Archives-January 1930

Radio links the Pacific

Life in the Islands has

been revolutionised by

wireless

Practically all the Europeanised towns and settlements in the Pacific Islands, and many plantations and trading stations, now have direct communication with the rest of the world.

The complete isolation of “the islands,” which early in this century was at once their greatest charm and their most serious handicap, is a thing of the past. The economic importance of this development, and its effect on the future of the Pacific, cannot be exaggerated.

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, or America, or Australia, and receive a reply within twelve hours. Today, people who reside in Rabaul or Vila, Suva or Nuku’alofa or Rarotonga, are little, if any more isolated in relation to 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 climate, soil-fertility, cheap labour, and the charm of sunshine and

colour, while suffering none of the disadvantages of complete separation from their friends or their business principals, which residence in the Pacific entailed for so many decades.

The coming of wireless, and the development of the internal combustion engine, have removed from Islands life whatever terrors previously existed by reason of isolation and loneliness, and have greatly reduced the element of risk in the operations of planters and merchants.

Even residents 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 telephone; 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 the mail-steamers.

Few people realise how completely the Islands are covered, now, by a network of wireless stations. ■