[?]Eftist Party

[?]e Changing Face Islands' Politics

[?]Akes Over In

[?]Rench Polynesia

There have been some far

iching political and administra

e changes in French Polynesia

recent weeks; but details are ficult to obtain. 1 Is known, that a new Left -of - Centre Assembly has taken charge of the local govern or, under our old friend M. ivanaa a Oopa, and that an bi ased measure of “home rule” has n introduced. rench Polynesia (headquarters Papeete, in Tahiti) is classified “an Overseas Territory within French Union”; and normally is administered by a Governor pointed by Paris), a Privy incil, and an Assembly of 25 sons elected by popular vote •y five years. he five-yearly elections took ;e last November; and a majority ;he seats was won by the party locratique de s Populations itiennes, (called RDPT for :t) led by Pouvanaa a Oopa.

Vigorous Leftist

. Pouvanaa a Oopa always has i regarded as a vigorous Leftist, a political struggle between , and certain conservative ips, has been going on for years, i time, his party came in with absolute majority; and, late in •uary, it assumed responsibility the government, with new isters, and an extension of e rule. Pouvanaa a Oopa be e leader of the Government, ?r the Governor, and is Minister Interior.

Henri Bodin is Minister of nee; M. Rene Raphael Lagarde linister of Health; M. Walter tid is Minister of Education; Pierre Hunter is Minister of ic Works; and M. Jacques raa Minister of Economic Af ie of the first acts of the new rnment was to introduce in - taxation something that r previously had been contem id in French Polynesia, lere now is, similarly, a Leftist inistration in New Caledonia, ■r M. Lenormand. new government, complete with oan Ministers, has just taken ge of Western Samoa. ! e political face of the Islands itories is changing fast.