Tonga

Takes It

In Her

Stride

From BETTY SANFT in Nukualofa

Tonga independent four

months when Fiji followed suit on October 10 sent a large contingent to the Suva celebra tions. Perhaps she felt especially involved in Fiji’s great moment, since it was partly because of constant invasion from Tonga

that Fiji sought outside protec

tion and became a British colony in 1874.

It had been the practice of sea loving Tongan warriors to set sail for Fiji or Samoa, ravage the villages and steal the local princesses to wed. This is evident in the history of the powerful noble lines in Tonga, where one, Ha’a Fale Fisi, which roughly translated means tribe or clan of the House of Fiji, comprises six powerful noble titles from Tonga’s 33.

There appeared to be no radical changes after Independence Day in Tonga on June 4 for the simple reason that previous British protec tion embraced only her external affairs.

Tonga has always administered her internal affairs, so the change has been so gradual that the average Tongan, and many visitors, have found it difficult, and sometimes confusing, to realise where one stopped and the other started.

As a monarchy, the last in the Pacific, Tonga has had her own flag and national anthem for well anc j Tongan Defence Force were modernised and extended under ex patriate leadership. Though not large they should be able to mam tain law and order. And as Com monwealth members we can still look forward to Britain’s help in times of war.

The most significant change has been the setting up of a Foreign Affairs Department, which is at present being formulated by a sen ior member of the New Zealand Diplomatic Corps. Tonga has ap pointed a High Commissioner in London and expects to have com missioners or representatives in other countries as finance becomes available. By such appointments she plans to extend her trade and cul tural relations with other countries, . , , , , . . a—? 1 * 15 y,f. ar s record budget is SJ4.I million, to cover both the administration and the first section °* a new hve-year plan, Tonga knows she is fortunate that she can get various sources of aid, grants and expertise from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations. But the govem ment expects a gradual tapering off of such aid, with dependence more and more on increased production and an extension of the markets.

Visitors to Tonga may find themselves buying back their own currency: A Tongan craftsman, Latuhoi, fashions beauti ful bracelets and rings from tortoise shell, inlaid with silver taken from old Australian currency in use in Tonga before the war. In this photo, by Sheree Lipton, "Latu sits at his Nukualofa workbench, while his wife, Tup0ou, is more interested in the family kitten.