"Not Wanted”

Americans "Not Wanted”

In Tahiti

Papeete’s French Government

jurist Office comes in for a

/ere battering in an issue of

peete’s weekly anti - French,

ti - American, pro - Tahitian

ibune Tahitienne.

THAT it has to say is not sur ' prising, because of the stand it always takes against capital i, and American capitalism in :ticular.

But its comments are of interest :ause there is a body of opinion ich supports them.

Opinion is divided in Tahiti on e desirability of encouraging irists, which was one of the sons why Tahitian representatives the Honolulu Pacific Area Travel sociation conference in January and that they would not pay hiti’s dues for PATA publicity s year (PIM, Feb., p. 9).

The Tribune Tahitienne article > a lot of critical things to say mt “foreign hotelmen”, “specu- Drs of every sort” and even about avelling artists”. t says that for several years local ninistrators have been attempt to create a tourist industry to e the place of phosphate mining, ich is diminishing. They built an port but “by pure stupidity or s of forethought no plans were de for a hotel industry which Id have done wonders for the nomy of the Territory”.

No Specialists

t added, ft is amazing that no one thought call in hotel specialists from tzerland, Italy, Spain—or even nee—countries which have for rs catered expertly to some of wealthiest and most demanding rists in the world. [nstead, an inexperienced man ; placed at the head of the irist Office, one who happened 3e available at the time, and one ) spoke a little English.

For his professional information* was sent not to the South of nee, Normandy or the better ch resorts in France, but to the fist factories of Honolulu, which ;d him with admiration not only their high standards of hygiene also for their charming com

’cial courtesy.”

he paper says that instead of acting tourism towards char ;ristics of the Territory it was nd simpler to cede the key of the el industry to Americans with ttering ram investments”. :s parting shot:— Everyone knows the differences

that exist between the French Gov ernment Tourist Office and the Syndicat d’lnitiative. But it is re markable to discover that they have something in common—they each hold out their hand to Capitalist Uncle Sam.

“Ninety-five per cent, of tourists to Tahiti are Americans. It is an obvious fact that they bring money to the Territory. But where does the money go? Right back to the Ameri cans, naturally.

“Thanks to our Tourist Office, 80 per cent, of our hotels are owned by Americans, and American hotel owners have the right to re-export

their capital and their profits.

“More than 40 cars are rented out to tourists by an American.

“The most beautiful homes are owned by Americans, who rent them out and gather in the profits. And where do you find a Tahitian in all this?” (See "Commentary", p. 25) I The Royal Australian Navy’s battle class destroyer, HMAS Anzac is to become a fleet training ship. It will be used to train junior officers and ratings at sea.