Cruising With Hon

Hon . Host

Entering any Pacific Territory these days—if you do it by the normal means—is almost as difficult as enter ing heaven, and entails a lot more paper work, and the putting-up of Bonds, etc.

It is amusing to learn, therefore, how entry can still be obtained with out red-tape—if you are off the beaten [rack.

It seems that a few months ago a Japanese tuna vessel, believed direct from Japan and not from Pago put in at Nassau Island (Cook Islands) which is inhabited most of the year by copra-makers from Pukapuka and their families. Some of the fishermen landed and were hospitably treated, and when the vessel again sailed two Pukapukans went with them. Our coconut-radio despatch says that they were away for five or six weeks, and when again landed had a welcome and substantial gift of swordfish and other non-commercial fish sufficient for an enormous feast for the entire 100-odd population. The feast, in fact, con tinued for several days.

The tuna boat had spent the period in Polynesian waters and the most memorable part of the holiday cruise seems to have been the monotony of the rice diet.

Whether the two men requested the cruise, or were offered it, is not clear, although there was a suggestion, in our version, that they were temporarily replacing a couple of sick Japanese crew-men, who may or may not have remained at Nassau during the period.

An innocent enough story of what can go on in isolated parts of the Pacific without benefit of immigration formalities—but it could have received the bold-headline treatment in Sydney and boosted afternoon sales, had it reached there promptly.

We can see the headlines. "Kidnapped by the Japs" could have been one of them.