French Oceania

Social Troubles

IN

American Visitor is Critical

So many travellers have praised the charms of French Oceania, and of Tahiti in particular, that it is almost astonishing to find one who is sharply critical. Mr.

Joe K. Ross, of Albany, New York is a wealthy American business man who travels widely and ob serves closely. He found in Tahiti some conditions which did not please him, and he said so, in forthright fashion. At our invita tion he has written this article, embodying his views.

MY impressions of Tahiti are that it is, geographically, all that the books say it is. But, otherwise, a New Zealander, Aus tralian or American could have a much better time, at far less ex pense and inconvenience, in his own territory.

I waited for months to complete visas and arrange ship accommoda tion to Tahiti. After arriving here, one must wait months for easy ac commodations from Tahiti.

Outside of the climate, there is little to warrant the time, expense and trouble of such a long journey.

I frankly cannot see the wisdom of bringing tourists to French Oceania when the hotel, shipping and amusement facilities are so limited, as compared with such places as America, New Zealand or Australia.

The “free-love” system of Tahiti, and tbe opportunity for and en couragement of loose living, are shabby substitutes for the decent things that any desirable tourist likes to find.

I have visited several outlying islands. On certain of them the Chef de Post is doing largely the work that any ordinary office girls could do better—selling stamps, and other inconsequential routine duties.

Yet these islands are crying for dental and medical service, health, education, even of an elementary sort, to wean the new generation at least away from the native char latans or would-be doctors.

Natives are seeing planes and lis tening to radio news from other places; but they have not sufficient money even to buy bare necessities of clothing and shelter. And the Chef de Posts are doing nothing about it!

They do not even show the natives how to raise chickens, pigs or goats more efficiently or how to make their own soap from coconuts, how to provide better for their own food consumption.

As I see it, it is a deplorable situ ation and an inexcusable way to treat these people. One cannot

pass it off by saying they won’t work, nor accept proffered medical, dental or other advice. They never will, unless greater intelligence and effort is shown in starting to edu cate them.

ON one island, Bora Bora, there are about 40 splendid children —sons and daughters of American servicemen, many of them officers. What is to become of this group of kids, for example?

Already they are having their teeth yanked out at the first toothache and, unless some provision is made for their education, they will not be the credit and help they could be to French Oceania.

As I watched some of these chil dren at play I could not help wish

ing that some of them could be given scholarships in New Zealand, with the proviso that they devote their lives to work in French Oceania, as doctors, teachers, cler gymen, agriculturists, engineers . . . not to make the community “modern” but at least to make it healthful, decently nourished, and yet preserving natural charm and beauty.

I certainly would not favour a French education—because I under stand that out of every 100 students sent to France for study, 60 per cent, fall victim to wine and women, and 30 per cent, revert to their old native ways. Only 10 per cent, prove the success hoped for.

This may also be explained by im proper selection of candidates.

Nevertheless, from many years’ work, as well as the hiring of thousands of men and women, I would dare say that there are some fine-calibre youths whose abilities will be dissipated unless something is provided for them in the way of educational or vocational oppor tunities. At present, these 40 “American” kids on Bora Bora and adjacent islands are regarded by the natives only as a good means of “mixing the blood.” Even cattle are segregated so as to get quality.

It seems to me that, instead of a Chef de Post who is a glorified office worker and mail and wireless clerk, there should be an adminis trator who can look to the water, health, and occupational needs of the people in a constructional way. and not hide behind the lame Ex cuse that the natives don’t want it and won’t appreciate it. Anyone who says thisr-and every French man I have spoken to has said it — is either too ignorant, or too dis honest to face the facts and correct bad conditions. 1 suggest scholarships tenable in New Zealand because I have visited New Zealand, and know the kind of training young men and women would get there, as com pared with Prance, which I have also visited. I can visualise some of these “American” girls on Bora Bora as teachers and nurses. No doubt many of their fathers’ people were professors, lawyers, doctors, etc. At the present time, the native women teachers in the elementary schools are certainly sad examples of what a teacher should be morally and otherwise.

In leaving Tahiti and the Islands, I leave friends who have been very kind and hospitable to me. Never have I enjoyed greater friendliness and generosity among any group of people in such a short period. The old Polynesian friendliness and hospitality made these islands world-famous, and those qualities of character are badly needed in our ■ world to-day.

The shortcomings of the Adminis- • tration here are the same as in every other country, although ini different aspects. The difference; here, it seems to me, is that they can be more quickly and easily corrected; and, if the Administra-tion does not do it quickly andt efficiently, there shortly will bes leaders among the natives who wilh cause far greater complications thane at present are warranted.

An instrument for telling time by/ the sun, moon or stars, which onces belonged to Captain James C00k, 2 was recently sold in London to as New Zealand art collector. The in strument is called a clepsydra sum dial or orrery, and is in a case in scribed “Captain Cook, Anno 1750.