One Short-lived Strike

From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, April 21.

LTERE is the story of how a United XI States Commander on a South Pacific island (which must be nameless) solved one of his problems.

When the armed forces came to the island the Commander resolved that the normal life of the native people should be disturbed as little as possible. The encampments were located at consider able distances from native settlements, members of the armed forces were for bidden to enter a native house on any pretext whatsoever, and all civil affairs were left in the hands of the authorities of the Colony of which the island is a part.

To the considerable number of native workmen who volunteered, the Comman der gave terms that were just, but not lavish. Their pay was to be that of a United States private soldier; they could buy supplies at the Army stores at Army prices: they could attend the Army cinema shows, gratis. This was very acceptable to the native workmen (espe cially the free cinema shows) and, for a season, all went well.

Then, suddenly, without warning, all the native workmen went on strike.

This was something without precedent in the islands. An individual native workman will stop work and evaporate into a vacuum at any time, if he is fed

up or has accumulated enough “faufaa” (worldly goods) to carry him through a period of rest and refreshment. But an organised strike for higher pay had never been heard of, on this or any other island of the archipelago, since time began.

The Commander, fully aware of the identity of the European instigator of this procedure, said nothing and awaited developments. They came in the form of a delegation of native workmen, accompanied by an interpreter.

The Commander listened patiently to a long harangue, which ended with a demand for an increase in pay, amount ing to 100 per cent.

The Commander’s reply was brief. “A very interesting speech,” he said. “Now you can go home and take every one of your native workmen with you. Hence forth not one of you may come near any of our encampments, nor may you buy anything at an Army store, nor attend a cinema show. That is all.”

They went. After a short time they returned.

Would the Commander reconsider his ultimatum (they inquired) if the work men should come back at the old rate of pay, with the privilege of attending the cinema shows?

The Commander looked sternly at them for a moment, and then smiled. “If you think you can carry on like good sol diers,” he said, “you may come back on the old terms.”

Peace, tranquility and cordial amity again reign on Nameless Island. The Commander is a better psychologist than is the European who stirred up this little tempest.