The Future Of The

Polynesians

They Should Not be Tied Up With Melanesians

By A. C. Rowland

ONE residing in the area is interested, naturally, in the growing volume of literature concerning the future of the Pacific Islands, in the post-war period.

This writer is not competent to ex press an opinion on matters affecting the islands of Melanesia; but he ventures modestly to suggest that the problem for Polynesia differs so radically from that for Melanesia, that the two should not, under any circumstances, be interwoven.

The islands of Polynesia are not, nor have they ever been, inhabited by a jungle-prowling, head-hunting people.

There are no jungles on these islands.

During un-numbered centuries, every hectare of arable land has been culti vated or utilised for purposes of the common weal —under hereditary owner ship protected by the most rigid safe guards.

The history of the passing of so many of these hereditary acres into alien hands should be carefully studied by those who earnestly desire justice for, and the sur vival of, the Polynesian peoples of the South Pacific Ocean.

In this connection, they should not neglect to concentrate their scrutiny on that type of South Sea trader we have designated at Crimsonbeak and Gueule — Crimsonbeak who tears the flesh of the victim; Gueule who crunches his bones.

The method nas been to create and foster a vicious system of credit —beyond the legitimate means of the native, land owner.

During the period of incubation, Mr.

C’s beak and Mr. G’s molars were equipped with caoutchouc shock-absorbers; their voices modulated to the soft purr of the contented tiger—as they enticed their victim deeper into the jungle of debt. When they pounced, the prey was beyond all hope of aid from any quarter.

Another shade had joined the pitiful company of landless waifs.

THE word “missionary” is an anachron ism in Polynesia. With the passage of a century and a half, the missions have established themselves in then several spheres after the manner of other self-supporting church organisations in civilised lands.

Politics —the pastime of functionaries and commercial interests at the centres of administration —is as comprehensible to the average Polynesian as is the Einstein Theory of Relativity. After long observation, this writer is persuaded that island politics is equally incompre hensible to the politicians themselves.

Hope of survival for the Polynesian does not reside in self-government. They had self-government in Hawaii!!

A colonial service, absolutely apart from the influence of political vagaries, would be, in my judgment, the only solutiop.

We have a grim example of the ghastly tragedy of the North American Indian under the administration of a Bureau which was the happy hunting ground of politicians during many de cades. One of our great Civil War generals (General W. T. Sherman or General U. S. Grant; I have forgotten which—both of them hated and despised politicians) made this remark: “Through out the whole period of relationship of the United States Government with the

Indians, the Indians never dishonoured a treaty; the United States Government never kept one.” • Service, not expediency, should be the watchword of colonial administration, if that great world tree—planted by Mr.

Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt for the healing of the nations—shall not wither at its roots.