BSIP’s Chinese

Criticised

Uncultivated, and sometimes uninhabited, land in the British Solomons was the subject of comment at a BST 13 Advi crvr y Coun cil meeting by Mr. G. H. Kuper,

Bem.

“It might be argued,” said Mr.

Kuper, who comes of a long-estab lished pioneering family in the Solomons, “that these are the nro tected Solomons. But X maintain that the Government will not be protecting the Solomon Islands un less these waste lands are put into production. It would not be protect ing them if we let things go on as they are and if, in years to come, some Asiatic race, seeing that the Solomon Islands are not being developed, came down and took them over,”

When referring to possible new settlers, Mr. Kuper criticised certain trading practices, and in particular referred to the Chinese. He said: “New settlers could be assisted by a law to prevent people from trad ing and scraping the cream off the country unless those people are also producing something from the land.

In particular I refer to the Chinese.

“The pioneers came here s sweated. It was hard work in th days, and still is. They made plan tions, and in that working pen they traded. They had no Chin to oppose them in trade. I am here opposing the Chinese if L are prepared to settle on the la Give them trading licences ! everybody else, but I am opposed this idea of just going about pit ing up produce, etc. The man v has done the hard work should r the full benefit.

“You might argue that, if bring in such a law, automatic; we lose all Chinese revenue fr imports. I do not agree. The : ports are governed by the consun not the importer. As long as consumer is in a position to b the imports will be regulated acca ingly.”

If The marriage of Mrs. Gard Hales, a well-known Sydney ra and advertising personality un the name of Hilda Morse, and Lee H. Johnston, of New Caledoi will take place on April 16 at Alban’s Church, Lindfield, Sydn Mrs. Hales, the widow of Gardner Hales, is the only daugb of Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert Ma Auckland.