Yesterday

What with wars, rumours of wars, pollution and student demonstrations, the world these days is trying to get away from itself to some island paradise. But islands are at more of a premium these days than they were 20 years ago this month. PIM of June, 1951, reported that Tupai, in the Society Islands, was for sale. With 2,000 acres of cultivable land, an output of 1,000 tons of copra a year and lots of sunshine, it seemed to be a bargain at £160,000, because there was also supposed to be buried treasure. However, the small print showed that the owners reserved for themselves any treasure discovered on the island.

"So far as we know, this is the first time a ruler or heir apparent of Tonga has visited the headquarters of the Empire."

This was PIM for June, 1951, recording the visit to London of Prince Tungi, Crown Prince of Tonga, a guest of the British Government at the Festival of Britain. Well, Prince Tungi, now King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, has been there several times since. His first visit was followed by that of his mother, Queen Salote, who made world headlines in 1953 as a guest at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11.

A headline 20 years ago announced that Sir Brian Freeston, the then Governor of Fiji, was to be secretary-general of the South Pacific Commission. His job as governor was to end in January, 1952. He was succeeding Mr. W. D.

Forsyth, who was resigning as secretary-general to rejoin the Commonwealth Public Service. After several diplomatic jobs including that of Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Forsyth returned to Noumea in 1961 as secretary-general.

The position is vacant today following the sudden death of Afioga Misimoa in February.

That familiar Islands ship "Tofua" is 20 years old this year.

PIM reported in June, 1951, that she had been launched in Dumbarton, Scotland, a few weeks before and would be completed by the end of September. It was forecast that residents of the South Pacific would see the new ship by the end of the year. But PIM had doubts about that and added the proviso that "Tofua" would make her appearance if waterfront shipping troubles were cleared up.

Times never alter!

June 2, 1951, is a date which looms large in the annals of Morris Hedstrom Limited. It was the date, recorded by PIM in a two-page story, of the death of Sir John Maynard Hedstrom, in his sleep at his Suva home at the age of 79. Sir Maynard founded the firm on capital of £2O borrowed from the father of a girl he used to take home from church in Levuka where he was born. He himself recorded this fact and added, "In view of this relationship, the lender generously charged me only 10 per cent, per annum interest". R. W. Robson wrote of him "Hundreds, especially in his beloved Fiji, will mourn the passing of one whose achievements were great, whose sympathies were wide, and who, despite honours and riches, bore himself always with modesty and kindness".

Another death reported that month was of Mr. John Graham-Taylor, of Udu Kacu, Taveuni. He was described as one of Fiji's oldest (74), best-known and most successful coconut planters, a notable sportsman, a good horseman, good shot and a practised pugilist. One correspondent referred to him as "Hurricane Jack".

Shipping at the Buka-Bougainville end of New Guinea was bad said one of PlM's special correspondents.

"The ships just can't handle the copra being produced and it is piling up in every copra shed in Bougainville and Buka," he said. "It is estimated that there are about 50,000 bags on the coast now. Some plantations have ceased production because of lack of room, food shortages and shortages of essential supplies." The report said that because of lack of shipping a Kieta man, who had 40 new recruits from New Guinea held up in Rabaul, had had to foot a bill for £4OO for "their sustenance, and two months of their time gone". A New Guinea planter, however, said the copra producers were not "happy about the plan to give control of the coastal shipping into the hands of the Big Firms. They think that, as the Big Firms themselves own plantations and have favourites among the planters, the routing of the ships may be arranged to take care of particular rather than general interests."

It was boom time in New Caledonia. RIM reported that "war and the threat of war have added much value to certain metals, and New Caledonia, the French South Pacific colony, with hugh reserves of nickel and chrome, is booming". Pointing out what minerals were doing for New Caledonia, PIM said that from 1944, when the colony did not trade with France, to 1950 exports to the mother country had grown to 679,913,000 francs.

In the same year, 1950, New Caledonia exported goods worth 80,575,000 francs to the United States and goods worth 12,757,000 francs to Australia.

There was talk in 1951 of the Australian Government taking over British responsibility in the New Hebrides.

Osmar White of the "Melbourne Herald" didn't think much of the idea. According to PIM, White said Australia would be "buying a pup for appearance sake", and used up nearly all the available adjectives on the Condominium Government. It was, said White, "the most expensive, cumbersome, contradictory, ridiculous, comic opera type of government ever devised by politicians".

"Tahiti's isolation is ended" PIM told its readers.

The comment was over a report that Tasman Empire Airways, TEAL, now Air New Zealand, would inaugurate a fortnightly service between Sydney and Tahiti. The new schedule would represent an extension of the Auckland-Suva service, via W. Samoa and Cook Islands, to Papeete. "Already TEAL has four Solent flying-boats, which are about the roomiest and most comfortable craft of their type in the world," said PIM. On another page it was reported that the regular air service connecting Tonga with Suva and Auckland would cease from June 30.

Sir Brian Freeston 20 years ago Governor of Fiji. He was to be next secretary-general of the South Pacific Commission.