Do You Remember?

THOSE times 20 years back were not called the Depression for nothing. In June, 1932, Fiji was receiving 1/- per case for bananas, Tonga 1/6 and Samoa 2/-. The bottom had dropped out of copra and planters had long scraped bare the bottom of the money barrel. Yet, in many ways, there was little dif ference between then and now. There were the same political feuds, and Administrators and Governors who displeased, and people had begun to say that Papua and New Guinea could supply every tropical need of Australia.

These extracts are from June PIM of 1932: "There is no reason,” said we editori ally, “why France should wish to retain her hold on the New Hebrides It would be to the advantage of the French empire, and would strengthen France, if French territorial interests in the Pacific were exchanged for interests which could be linked up with French possessions in Africa and Asia.” ns * "About £4/10/- per ton is being paid at present to the Samoan native pro ducer of copra. And for the next ship ment on Maui Pomare, only 2/- per case will be paid for bananas.”

There was general relief that Colonel A. J. Bennett, Administrator of Norfolk Island, had retired (or been retired) be fore his appointed term was up. To; understate the situation, the Colonel and the residents of the island did not get on well together. Colonel Bennett locked himself up in Government House and had no truck with the Islanders; and the islanders seemed to spend a fair amount of time writing naughty verses about the Colonel. .PIM remarks, pontifically, on his retirement: "We had known that a serious situation existed but we knew also that the matter was receiving anxious attention from the Federal, authorities and we deemed it wise t« leave the matter alone. It is not our purpose to embarrass Administrators * * * Presumably because copra and othei Islands products were bringing such low prices, there was much interest in the prospects of growing sugar in Papua New Guinea and the Solomons. Three separate efforts were being made to interest investors in sugar growing im Papua and another scheme was afoot foi Guadalcanal. .PIM warned of wild-cat adventures. None of these sugar schemes ever came to anything. * * * "The yield of coffee at Eilogo, Mr G. A. Loudon’s estate in the hills (be hind Moresby) has been very satisfactory this month . . . two tons of beans wert shipped on the last Macdhui.” (Eilogo is now regarded as a rubber estate, stili owned by G. A. Loudon, but two tons of coffee are now infinitely more precious than two tons of rubber.) * * * “The Director of Agriculture, New< Guinea (Mr. G. Murray) recently re-; turned to the Territory after 12 months long leave. During his overseas visiti he conducted special investigations re-' garding coffee, cocoa, copra and coir fibre which will be of great value t« planters in the Islands.” * * * "A serious drop in property values in and around Apia is indicated by thi; recent sale by auction of a valuable property near the town. The houses which was erected a couple of years age at a cost of £2,000, plus 9V2 acres o:< bananas and coconuts brought onlji £l,OOO, there being one solitary bid re; ceived for the property.” * * * “Strong feeling is being expressed ini Fiji at the action of the Governor (Sti Murchison Fletcher) in increasing thu salary of the newly-appointed Secretar:' for Native Affairs from £BOO, as approver by the Government and elected member-! of Legislative Council, to £l,OOO, withou'. consulting the Legislative Council, com trary to the terms of the Letters Patent) The elected members regarded this as an affront and their leader, Sir Maynarm Hedstrom, moved a censure motion ini the Council.”