Blind Tongan

Government Aid Sought For a Blind Tongan

Letter to the Editor IHAVE tried for some time to get the Tongan Government to take care of Finau, a blind man, who is unable to work. Finally, I received an answer from Premier Ata, stating that the Minister of Police would go up to Vava’u and examine his case.

I met the Minister in his office in Vava’u and asked him if the Government would help this man. He said no, that

Finau could work; but when I asked him where, he couldn’t tell me. We feel strongly about this because we know that if it were not for the help given Finau by the European residents and the managers of the local firms he would have been dead long ago.

Last year the Governor of Vava’u made it known at a taxnayers’ meeting; that the Government had £160,000 invested in other lands. Some Tongans think that the Government is not doing its rightful duty to the people of Tonga when it sends the people’s money out of the Kingdom for someone else to benefit, while Tongans suffer for lack of medical supplies and help for the blind.

ll am, etc.,

S. P. Afuha'amango.

Neiafu, Vava’u, Tonga. 30/3/48.

Captain James Duncan, who resigned his position of harbourmaster at Rabaul, is now residing on his plantation at Kokopo. His eldest son, Group-Captain W. J. Duncan, is still with the China Re lief Mission at Canton.

Finau, the blind Tongan