Do You Remember?

From PIM of 20 Years ago.

IN May, 1955, the South Pacific

world was getting ready to wel come a lot of rich uncles from

Fiji—in other words. Fiji gold min

ing was booming and the troubles of the Pacific copra planter—slightly

easier, but only slightly, after the

years of Depression—were tem porarily out of the lime-light.

Here are some other extracts from that issue of 20 years ago: P»M editorial, for that month stated (in part): ‘ ,nr he Germans are the masters of propaganda. Germany is seeking to convert British opinion to the idea of returning to Germany the Colonies which Germany lost in 1914. Germany wants New Guinea because of the rich goldfields there.” * * * “The new goldfields road from Wau (NG) to Edie Creek is open. The first motor traffic used it on Anzac Day. New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd., now has its head quarters at Edie Creek and it is rapidly becoming an important centre.” % S?C “Equipment to establish a broadcasting station at Port Moresby—the first in the South Pacific Islands—was despatched to Papua by Amalgamated Wireless. Ltd., recently. The new station, to be known as 4PM, will be operated by AWA It was announced also, but not confirmed officially that plans are afoot by the same enterprising company to establish a broad casting station at Suva, Fiji.” * * * We reported a boom in Fiji gold mining shares—or in PlM’s own words, “Aus tralian stock exchange speculators are still going crazy over Fiji gold shares.” Loloma shares paid up to only 3 - were being sought at 45/-. * * * The Privy Council of the UK dismissed the appeal of Mr. O. F. Nelson, against the verdict given in New Zealand in June. 1934, upholding his sentence of 10 years banishment from Western Samoa. * * * The old BP steamer Mataram—on which most residents of the SW Pacific had

suffered at one time or other (and) joyed themselves equally at others)parted from Newcastle, NSW, on her voyage to the shipbreakers in Japan, had been built in 1909 and we desc: her as “once the pride of the BP fll * * * Hordern Brothers of Sydney adver checked gingham at llHd per t “printed chiffon voile” at I/lIV2 printed haircord for llt^d. * * * On the other hand, the price of o had risen by about 15/- in the pre’ month, to £l2 Stg., although its fu was still regarded as “uncertain”. A which PIM printed showing total v production, proved that production doubled since 1914. However, we st; copra was not greatly over-produced with a little organisation planters 0 be put in a better position than they v * * * The death sentence was passed a formed New Guinea nolice-boy, Sipei, the murder of ADO Edward 0 McDonald at Ambunti, Senik River.

Sepei, in evidence, admitted that he planned McDonald’s murder and his suicide and claimed that he had made to suffer a series of indignities McDonald. * * * We reported that “clashing current in the New Hebrides were having s odd effects and quoted steamship t as one instance. The fare on a D< steamer which called at Port More Kabaul, New Hebrides and New Caledot ports (in that order) before reacr Sydney, was £1 more from Vila to Sy« than from Kabaul to Sydney, altho the passenger from Rabaul was on ship for six days longer than the passenger. * * * “Suva, the busy capital of Fiji, hi lose the right to be called a city Atlhough residents have protested.

Government proposes to abolish the Ml cipal Council and Suva is to be offici; described as a “township”. (Our re* was taken from something which appes: in the “Sydney Morning Herald”, although the facts may have been con there was more in the Government’s j than upholding the civic dignity of Sui