Do You Remember?

From PIM of 20 Years Ago.

BY 1936, dire predictions about the

Japanese menace were becom ing a regular feature of PlM— and February of that year was no exception. As well, there were the usual seasonal reports of hurricanes and cyclones in Fiji, Cook Islands and other parts of the South Pacific affected by these blows.

Here are some other extracts from our issue of just 20 years ago: There were indications that the Commonwealth Government was considering lifting the mora torium that had been in operation in respect of payments of principal and interest on Ex pro. Board plantations in New Guinea. About 175 properties and £2,000,000 were involved.

The moratorium first came into effect in the early '3o's when a disastrous slump hit the copra market. * * * It seems old-fashioned now when malaria is regarded as an "entirely preventable disease", that in 1936 the relative merits of quinine and atebrin were still being fiercely argued.

Many old timers condemned the new-fangled atebrin outright. * * "How long will the New Hebrides Con dominium farce last?" PIM asked editorially, and went on to state that the position of British residents in NH went from bad to worse steadily, and "is a reproach upon British colonial administration".

The discontinuance of the USS Co.'s steam ship service from Sydney to San Francisco was "causing dismay" in Tahiti, where Papeete had been a regular port of call. * * * In the issue of February, 1936, PIM had a "Little Islanders' Corner" with photographs of Mary Boulton, of Gau Island, Fiji; and Margaret Leembruggen, of Ocean Island, and her big brother. One wonders where these "Little Islanders" are to-day.

H* H* H*

"Europeans and natives in Western Samoa are in a twitter of excitement concerning developments likely to follow the appearance in office of the new Labour Government in New Zealand It is anticipated that a new Administrator will be appointed . . . and that the banishment of Mau leader, Mr, 0. F. Nelson, might be revoked." * * * And in the realm's of history repeating itself —this 1936 headline caught the eye: "Justice in the Solomons Interesting Native Case".

However, this one concerned only a bit of native shenanigin. * * * The British Colonial Secretary had announced in the House of Commons that the question of the ownership of Jarvis, Baker and Howland Islands was being investigated—it had been reported some time previously that the USA had "annexed" them.