From The Archives

November, 1930

Radio links the Pacific Twenty years ago, a man who lived in Bougainville or Vanua Levu or Aitutaki was almost as inaccessible as if he were buried in Darkest Africa. A letter written in London or Sydney or New York might reach him six months after it was posted.

Today, a resident of almost any of the Pacific Islands, unless he is very remotely situated, can send a message to Europe, America or Australia and receive a reply within 12 hours. Today, people who reside in Rabaul or Vila, Suva or Nukualofa or Rarotonga, are little, if any more isolated, in relation to the world affairs than if they lived in New Zealand, Natal or Newfoundland.

The magic of radio has revolutionised life in the islands. Europeans may make

their homes in the South Seas, enjoy the benefits of cli mate, soil fertility, cheap labour and the charm of sun shine and colour, while suffering none of the disad vantages of com

plete separation from their friends or busi ness principals, which residence in the Pacific entailed for so many decades.

The coming of wireless, and the devel opment of the internal combustion engine have removed from islands life whatever terrors previously existed by reason of iso lation and loneliness and, have greatly reduced the element of risk in the opera tions of planters and merchants. Even resi dents on the outer islands of the groups need be no more isolated than an Australian inland squatter. Radio takes the place of the squatter’s long distance tele phone; and instead of the grazier’s motor car, the planter has a fast travelling, petrol driven launch, which conveys him easily

to the trading centre and the route of mail 1 steamers.

The sailing season is in full swing and great interest is shown in the contests for the May Flag every Saturday. The open nature of the harbour, the strong tides and winds and lumpy seas make sailing a thrilling pastime in our small and heavily canvassed twelve footers.

The Alice, Jean Mystic and Koonya are all in the running for the flag while the other captains are just as enthusiastic in their efforts to win. A word of thanks must be accorded to launch owners who placed their launches at the disposal of club offi cials.A club rule exists which forbids rac ing without an attendant launch, and the number of capsizes fully justify this pre caution. ■

Established 1930