Of Development

Beryl Sawyer's Papeete Report

For Tahiti: A New Era Of Development

Rarely has Tahiti seen, all at one time, so many top ranking personalities, as those who have arrived during jet flights from east and west these last few weeks.

TAHITI has seen the first pure jet flight, from America by TAI, the first jet-prop flight by TEAL from New Zealand—on the famous Coral Route—and the first TAI DCS round-the-world flight through Papeete.

The arrival of the TAI DCS from Paris, via Montreal, Los Angeles and Honolulu on May 8 was the really big occasion, because it also marked the official opening of the Papeete-Faaa airport.

Passengers on the May 4 flight included: Robert Lecourt, French State Minister, with Mrs. Lecourt; Deputy Burlot of the Department of the Budget; Pierre Bas, repre senting the Prime Minister of France; M. Jobert, Director of the State Department; M. Cedile, Direc tor, Colonial Service; M. Douzamy, Under Director of Economic Affairs, with Mrs. Douzamy; M. Bedicam of the Department of Public Works; M.

Georges Meunier, Director of Aviation Bases; M. Jean Sainteny, General Director of Tourism.

Heis and Kisses First down the passenger ramp was Minister Lecourt, who was greeted by the Governor of French Polynesia, Aime Grimald, but then strict protocol was forgotten as Tahitian hostesses, in bright pareu prints, rushed forward with flower “heis” and kisses—on both cheeks, French style.

The inaugural ceremonies for the airport took place the following morning at 7.30. The crowd heard a series of speeches in French and Tahitian, including one from M.

Lecourt, who said: “We are here this morning to cele-

first TEAL Electra jet-prop into Tahiti gets its own flower "hei" of fragrant [?]ipani blossoms. In the centre picture the Commandant of the French Navy in [?]i, Rene Dupont, on a flight over Tahiti Mr. Rex McLaughlin, Tahiti's TEAL repre tive, and the manager of the Hotel Tiki M. Henri Bastos (at the rear). Lower [?] shows M. Aime Grimald, Governor of [?]h Polynesia (in white) greeting French Minister Robert Lecourt on his arrival [?]e inaugural TAI jet flight from Paris via [?]real. Pictures at right show a new [?]alow type hotel at Faratea, and inside [?]he dance floor, a pretty Tahitian girl [?]g a dancing display for the customers.

Photos: Studio Mackenzie and TEAL

brate the inauguration of an airstrf which puts Tahiti within 30 fly in hours of Paris, and which will opes up a new era of development am prosperity for Tahiti and its tourii industry. This inauguration will als mark the beginning of a new stag in the relations between France air Tahiti, because the mother countn is about to assume the responsibilit for extending secondary education i Tahiti and of extending the oppo;( tunities for young Polynesians to vise France for further education, pro fessional training, and militan service.

“Our hands will now be more firml joined across the world in a com bined effort for friendship, solidaritf and progress.”

M. Lecourt then read a persons message from General de Gaulle— ‘Thanks to Papeete aerodrome, th ties which bind France to her distan colonies are stronger than ever befon Thanks to the aerodrome, Tahiti ant her outer islands will begin a ne* era of progress and hope. ThanbJ to the aerodrome, French Polynesi will be better known, estimated am loved by peoples from all over the world. Long live French Polynesia Long live France!’

Following the speeches, thr Tahitian Heiva dance group demon strated the dances of old Tahiti. Then in a simple ceremony, a group c TAX officials unveiled a bronzs plaque in memory of Paul Bernaro former president of TAI for II years.

More VlP’s TEAL’s inaugural flight to Tahiti using Lockheed jet-prop Electras fa the first time, was made on Marc: 24, when a whole team of YIP !< arrived from NZ.

These included the New Zealand National Government Minister a Transport, Mr. J. K. McAlpine wit!

Mrs. McAlpine; the Minister od Defence, Mr. D. J. Eyre; the Minist© of Broadcasting, Mr. A. E. Kinselll and Mrs. Kinsella; Sir Leonard IsitU chairman of TEAL; French Ambasj sador in New Zealand, Monsiem Lucien Felix with Madame Felix Mr. F, A. Reeves, general manag© TEAL, with Mrs. Reeves, and Mr. Cl N. Roberts, a director of TEAL, witil Mrs, Roberts, Mr. Roberts, former!;! general manager TEAL, was one od the originators of the Coral Route. 1 Their programme during the shorn two-day visit to Tahiti included officia; receptions, cocktail parties, dinnea parties and a complete tour arouni the island of Tahiti. On March 25".

urtesy flights were offered to lead \ citizens of Tahiti including M. in Hubert, General Secretary, repre iting the Governor M. Aime imald; and Commandant of the vy, Rene Dupont. Many Tahitians 0 had never previously flown in airliner were able to enjoy the afort of jet-prop flight together h complimentary champagne—and loramic views of the lovely islands Tahiti and Moorea.

"EAL celebrated its 21st anni sary in Papeete on May 2 with a option organised by A. B. tialds. Representatives of leading d travel agencies, South Pacific Lines and RAI, the inter-island ig-boat service, were invited to iple an enormous iced cake, flown especially for the occasion by \L. * * * y official decree, all coconut palms wing within a distance of 250 is from Papeete’s waterfront were ;red to be felled during the latter . of April, to control their in ion by the Brontispa longissima ;le. It is believed that the pest made its way to Tahiti aboard in going ships. iter a careful inspection by repre atives of the Department of Agri are of coconut palms growing in outlying areas, branches of in id trees were lopped and burned.

II luggage belonging to tourists ring by air from Fiji is subject thorough hour-long disinfection tment at Papeete-Faaa airport as sst control measure designed to » Tahiti’s coconut plantations free 1 parasites, including the deadly loceros beetle. * * * ne of the leading world research ialists in mosquito control and prevention of diseases caused by quitoes in the South Pacific, essor Belkin, head of the ►mology Department of the Uni ity of California, is in Tahiti on /o months’ visit, was during World War II that essor Belkin, serving with the ed States Army in the Pacific , began his studies to protect the ing troops from mosquito-spread ises. Professor Belkin is currently ring with two Filipino specialists, Oban and Dr. Basio, who are ding three months in Tahiti, at Institute of Medical Research in ;ete. Studies are centred around ?s polynesiensis the mosquito re ed as being responsible for the iding of elephantiasis, to decide

if the mosquito originated in Poly nesia or if it was introduced from elsewhere. * * * Newly arrived in Tahiti, by jet, of course—popular French singer Charles Trenet; blonde movie actress Martine Carol; songstress Lili Pons; French writers Marcelle Auclair and Jean Duche—and seen everywhere in Papeete, bearded Danish writer of Kon Tiki fame, Bengt Danielsson. * * * The second casualty during the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty in Tahiti occurred on May 7 when tele vision and character actor Jimmy Fairfax, 61, collapsed and died while eating breakfast on the terrace of the Tiki Tabu Hotel. Death is believed to have been caused by a heart attack. Fairfax, a naturalised American, was born in England.

The first death occurred in April when the adopted son of the Chief of Tautira, in the Peninsula district of Tahiti, was killed when a 70 foot pirogue canoe was caught by a wave and swept upon the reef. Eight other Tahitians were injured in the same accident. (Over)

ormerly unknown type of itis characterised by a violent e, which made its appearance ti last year, is possibly caused arasite worm that is found in Polynesian fish. This is ac to United States research n Dr. Rosen, whose opinion firmed by Dr. Massal of interview with Les Nouvelles, >en said research carried out year ruled out the possibility smission of the disease by so attempts were made to a parasite. showed that the victims had * same food on the same day, home or in a restaurant. No the parasite was found in ; meat, so tests were started 1 fish—especially uncooked ch is a regular item on the menu. is types of parasite were ;d in the Polynesian fish

called “ature”. Research is being continued to discover whether this same parasite can be found in bonito and tuna, although it appears almost certain that the “ature” is the cause of the epidemic.

This type of “Polynesian” meningitis has only once appeared outside of Polynesia, in 1947, in the Carolines.

Dr. Rosen has returned to the National Institute in Washington to continue research. Results should be known in two or three months.

[?]e's famous waterfront is depifted in these scenes taken tecently from the wharf Top picture looks back towards the town, its backdrop of misted mountains. picture shows the yacht hatbour, a popular one for the Pacific's cruising yachts.

Photo: TEAL