Do You Remember?

From PIM of 20 Years ago.

NOTHING spectacular happened

in this month in 1934—apart perhaps, from a prophecy from a London correspondent who said that there were signs that the copra market would revive and that it would therefore, be a good time to buy plantations. (We cannot record that there was a rush to follow his advice). Pacific trade

generally following the world pat

tern, was very dull—Public Servants

and goldminers being the only

people not seriously affected by the

financial breeze.

Here are some extracts from PIM of August, 1934: Who said that “Home Permanents” were a post-World War II development? In that August, 1934, we advertised the “Raywave curling set”—which guaranteed that the waves would last six to nine months. Failure was impossible—and the outfit cost 18/-, post paid.

In the same issue, a leading Sydney emporium advertised frocks, in cambric, voile and sheer linen from 11/6 to 25/11. * * H: “The struggle between Europeans and Chinese for the available native trade in the British Solomon Islands is becoming acute . . . It is deplorable that just at a time when the British planters are forced by the copra slump to turn more to trad ing than usual, the Administration has deemed it wise to offer all possible en couragement and facilities to the Chinese to engage in trading.” * * * Then as now, there were people who sailed around the world in little boats.

One of them was Alain Gerbault who had just arrived in Papeete. But as he "abhorred publicity” we were not able to publish much about him.

Kingsford - Smith’s famous partm Charles Ulm, had, at the end of Jui 1934, carried the first airmail from Au tralia to New Guinea and had return* expressing wonder at the conditions undi which flying was undertaken in tl Territory. During his visit Salamai drome was flooded following 43 inches rain in 35 days. Ulm was entertained pilots Ray Parer. F. T. O’Dea, On Denny and Jerry Pentlahd. * * * Appointment of General Ramsay M Nicoll as Administrator of New Guim was confirmed. * * * The deportation of a Captain MacartU Onslow from Norfolk Island was a sevo days wonder in Sydney newspapers whi were demanding Administrator Pinn;i head on a charger as a consequence.

Explanations ultimately followed in ft House in Canberra where Onslow w. described as a dipsomaniac by Priii Minister Lyons and a “nuisance wherev he went’’ by the Leader of the Oppositioi The newspaper campaign ceased abruptl * * * M. Henri Rey, of Tahiti (who produo a mechanical copra-cutting machine 1953). was evidently just as inventive 1934. He had perfected a secret methd of preserving bananas by drying thu and, marketed as “Banana confit naturel’’ they were finding ready buyr in France and England. (We suspect tM these were the forerunners of the “banas figs” which had such a vogue in Westa Samoa and elsewhere after World War What has happened to this industii incidentally?) * * * The Apia Chamber of Commerce asfel the Western Samoa Administration to I move the rusted remains of the “Adler” grim reminder of the 1889 hurricane; from the beach because it was an ey sore to tourists. (The Administratii; never did: the remains, diminished it true, still are there; tourists like photograph them.)