N French Oceania

Seamen’s Strike Disclocates Islands Services

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete Jan. 15.

HROM December 15 until early in I; January the seamen of Tahiti were on strike for more pay. They de landed 5,000 francs (about £35 Austra ian) per month instead of the 3,000 rhich they were getting.

Governor Petitbon made them an offer f a 25 per cent, rise, but they turned bis down.

The Governor pointed out that if the ailors got 2,000 francs per month rise all thers connected with the sea would con equently ask for a similar rise. The igher cost would affect the industry, as be owners of trading schooners would aise freight and passenger rates, and bis would reduce the producers’ incomes.

Traffic with all the islands except loorea was seriously dislocated by the nd of December.

However, early in January the seamen sturned to work unconditionally; and, v the 6th, most of the trading schooners ad left Papeete for the islands.

It is understood that the traders romised that the seamen should get onuses at the end of each voyage.

The strike collapsed when the Gov ernor announced that if the men did not et back to work, he would requisition the :hooners and put Marines in to man lem.

Measles Epidemic

When the Orohena (Captin Louis Carl- Mi) arrived from Suva, on November 18, le doctors aboard were unaware that

she was bringing an epidemic of measles.

A few days later, M. Sachet, a passen ger, and four seamen were sent to quarantine on the island of Motu-Uta.

Then the Papeete hospital began to fill with patients. There were some deaths.

All trading schooners were quarantined, and this affected the provisioning of the islands. The epidemic was got under control and on December 27 quarantine was lifted; but by then the seamen’s strike prevented the ships from leaving the harbour.

Career Of Governor Petitbon

M. Rene Petitbon, who has just assumed the Governorship of French Oceania, was born on August 18, 1902, at Pau (Basses Pyrenees). He is Licencie Es-Lettres. and Diplome d’Etude Superieurs. He was Professeur de Lycee, 1926-1928; successively sub director of the group of the Haut-Rhin at the Alsatian Banking Societe, direc tor-general of Banques Populates, Region North of Paris; Delegate in the Fonctions de Prefet of the Aube.

In August, 1945, M. Petitbon became 'refect of Constantine, and in August, 949, he was made Governor of that lolony. He was appointed to French Oceania in 1950.

M. Petitbon is a Chevalier of the Legion f Honour, and he holds the Croix de luerre of 1939-45, and the Resistance ledal.

Departure Of M. Girault

M. Louis Girault, who for the past three ears has been Colonial Secretary for tench Oceania, left Papette on his re irn to France. When Governor Anziani •as called back in October, M. Girault cted as Governor until the arrival of I. Petitbon. M. Girault was respected ad esteemed in Tahiti.

Costly Fire In Papeete

On December 18 a fire of unknown rigin destroyed M. Anthony Bambridge’s 1m depot, and more than 2 million ■ancs worth of films and property went p in flames.

Fishermens Big Catch

Fishermen report the presence of very ,rge swordfish in the vicinity of the ,te Mr. Zane Grey’s fishing grounds. The ;her day, M. Henri Nimau caught one ’ them weighing 800 kilos, and supposed ) be twice the size of the one caught by ane Grey when he was cruising around lese islands in his three-masted yacht fisherman,” in the early 20’s.

M. Nimau, in his launch Teva, is gomg aily after these giant fish.

Appeal To Shipowners

Tourist interests in Tahiti are urging lat the Union and Matson Lines be ven cargoes to encourage them to send assenger steamers to Tahiti. These two jmpanies, in the past, have rendered aluable service to these islands. They elped to nut Tahiti and other South eas Islands on the tourist map.

Today there are European steamship

companies entering the islands trade and carrying cargoes, but they do not seem to care whether Tahiti prospers or not— all they want is to get the freight money and move on.

The Matson people have said that if Tahiti can help their ships with only 500 tons a trip, it would encourage the Line to send to Tahiti vessels that could carry passengers and tourists. This would not affect the Maritimes, which comes from France. We want the tourist traffic from North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Tourists By Air

Headed by Messrs. Taran and Penning ton, of Hawaii, the large four-motor fly ing-boat of the Tahiti-Hawaii Airline is due in Papeete harbour on January 17, and probably she will leave on January 19.

According to reports, she is bringing 30 passengers. Some will stay off here and some will return by the plane. We hope this is the beginning of an important tourist traffic. The new service will carry air mail.

Yacht’S Long Voyages

The former French fishing ketch Fleur d’Ocean and the British ketch Inspire arrived at Papeete before the holiday season. The former is owned by Mr. R.

Argod and Mme. P. Suzanne, and belongs to the Port of Saint Malo, but sailed from Nice five months ago. They intend to remain in Tahiti.

The Inspire is owned by an Australian, Mr. H. Williams. She sailed from Brix ham, England.

Both vessels are of 56 tons.

All the members of the Inspire’s crew are greenhorns, and Mr. Williams has had a tough time since he left England. He had to change crew at all ports of call.

Like the Fleur d’Ocean, the Inspire called at Madeira, Port-au-Spain, St. Vincent, Panama, Marquesas.

The Inspire will set sail shortly for Sydney, via Norfolk Island.

New Deputy In Paris

When our Deputy, Pouvanaa A Oopa, arrived in Paris in November. Parisians were surprised to see a white man with a kanaka name. They thought that all Tahitians were brown. It was disclosed that Pouvanaa A Oopa is not a pure Tahitian. His grandfather was a Dane, a sailor on an American whaler.

During World War 11, Pouvanaa A Oopa was banished from Tahiti by Governor Orselli for alleged anti-French activities. He was sent to Huahine for safe keeping; but one day he disappeared and, some time later, he entered the harbour of Bora Bora, and made a report about conditions in Tahiti to the American