The Editors' Maillag

Polynesian Origins

Sir, —Mention has been made more than once in your magazine that the Caucasus is the original home of the Polynesians and that “most scientists accept this theory”.

It would be of great interest to me, and, I am sure, to many of your readers, to read a resume of this latest explanation.

This theory, to my recollection, has not been exposed in PIM.

However, if it has, I would certainly like to have a copy of the issue wherein it made its appearance.

Our local museum is also unware of this latest approach. On their behalf, could you kindly give me a list of books, articles or brochures covering the matter?

Alexander Taran.

Papeete, Tahiti.

Editors’ Note ; The theory that the Polynesians are of Caucasian origin (i.e. are members of the white race) is not new. It was first put forward by some of the early South Seas explorers and was later adopted by such Pacific scholars as Bopp

(1842), Fornander (1870), Gill (1876), MacMillan Brown (1907) and Peter Buck (1938). In 1908, A. H. Keane wrote in a book The World’s Peoples : “That they [the Polynesians] are an Oceanic branch of the Caucasian division is now admitted by all competent observers '.

An article on the “Races of Man” in Collier’s Encyclopedia (1961) indicates that present-day experts are still agreed on the Caucasus theory. What the experts do not always agree on is how the Polyne sians got from the Caucasus to where they are now. For a full list of books touching on this subject, reader Taran is referred to the early pages of Thor Heyerdahl’s American Indians in the Pacific.

New Hebrides Dictatorship

Sir, —Those of us with “humble thoughts” on Santo enjoyed im mensely the August PIM and would wish to add our comments on various topics therein. The article on page 9 headed “End May be Near for New Hebrides Dictatorship” particu larly interested us.

Sometimes “dictatorship” is neces sary for swift progress when placed in the right hands. Unfortunately, the human element is too self seeking and unpredictable to be per mitted to hold the destiny of any one country in its dictatorial hands.

The pre-war years offered the New Hebrides a few French and British leaders who remained long enough to understand the people and its customs. Progress may have been slow then, but at least there was harmony coupled with a sense of security when these islands were guided with wisdom in true family style.

War’s aftermath brought along a series of fast-changing Administra tors, some with a devil-may-care attitude. Taxes were imposed fast and furiously, and spent just as quickly. Local opinions were con sidered superfluous and in 1957 an Advisory Council was tolerated with nominated members as a cover-up measure. (Just now, six elected members have been included whose voices would barely be audible in a roomful of stand-over tacticians).

Any old or long-standing resident in the New Hebrides will agree that anyone who dares criticise the “smooth and comfortable” running

of the Administrations will be listed in the “Black Book” and morally “gunned-down” for the rest of his days. Those who wish to make progress must resort to flatteries, etc. —a manner of activity distasteful to anyone with an atom of pride.

If a Legislative Council is in the offing, the majority of Joint Rules and Regulations, with their multiple Joint Decisions, will have to be scratched, as, most of these laws are irregular since police forces of both nationals are inadequate to enforce them. In most cases they cannot even keep up with the 10 Com mandments!

The article, “UK May Ask NZ, Australia to Take Gilbertese” (p. 10) also prompts comment.

Already a resettlement plan for the overpopulated Gilbert Islands has taken place in the Solomons. It appears that these new settlers are being served on a golden platter (to the dismay of Solomon Islanders) and that the British Government sends out Government vessels to catch fish for them!

It’s about time that overpopulated places were taught the rudiments of work to survive, as molly-coddling them is painfully ridiculous.

New Hebridean natives are for tunate to be in a land of plenty (fertile soil, regular rainfall) and consequently do not feel the urge to work, except occasionally to earn enough for clothing and liquor.

In order that plantations and general industries may survive for posterity, we, in the Group, must rely on imported labour for stability and continuity in our work.

Why is it that our local govern ments make it tedious for us to im port Gilbertese workers if they lack space and food at home? The few already here on plantations have settled in quite well. More would care to come but, unfortunately, are the victims of Red Tape.

Madam X

Santo, New Hebrides.

The Reason Why

Sir.—ln your August issue (p. 15) you ask why it is that South Aus tralians make good chairmen, and therefore get themselves the job of Speaker in the Australian Parliament more often than men from other States?

The answer is quite simple, and lies in the fact of South Australia’s geographic location with respect to the other States of Australia. On the one side there is the “Golden West”, the pride of all who live in Western Australia, and on the other the more centralised “Industrial

East”, concerning which a similar pride exists. So the role of the South Australian, wedged in between, is that of mediator, and thus men emerge of the calibre of Mr, R. S.

Swift [chairman of the South Pacific Conference in Lae in July] when it comes to taking charge of meetings and the like. South Australians acquire this cast, which in this re spect sets them aside from other Australians.

John Milne.

Apia, Western Samoa.

• It was unusually cold in several South Pacific territories in August Suva had its coldest August since 1945, with a minimum of 61,6 on August 4 and a mean temperature of 72.4. On Niue, the temperature dropped to 59 degrees on the night of August 6—a registration below 60 being of rare occurrence on that island. And on Rarotonga, the thermometer registered 49.7 degrees on one occasion—the lowest old timers could remember.