LOYAL TO BRITAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 56, 16 March 1943, Page 7

LOYAL TO BRITAIN

SOLOMON ISLANDERS

SMALL REGARD FOR JAPAN A skctch of the history and geography of the Solomon Islands group and its people's attitude toward the war was given by the Rev. C. T„ J. Luxton at the Hamilton Rotary Club. Mr Luxton escaped from the Solomons in a -14ft boat, and bailed 1000 miles to safety. He has since been stationed in New Zealand. "The. majority of the natives of the Solomons arc loyal to Great Britain," said Mr Luxton. "While, the Germans were in occupation of Bougainville during the last Avar they made fun of the Japanese and most of the people now have little, regard for Japan. In the southern Solomons some instances have been reported where sections of the population have assisted the Japanese, but these cases are a minority. So well are the natives educated regarding the war that they can tell the different note in the engines of Japanese bombers and lighters. The natives believe the enemy are striking against a rock when they meet the American fliers." Food for the Sharks Mr Luxton described the main island, of the group and mentioned that on the island of Savo, oft" which the last big naval battle Was fought, the natives worship sharks as gods. It was the custom to deliver the dead, and occasional living sacrifices; to the sharks. "I was; not surprised when it was announced that many of the Japanese crews, perished* in that area," he said. Mr Luxton was questioned regarding the pronunciation of the word "Guadalcanal" He replied that the correct spelling of the. word was with a final "I,'* but owing to the natives interchange of the letters! •d,' 'r* and '1' it was likely that confusion might have occurred.