yesterday
p. 85 · Read in the full issue
On most Pacific fronts in October, 1944, Allied forces were on the attack, preparing for the invasion of Japan « PIM reported then that Allied aircraft had heavily attacked Formosa, and by October 13 had destroyed 221 enemy planes and 16 cargo ships.
OTHER news reported in that issue of 20 years ago in cluded : Sir Walter Carpenter, head of the big Pacific trading and shipping firm, W. R. Carpenter & Co. Ltd., was paying a visit to Sydney after three years’ residence in Canada, accompanied by Lady Carpenter. Sir Walter, who saw what was likely to happen in the Pacific soon after the outbreak of war in Europe, extended his group’s operations to Canada, where copra-milling was begun in a big way. * * * Among the Fiji war casualties was the name of Corporal Sefanaia Sukanivalu, of Yacata Island, Cakaudrove, who was subsequently posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the only Fiji serviceman to win the VC in World War 11. ♦ * * A proposal that European residents of Papua and New Guinea should appeal to Great Britain for relief from the in difference and injustices of Aus tralian administration was not
accepted by members of the Pacific Territories Association, who attended a meeting in Syd ney in large numbers. Most members felt that if they clung to Australia, the Australian Government, sooner or later, would have a change of heart and would give them more con sideration.
Dollar-mindedness among West ern Samoans was blamed by New Zealand politicians for the lack of banana supplies in the Dominion. A fall in supplies was due to the arrival of US forces in Western Samoa and the islanders seeking higher paid employment constructing aerodromes and defence works. ♦ * * There was great joy at Papeete when Governor Georges Orselli announced that France had been freed from German occupation.
A day of celebration included religious services of thanksgiving and a review of troops by the Governor. * * * Sir Philip Mitchell, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, was ap
pointed Governor of Kenya in place of Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore. * * * Rarotonga welcomed an in teresting home-comer, Miss Terito Pa Ariki, hereditary chieftainess of the historic Ngatangiia dis trict, the reputed landing-place of the first Polynesian discoverers of the island. She went to New Zealand when she was 11. Two days after her return to Rarotonga she celebrated her 21st birthday. * * * Having carried on planting, but no trading, under extreme difficulties in Papua for 12 months, the report of Steamships Trading Co. Ltd. for the year ended July 31 showed a net profit of £7,340 on subscribed capital of £143,633.
Among the pictures in PIM for October, 1944, was this one of famous Australian war photographer Damien Parer (with the beard), who was killed in action on Peleliu Island (Palaus) on September 17, 1944. Parer often shot his film by going into action, just after the tanks and ahead of the infantry.
Although not a Territorian, he be longed to a family well known in New Guinea. He is seen above with his brother Cyril when he went into the Owen Stanleys to film "Kokoda Trail" in 1942. Cyril Parer was with military forces in the area.