Visit Japan

[?]ngan Premier may Visit Japan

3ERE were reports from Tonga in January that Crown Prince Tungi, Prime Minister of iga, is to visit Japan. Among jects to be discussed there, is possibility of establishing in iga a tuna industry similar to t now based on Pago Pago, Joying Japanese know-how and ing vessels. ungi also may investigate the ability of obtaining cement for new Nukualofa wharf and other lie works, and may discuss with no Brothers the reopening of ; firm’s branch in Tonga, r. Gonni Banno visited Tonga ral months ago. This Japanese . became established in Tonga he 1930’5, and Mr. Gonni Banno ried Miss Jessie Lyden, daughter a well-known Tongan family.

Banno properties were iscated and dispersed in World 11, and Gonni Banno and his were interned,' first in New and and later in Australia, re, Mrs. Banno became an ial interpreter for the military orship service. After the war, couple were sent to Japan, and Banno is now in charge of female Japanese staff at the Zealand officers’ club at Kure. known that Mrs. Banno would to return to Tonga, with her >and, to settle. is understood that the Banno hers now represent the Tongan jrnment in Japan.

Concerning The Banno

Brothers

the subject of the Japanese (Banno) firm in Tonga, it is nteresting to recall an article h appeared in the May, 1942, of the PIM (nearly 14 years The PIM, for years before n struck at us in December, had been warning the South Eic countries of dangerous tration of the South Pacific by

Japanese, and we had always regarded the Banno set-up with suspicion. This is the essence of what we said in May, 1942:

Banno Brothers Depart

MANY times, during the past six or seven years, the “PIM" has referred to the appearance, establishment and growth of the Japanese trading firm of Banno Brothers.

It appeared in Auckland, it "horned in" on the Tongan trade, and then it spread its operations to Samoa and Fiji.

We did not like it because it was Japanese, and we could see no reason why the distributing trade of the South Pacific should pass out of European hands.

But we disliked it more because all the information available—there was not much, but it was significant—indicated that there was a

close tie-up between this firm and official Japan. To pot it in blunt words, there was reason to suspect that the activities of Banno Brothers had as much do with information as with commerce.

The business was carried on by Banno and his brother-in-law. They evidently knew what was coming, and got out early.

Banno arrived in Sydney about the middle of 1940. The editor of the "RlM'' learned that he was here, and called on him, to ask him about Japanese buying of copra. Russia had i ust entered the war, and the track from Japan to Germany across Siberia was closed.

"Now," we said to Mr. Banno, “Japan can buy our South Pacific copra, and be under no suspicion that she is sending it to Germany.

This should be a good thing for both the British and the Japanese."

But Mr. Banno did not want to talk about copra. He was very vague, and he eyed the

editor of PIM warily. t n fact, he did n seem to like the editor at all: so the intervii ended.

He did not say he was leaving, but 1 bags must have been packed. Mr. Banno, Id Sydney a few hours later on a ship bound i Japan. His brother-in-law left Auckland f Japan in August.

It was formally announced in New Zealas early this year that ail the interests of Bam Brothers had been bought by a group of Nil Zealanders, and that the name of the fii has been changed to Wales and Mackinlay, Li.

It is emphasised that "the business now ht no connection whatever with Japan".