Do You Remember ?

20 Years ago *

There is nothing new under the

sun—particularly with regard to

affairs in the South Pacific. Twenty years ago we were chewing over pressing problems that had been well-chewed on 20 years before that. And to-day, the same old conundrums are providing a steady diet for the political-fixers of 1953.

Here are some extracts from the PIM of November, 1933: The then Australian Minister for Terri tories (Mr. Marr) called a meeting in Canberra of Administrators of all of Australia’s Pacific Territories. Sir Hubert Murray was there on behalf of Papua; Brigadier - General Griffith, for New Guinea; Captain Pinney, Norfolk Island: and Commander Garcia, Nauru, This was the first conference of its kind. One of the things discussed was “steps to con solidate the laws of Papua and New Guinea,” particularly in regard to mining and health. (They are still passing legislation to bring Papua “into line with New Guinea”). * * * “News from Fiji indicates an unsatis factory position so far as Fiji Airways, Ltd., is concerned The company started operations a year ago and pro vides a valuable coastal and inter-island service for passengers and mail. It appears that the service, has not re ceived the whole-hearted support of the Fiji Administration and certain interests in Fiji The driving force behind Fiji Airways is Guinea Airways, Ltd., the successful New Guinea air transport company.” * * * The Melanesian Mission ship Southern Cross VII, which replaced Southern Cross VI when she was wrecked In a storm in the New Hebrides while on her maiden voyage in November, 1932, was dedicated in the UK by the Bishop of Liverpool. (This vessel is now on her last “tour” of the Melanesian Mission diocese and will be replaced shortly by Southern Cross VIII.) Two new industries were announced from Norfolk Island—the establishment of a local butter factory (where is it now?) which would “save the island £2,000 per annum on imported butter”; and a shark-fishing Industry which was reported to have “Chinese money behind it.”

How history repeats itself! Some people in Tahiti were incensed in 1933, at press reports that hinted that Tahiti was be coming: an unsafe place for foreigners to live in. There had been a number of robberies that had received a little pub licity but Tahiti retorted that there was no more crime in Tahiti than elsewhere —and indeed, that some of the robberies had been performed by foreigners! * * * Police raided the headquarters of the Mau organisation in Apia, Western Samoa, and also the home of Mr. O. F. Nelson.

Literature relating to Mau activities was seized and eight Samoan chiefs were arrested on charges of collecting monies for unlawful purposes. * * * We reported that an economic blizzard had hit Western Samoa where the price of cocoa had slumped from £5O per ton to about £7/10/-. At the same time, native producers of copra were getting 1 1 of a cent, per pound; European pro ducers about £3 per ton, or far below the cost of production. Bananas, at 3/a case, were said to be the only profitable commodity produced by the Territory— and there were complaints that the “Maui Pomare” could not lift more than 7,000 cases per shipment, * * * Someone whom we described as a “commercial manager” expressed the direst forebodings as regards the “Indian problem” in Fiji (a comparatively new expression then). He said that it was only a matter of time before the Indians drove the Fijians out of Fiji and entirely possessed their country. He believed that the British, in introducing Indians to Fiji had betrayed the Fijian people.

Editorially, the PIM invited the British Colonial Office to get busy on the “problem;” if they did not. we said, the Indians would dominate Fiji in “another 20 years.” * * * Papuan rubber planters had “heard with dismay” the news that customs duty into Australia on raw rubber had been reduced without warning to 2d per pound.

In March, 1933, an imposition of 4d a pound duty was imposed on Papuan rubber imported by Australia. This duty was then refunded to Papua for the assistance of the rubber Industry. The new move again placed the rubber in dustry of Papua in a critical position.