Tahiti's Choice

Migration to China Forecast

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, June 1.

A NUMBER of Chinese families are pre paring to migrate to China, whenever transportation to that country shall be available. It is, perhaps, the beginning of an exodus.

The Chinese are aware that opportunity for their children is in the new China which will emerge from the present post war reconstruction, rather than in the Islands.

In this writer’s opinion, the Chinese Central Government’s long-term objective in maintaining this carefully nurtured out post, has been far beyond the economic conquest of French Oceania. The real purpose appears to have been to establish an impregnable centre from which to chal lenge European and North American trade in the markets of South America.

This was clearly indicated in 1920, when a direct steamer service from China, via Papeete to the South American West Coast was started.

Internal conditions in China, and Jap anese aggression, have delayed the carry ing out of this purpose. The steamer service from China was long ago aband oned. Nevertheless, a united China and industrial expansion in that vast coun try may bring to pass a new offensive in this direction.

Meanwhile, the brighter future for edu cated young Chinese men and women ap pears to be in China itself.

Plans are out for a new hotel, of three storeys, to be erected in Port Moresby by Steamships Trading Ltd.