Tahiti's Prosperity

From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, March 20. r HITES Budget for 1945 has been fixed at 63,180,000 francs, a consider able increase over former years.

The South Seas souvenir trade, stimu lated by a huge demand by American organisations, is flourishing here as never before, Tahiti setting a high standard of efficiency in the manufacture of Poly nesian carvings, grass skirts, shell orna ments and many of the other objects which American Servicemen like to send home to thei, v wives and sweethearts.

This much publicised colony is also loyally contributing to French patriotic funds.

Here, as in New Caledonia, a more liberal Constitution is promised, as well as a reorganisation of the gendarmerie and the Garde Mobile, who have been placed administratively under the author ity of the head of the Political Affairs Department, who will control their employment under the Governor’s instruc tions.