In Defence Of Solomons
pp. 30-32 · Read in the full issue
11HE following letter, dated July 17, was . sent to the editor of the Sydney “Sunday Sun” by Captain C. W.
Seton, a well-known planter of the British Solomon Islands: —
In your issue dated July 4, 1948, on page 5, I read with amazement an article headed “British Rule in Solomons Lite Nazis.”
For 22 years I have lived in the Solo mons, so I claim to know the country and also most of the officials in the British Administration: but I have no reason for believing their administration savours of Nazism, It is true that a few ultra enthusiastic officials, mostly youngsters just arrived, have all kinds of fantastic notions as to how the Protectorate should be administered, But they mostly find their level and settle down in a few years to become sane, level-headed officers, or else they leave the country altogether.
In your article you name two Sydney men who gave you the information pub lished. But did you verify their creden tials or make any attempt to ascertain whether their statements were accurate?
I know the two men in question and would be very reluctant to quote them as re liable critics.
As for the charge that the officials are like Nazis —what about your own state of New South Wales? There, I understand, officials can enter people’s houses at will and inquire how much gas and electricity they are using, and at the same time spy on the householder’s way of life. Such things could not occur in the British Solomons.
French Pacific Colonies, which rely largely on Australian butter, fruit and flour, expect to benefit from the com mercial agreement being negotiated be tween France and Australia under which Australia will endeavour to increase French imports.
Nou mea (New Caledonia) stores state that because of delay m the negotiations between the French commercial attache m Sydney and the Australian Government, butter supplies have not arrived.
There has also been a shortage of Australian potatoes, owing to a bad season.
Recentiy a ship from Saigon arrived with 3,500 tons of rice, of which 1,000 tons were to go on to Tahiti.
Mr. Depurtuis, a well-known planter of Vila, New Hebrides, arrived in Sydney in July, to obtain medical attention • Sir Arthur Grimble, formerly well known in the Pacific, has .retired from the position of Governor of the Windward Islands, West Indies. His successor is Mr R. H. D. Arundell, Assistant Chief Secre tary in Uganda.