New Governor Of

French Oceania

riIHE motorship “Thor I”, which arrived X in Papeete in August, en route to Apia, Suva, Noumea, and San Fran cisco, brought to Tahiti M. Maestracci, the new Governor of French Oceania.

Colonel Georges Orselli, appointed by General de Gaulle in the black days of 1941, held the office of Governor for five years. He was succeeded by M. J. C.

Haumant a few months ago; and he, in turn, is succeeded by M. Maestracci.

The French Pacific colonies, before the war, were famous for the rapidity with which the Governors were changed. It was a bad system, because the officials, no matter how conscientious, seemed sel dom to get a chance to know their Ter ritories really well. New, it would seem, the bad old system is to be reintroduced.

M. Haumant handled the ugly situation on the Papeete waterfront in June with courage and firmness. It is regretted that he was not allowed to remain in the Colony; but his transfer had been an nounced before the incident referred to occurred.