Yesterday

Politically, in the Pacific 20 years ago this month the territories were at sixes and sevens. There was talk that Australia was interested in taking over from Britain the administration of the New Hebrides; the Returned Soldiers' League in New Guinea asked that that territory become a seventh state of Australia; and Paris repudiated suggestions that the French Pacific was getting closer to the English-speaking Pacific people at the expense of France, On the New Hebrides question, a writer in PIM of May, 1951, said the Liberal Government's thinking was that the New Hebrides should become part of a defensive arc of islands around Australia. France appeared willing to live alongside Australia in the New Hebrides instead of Britain, he said.

The RSL attitude on NG was explained by George Whittaker, president of the P-NG state branch, who said NG should be released from UN control and given to Australia, "whose soldiers fought and died for the freedom of this great

island". He said Australians fought in two wars in the belief that the territory would be annexed to Australia, but this had not happened.

The French statement was made by the Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Colonies and Associated States, Mr. Nicolai, who said that "Australian expansionism" was behind the view that the French Pacific territories were drawing away from France. He said there was certainly American influence in the French colonies, but these territories had "the same regard for the dollar and the easy-spending American people as had any other country which had experienced an occupation by the American armed services and then had to return to its own poor currency afterwards."

The trial of 90 Japanese accused of war crimes ended on Manus Island, P-NG. Thirty-two were acquitted, 13 sentenced to death and the remainder gaoled for varying periods.

Of the 13 condemned, one had his sentence commuted, the rest were due later in the month to hang, in a secluded place in Manus. The gaoled men were used as labourers on the Manus naval base.

Henry de Vere Stackpoole, author of "The Blue Lagoon", and other novels lending "somewhat Victorian sex" to the South Seas, died on the Isle of Wight, aged 88.

A film version of "The Blue Lagoon" had been shot in the Yasawas, Fiji, and for a time the author had lived in Papeete.

Movie fans on Mangaia, Cook Islands, appealed to the world at large to send them some decent films.

PlM's corresoondent reported that the single local "talkie show" had begun two years before with a whoop and a rattle. But the community was no longer getting the films it liked best—the derring-deeds of half-Tahitian Jon Hall.

Customers were not so keen on paying sixpence for a fourth repeat of other films.

A resident of French Oceania (later French Polynesia) wondered just who was responsible for foistering wretched small denominations of banknotes on the territory.

He said residents had to carry notes as small as two-francs (fourpence) and they very soon fell apart in the climate or became so dirty they were a health hazard.

Just about every other country carried coins up to quite high denominations. (This year the Cook Islands announced the issue of a one dollar coin, because of the short life of its paper dollar.)

A Norfolk correspondent reported that highlight of the Easter holiday was a race meeting with the island's best horses handled by "quite brilliant jockeys".

The tote handled $l,OOO.

Descendants of two pioneering Samoan families married in March, 1951. Miss Joyce Margaret Moors, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Moors, was married to Mr. Peter Macdonald Paul, eldest son of Mr. E. F. Paul and Mrs. Paul.

Canuerra announced that Mr. Paul Hasluck, 46, had been appointed Australian Minister for Territories, and that the word "External" had been dropped from the name of the department. Today, of course, Sir Paul Hasluck is now Australia's Governor-General. And the word "External" has gone back in.

Captain Brett Milder was holding an exhibition of his water colours in Melbourne. There were 35 studies of Islanders.

It was decided to move New Britain administration headquarters from Rabaul to Rapopo, near Kokopo, about 20 miles away, "with all possible speed".

PlM's Moresby correspondent said that "quite definitely the move is to be made and Rabaul abandoned".

Colonel Murray, the Administrator, had been shocked by the Mt. Lamington eruption in Papua, and had revived the scheme for moving Rabaul, which had first been made before the war. (Rabaul, of course, is still the New Britain administrative centre.) Another planned move was also reported—but this one did take place. PIM reported that although there had been no official announcement it was common knowledge that Britain intended to move the headquarters of the Western Pacific High Commission from Suva to Honiara.

It had been in Suva for more than 50 years.

Among the advertisements in PIM, the Sydney grocers, Mcllrath's, were offering 24 oz tins of marmalade for 13/6d a dozen.

Twenty years ago this month the brigantine “Yankee” was one of the finest sailing ships on the High Seas.

Now all she’s good for is scrap on the Rarotonga reef, after being wrecked. But she’s not forgotten: only this month, owners, Island Merchants Ltd., were taking ads in the “Cook Islands News” warning that legal action would be taken against people caught removing any of the fittings.