yesterday

The course of World War II was gradually turning in favour of the Allies, and the Free French Movement, under Generals de Gaulle and Giraud, was gaining ground when PIM was published 20 years ago. “It is the deliberate policy of Britain and the United States,” PIM reported, “to restore the French Empire; and the work of restoration is being left, as far as possible, to the people of Fighting France, themselves.”

OTHER items in the issue of PIM for October, 1943, were: Mr. E. J. (Eddie) Ward had been appointed Australia’s Mini ster for External Affairs, and PIM said; “If one may judge from newspaper comment and current cartoons, the public of Australia regard the appointment as exceedingly funny. The un fortunate residents of Papua and New Guinea will be excused if they find in the situation little that is humorous”. (Mr. Ward died in July this year). * * * The influenza epidemic in Tahiti had abated; schools and churches were open again, and so were the honky-tonks. According to PlM’s Papeete correspondent, everybody had reason to hold some measure of happiness— everyone, that was, except the island’s opium-smoking Chinese.

The war had cut off their supplies. * * * Fresh foods, such as bananas, papaws, pineapples, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and corn, which were being supplied to United States forces in Fiji, had reversed lend lease aid from the US to the tune of three million dollars. The producers were paid by the British Government, and the food was handed over free to the American troops. * * sfc A new 10-mile road had just been opened for civilian motor traffic in Western Samoa between Leulumoega, on the north coast of Upolu, and Lefaga, on the south coast. * * * Fiji’s sugar industry had been seriously dislocated by a strike of sugar mills employees (mainly Indians) and by the refusal of Indian cane-growers to cut their cane for mills unless the price for it was substantially increased.

dislike as much as do our readers, the poor class of paper—it was newsprint upon which this journal is printed. It is part of the set-up of World War 11. * * sis A PIM reader wrote to the editor asking for the words and music of the song, Samoan Farewell—Goodbye My Friend.

He thought the native name of the song was Tofa Ma Falangi. * * * In a discussion on the future of the Solomon Islands, PIM said: “The buildings in Tulagi are today no more, and when the capital comes to be rebuilt, the choice of site can be decided with an open mind—and not be cramped by any narrow Colonial Office ideas regarding economy”. * * * Western Samoa was continuing to enjoy unparalleled prosperity and peace in the midst of a war torn world, but one problem was causing great concern there—sly grog.

Hs * * An article entitled “In the Track of the Americans”, by Harold Cooper, of the Fiji In formation Office said: “A pre war resident revisiting Noumea would rub his eyes and wonder whether his name was Rip Van Winkle. Two years ago Noumea was a sleepy tropical town where traffic moved at leisurely pace along avenues which one could cross blindfold in perfect safety.

Now there are corners where the pedestrian must wait patiently for an occasional gap in the grimy cavalcade of military vehicles of all sizes, from jeeps to giant trucks, which rumble by in un wearying procession”.