Do You Remember ?

From PIM of 20 Years ago.

TF you think that Communism in

A the southern hemisphere is a

post-World War II manifestation

you will probably be surprised to

know that the Comrades were busy

pushing their wares back in 1932.

Our issue of September, 1932, seems

to indicate so, at all events.

For the rest, that issue goes to

show that Pacific Islands affairs have

a habit of repeating themselves and

that the problems of to-day were no

less so in those days.

We reported that New Zealand Com munists were showing an interest in Western Samoa “probably on account of the Man unrest”. Letters had been received by two residents hard hit by the prevailing depression. They were urged to start some Communistic agita tion among local Europeans.

The Comrades, however, appear to have had little success as the letters were handed over to the Government. * * “Mr. lon L. Idriess, well-known Aus tralian author, is at present engaged on a book which will tell the fascinating story of the discovery and development of the Morobe goldfields. New Guinea.

The book will be published early in 1933 and will be called ‘Gold Dust and Ashes’.” * * The men and interests which had estab lished the highly successful Guinea Air ways, Ltd., in New Guinea were reported to be thinking of extending their opera tions to Fiji and forming a company called Fiji Airways, Ltd. A director of G’alr, Mr. George Jeffreys, and the com pany’s NG manager, Mr. Alan Cross, were leaving for Fiji to make investigations on the spot. * * * The death of Captain Les Holden was reported. He was one of the p!r pioneers of New Guinea and the man who found Kingsford-Smith. Ulm and crew when

N W W £tJ°u in „‘ h * Cross : N-W Australia. He, with two friend was on his way in a small plane on Barrier Reef fishing trip when the plai crashed near Lismore, NSW. * * * on A h?rTT nden t p,eaded that the ba on bird-of-paradise shooting in Ne Guinea should be lifted on the groun, tha t (apart from the fact that skins wei f /-° m £5 to £so > the prohibits ° * h was causing the birds to d out. His theory was that the male bii develops full plumage only when h Thprwft aS U b s reeder was on the wan Thereafter, he simply went around annoj mg younger males and interfering in tl domestic affairs of more marriageab birds. It will probably surprise th amateur ornithologist to find that S years later. New Guinea BOP, thoug still unhunted, show no signs of havin died out (ask Sir Edward H.). * * * sh *P Ma taram left Sydney durin September, 1932, with 203 crates on boar containing one complete church for th South Sea Mission at Fui, BSI. It ha been donated by Mr. Alfred Sage c Melbourne, Victoria, as a memorial to h son When erected, the church would t 85-ft. long by 58-ft. wide and it wa claimed that it was the biggest in th Pacific. Two carpenters went along witl * * * An amendment to the New Guinea Ao was before the Australian Parliameui whereby it was expected that New Guine would be given its first Legislative Council and Executive Council. Tht Legislative Council was to consist of the Administrator, eight officials of the Terri tory service, and seven unofficial memben nominated by the Administrator to repres sent planting, mining and commercia; interests. The Executive Council was tl consist of nine members appointed by th!

Governor-General, and its purpose was tl advise and assist the Administrator Thus was New Guinea given its firs' somewhat muffled voice.