Yesterday

The Pacific war was gradu illy swinging in favour of the Mlies when PIM was publ ished 20 years ago. The issue

)f PIM for July, 1943, re

nted that; The Americans had shot down 12 Japanese bombers and 45 ighters out of an attacking force )f 120 in a fierce battle over juadalcanal. A few days later, :ombined US forces landed almost mopposed on Rendova Island, Central Solomons. * * * The Australian New Guinea deduction Control Board, of vhich Brigadier D. M. Cleland vas chairman, announced that for hree months the board would pay fianters 1/5 a lb for rubber on he plantation and £l5/10/- a on f.o.b, for copra at the nearest >ort to the plantation. * * * Six hundred Rarotongans applied o go to Western Samoa to work n the cocoa, copra and rubber >lantations at 4/- a day plus food

and lodging. Western Samoa was short of reliable labourers. * * * About 40 per cent, of the houses at Avarua, Rarotonga, were damaged in a heavy cyclonic storm on March 10 news of which had been delayed. Among the main buildings struck were the Ariki Palace, the local cinema, the London Missionary Society compound, and Messrs. A. B.

Donald’s store and out-buildings.

Huge, century-old ironwood trees near the LMS church were torn out by the roots. ♦ * * War damage to Methodist Mission property in the Solomons amounted to about <£40,000, the Rev. J. F. Goldie, of the. Methodist Mission Society of New Zealand, said in Auckland. He said his own station at Munda, New Georgia, was believed to be occupied by about 25,000 Japanese troops and was being constantly blasted by American bombers. * * ♦ Australian timber concerns, with a shrewd, speculative eye on post

war conditions, were showing a lively interest in the magnificent stands of hoop-pine, cedar, etc., in the Bulolo Valley, New Guinea. * * * Major Ratu J. V. L. Sukuna (later Sir Lala Sukuna), dis tinguished Fijian, was appointed Adviser on Native Affairs (virtu ally Minister for Native Affairs) Ratu Sukuna accepted the post with reluctance as he had hoped to go on active service with the Fiji forces. * * * After training strenuously for two or three years in anticipation of seeing overseas service, the Ist Battalion of the Fiji Military De fence Forces marched through Suva to embark for an advanced Pacific base (the Solomons). The commanding officer was Lieuten ant-Colonel J. B. K. Taylor, a resident of Fiji for some years.