Difficulties Facing Tonga’s Development Programme

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 12

Difficulties Facing Tonga’s Development Programme

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NUKU’ALOFA, June 6. The hope of missionaries who brought Christianity to the South Sea Islanders in the last century was that they could reshape native cultures so that strong states would emerge, capable of maintaining their independence in the modern world, Tillman Durdin reported for the “New York Times” news service. Durdin wrote: for the most part, what happened was colonial dependence and the disruption of traditional societies. Out of all Oceania only the Tongan Islands escaped total annexation, maintained their national identity and partly realised the pious hopes of the missionaries. The reason for this was mainly the centralised system and the strong cultural and political cohesion of the TonganS, going back for centuries before the missionaries arrived.

The Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga adopted Christianity (Methodist variety) and fitted the new religion into a traditional, feudal way of life. In the process, the Tongans, much like the Thais in Southeast Asia, accepted British protection and supervision of their foreign relations, but kept intact Tongan authority over domestic affairs, strictly limiting the numbers and influence of foreigners in the kingdom. Today 21 - stone King Taufaahau Tupou IV, after 47 years of rule by his mother, the late Queen Salote Tupou 11, has succeeded at 48 to the ancient Tongan throne and to trusteeship over a realm that is backward and poor, but proud of its continuing cultural integrity and political independence. 1 Though a modern-minded, world-travelled man with an honours degree in jurisprudence from Sydney university, King Taufaahau to his own people is still surrounded by awesome taboos. None can eat with him and none can approach him without proper ritual. From the quaint, towered Victorian mansion that is the Royal Palace here, King Taufaahau rules a kingdom of 200 little islands with a land area of 259 square miles. His realm has little in the way of natural resources except the usual tropical agricultural products, lush scenery and gentle, sunny south seas climate. Home-grown yams, taro, fruit and fish from the surrounding seas insure that Tonga’s 72,000 people do not go hungry, but they have little else. Per capita income is estimated at around 53 dollars (Australian) a year. Off the Pacific's main air

and shipping routes, Tonga must rely on infrequent ships and thrice-weekly planes of a little regional airline for links with the outside world. The capital, Nukualofa, a seasidq community of a few hundred white,' weatherbeaten wooden bungalows and a scattering of stores and Government buildings, has an antique, poor-country-village look. There is no hotel. Travellers stay at a shambly old boarding house with communal bathroom and dining table. The kingdom’s private business is so meagre that there is no commercial bank. In spite of its scanty resources, the Government, helped by a 67,000 dollar (Australian) grant from Britain mainly for replanting aged coconut trees, is attempting to carry out an economic and social development programme. The programme includes a 125,000 dollar vessel to develop deep-sea fishing, agricultural improvements, road building, a’new pier for Nukualofa harbour, a new

radio transmitter and extended telephone system, new schools, a new Government building, a new hospital, and facilities to lure tourists such as a new 321,500 dollar hotel and lengthening of the airport runway.

Efforts to finance Tonga’s “operation bootstrap” have severely strained the kingdom’s means. Funds have been obtained by deficit financing and the curtailment of nonessential imports so that foreign exchange can be devoted to capital goods from abroad.

Cash crops have been substituted for subsistence produce, with the result that there is less food. Prices of both domestic goods and foreign imports have gone up. Foreign exchange and price control have had to be introduced.

Thus begins the reign of Taufaahau Tupou. It is certain to encounter stresses and strains, but judging by the past, the cultural and political exclusiveness of a distinctive little Polynesian state is equally certain to continue.