Politicians Could Ruin

Pacific Federation

Letter to the Editor 1AM afraid your suggested South Pacific Commonwealth would become another Hawaii.

The “interests” would move in behind the shield of a lot of poor class poli ticians who would sell out their own people for a mess of pottage. In the end we should have another Polynesian char nel house.

The reform will have to come at Can berra, Washington and Paris. After this war, if there shall be any wisdom sur viving, those reforms will come. Men endowed with special knowledge of the areas under the control of their depart ment, should staff all departments of government. That, to my mind, is the only solution.

The only hope for our disordered world is that a new enlightenment may come which will enable the masses of our peoples to discern the hollow sham of politicians, and shall unite them in a firm determination to cast them out. If the peoples do not do this, and do it thoroughly, democracy is doomed.

I am, etc.,

Tahiti,

A. C. Rowland.

March, 1943.

Editorial Note

Agreed. But the introduction of the political systems of Australia or America is no part of the plan. They may be suitable for the educated and advanced democracies of Australia or America (we are permitted a sneer!) but they would be out of place in the South Pacific Ter ritories, where we must find a part-way stage, between a complete benevolent dictatorship (as in Fiji) and completely representative government, based on adult suffrage, as in New Zealand.