The Editor's Mailbag

Olaf Rumen's Denial

Robert D. West of Chillicothe, Ohio, perpetrates an unjustified lie when he claims, in a letter (PIM, December, p 49) I refuted statements made by the King of Tonga. At the time I wrote the book Minerva Reef, Salote Tupou 111 was Queen of Tonga. I understand that the annexa tion of the reefs to Tonga accomp lished by Captain Tevita in 1966 was not refuted.

Certainly I support the excellent arguments of His Majesty King Taufa ‘ahau Tupou IV in extending his sovereignty over these reefs and I have nothing but contempt for the unprincipled American adventurers —and I understand their conspirators of other nations—for whom Robert D. West is spokesman.

Olaf Ruhen

Sydney.

Dr Davis's Criticism

Our attention has been drawn to a letter under the heading “Doctor Davis’s Criticism”, published in the Editor’s Mailbag (PIM, Nov, p 47).

The correspondent states “Economic development has been encouraged, yet with falling prices of copra, re fusals by New Zealand to take man darins (although NZ originally en couraged the growing of such) etc, can only lead to the thought that there has been no encouragement”.

The statement that New Zealand has refused to take mandarins is en tirely incorrect. It is a fact that some 20 years ago our company suggested that more mandarins could be grown in the Cook Islands and as a result many thousands of dollars have been added to the economy. However, there is a definite limit to the quan tity that can be absorbed by New Zealand at what are regarded by the Island people as payable prices.

Production proceeded on the assumption that New Zealand had an unlimited market and in 1960 it be came necessary to advise the authori ties that the maximum quantity that could be absorbed at present prices would be 5,000 cases per month.

Apparently this information was not acted on and the development of mandarin production proceeded well beyond market requirements.

As a result of the very large quantities of fruit available, much beyond the suggested 5,000 boxes, an arrangement was made of graduated

prices up to 10,000 boxes per ship and the price negotiated would be on any market in the world a very good one for the growers concerned.

When quantities were raised beyond 10,000 boxes we had to advise that large consignments of this quantity would have to be sold on the open market and that we could not guaran tee a price. At no stage however, have we refused to accept consign ments.

The last 20 years have also seen the establishment of mandarin grow ing in various parts of New Zealand and it is true to say that the man darins grown in New Zealand have better colour and better flavour than the Cook Islands fruit, resulting in the public neglecting the Cook Island fruit in favour of New Zealand fruit.

With rising freights it is necessary to ensure high quality produce so that these freights may be absorbed and there is still a market in New Zealand for good quality fruit. The market is wide open, but naturally if the fruit is going to be consigned to New Zealand in extremely large quantities, quantities never at any time suggested by our company, then it is necessary to sell this fruit at market value on the same conditions as fruit is sold in all parts of the world.

C. R. Walker.

Managing Director.

Fruit Distributors Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand.

West Irian

I am a Jamaican living in England.

I have read PIM regularly about two years.

I always thought your magazine provided valuable information about the Pacific islands, until I realised that you never say anything about the situation in West New Guinea. Surely West New Guinea is a Pacific territory like the eastern half of the island, or West Samoa.

A. Fraser.

London, 5.W.5. • West Irian these days is an integral piovince of Indonesia, and if it ever had Pacific Islands status, it has lost it as far as we are con cerned. We do refer to West Irian developments insofar as they concern its neighbour, Papua New Guinea — as for instance our frequent reports on border crossing, and PNG attitudes to it. Thus, for us, West Irian is rather

in the category of Hawaii, a sti America whose domestic doesn’t find its way into PIM but whose attitudes do when touch on the Pacific Islands.

Only The Sword . . .

“Only The Sword He Si

UP IN”. “Yesterday” column, September, recalled this headline an advertisement for a tropica service uniform which was v urgently.

The advertiser could have none other than Hon. Cedric H then Director of Agriculture, Fi wife, Nell, having preceded hi leave to Britain, he was living porarily at the Fiji Club in Suv the residential section was demc by the hurricane of 1952. M< Mr Harvey’s personal belor including his white tropical un plumed helmet, gloves, etc., were the ceremonial unifon members of Legco in those had gone with the wind. S forays into the wreckage of th buildings produced little more the sword and a sock!

Mr Harvey is now living in ment near Truro, Cornwall, wit! to devote to his hobbies c painting and wine making.

(Mrs) Tui Gar[?]

Auckland, NZ.

A Grave Error

I was interested to rea« obituary of the late Dr W.

Kenzie (PIM, Sept., p. 131). 1 was in the New Hebrides in this year I was able to visit I and to see the headstones ow grave of the Rev J. W. MacK children and over his wife Am grave.

There is an unusual error inscription on her headstone reads: Amanda Bruce, wife Rev J. W. MacKenzie died 30' 1898 after 21 years of Christan on Efate.

I wonder how many visitor noticed the spelling of CHRIS?

A. F. Macgilli[?]

London, N2O.

Japanese Wanted

We’d like some help on infon for a history of the Aus 6th Division Cavalry Unit, interested in hearing from an who knows about a Japanese i possibly the last remnant of the: Army, who was located in the: celli mountains of New Guii 1956.

G. A. Robi[?]

9a North Rutledge St, Coolangatta, Qld 4225.