the rhythmic beat of the dance by clapping their hands, struck a responsive chord in the memories of

many ex-Pacific Islands people who watched this unusual demonstration. The Society’s Chieftainess, Mrs. Alfred Page (Xefagaoalii) formerly of Samoa, needed little encouragement from the swaying performers to join in the dance, to the delight of the audience.

When the entertainment finally came to a close, amid much applause, the pre sident (Mr. Alfred E. Stephen) asked Lady Hunter, of New Zealand, to move a vote of thanks to M. Brenac, Miss Laurenson and the Tahitian soldiers.

This was seconded by Dr. lan Hogbin, a former president of the Society.

Pairymead Sugar Co. Ltd., which has plantation interests in the Solomon Is lands, made a net profit of £49,443 in 1940, against £54,577 the previous year.

Dividend is maintained at 10 per cent.