THE TONGAN ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 8

THE TONGAN ISLANDS.

<i_. A THEATRE OF UNREST. UNION WITH NEW ZEALAND SUGGESTED. There is said In bo grave intcrnnl unrest in the Toui,\in Islands. Representations have been made to Sir Joseph Ward with a view to securing the intervention of tho Now Zealand Government, and tho member for Bnicc directed the attention of tho House of Representatives'last' night to the slate of affairs in the island monarchy. Mr. W. E. Hackett, of Auckland, who is solicitor for the King of Tonga, George Tibou 11, accompanied by. Mr. Ambrose Millar, of Auckland, who has commercial interests in Tonga, interviewed Sir Joseph Ward yesterday morning, and asked for his assistance towards expeditious settlement of the difficult position m Tonga. The Prime Minister expressed himself informed regarding the position. Ho promised to give all the assistance ho could, and undertook to communicate with the Imperial authorities immediately. Mr. Jas. Allen's Suggestion. Referring to the subject in Parliament last evening 3fr Jas. Allen stated that many New Zealanders who were deeply interested in Tongan trade had serious grievances. It. was a question whether they were to remain under tho administration of the High Commissioner of the Pacific. This official was too far removed from Tonga, and his duties wero delegated to a consul., who represented the British Government and tuo High Commissioner. The hitter in Fiji, and tho consul iu Tonga could not possibly koep in touch as they should be enabled to do. In fact, the Commissioner had quite enough to keep him occupied in Fiji and neighbouring islands. Dissatisfaction was intense in Tonga, not only among New Zealanders but among other European traders. These people had to decide whether they should drift into a closer tie with tho High Commissioner of the Pacific, by bein" placed directly under Fiji, pass under the administration of Australia, or adopt some alternative course. This question must bo definitely settled very shortly. There was no doubt that grave unrest existed. He had noticed it when ho visited Tonga, and' it had certainly not died down. He had correspondence which showed that it had increased, and that conditions had become more disturbed. There had been interference with trading companies by the Consul. A dispute in which the Nativo Trading Company had been engaged had taken before some kind of Court. The decision of this tribunal practically was that it had no jurisdiction. The Council and Cabinet had dircctcd that tho books of the company should be examined into, and when it was found that there were soino wrong entries in tho books an ordinance was issued which prevented the company taking any proceedings against the Cabinet or Government of Tonga. The books of the company were seized, its trade destroyed, and it was put into liquidation, though 'it was, lie understood, perfectly solvent. Tho liquidation expenses of the company amounted to between three and four thousand pounds, and what had become of this money he was not sure. Tonga was' a monarchy. It had a King, Privy Council, and a Parliament which met onco in three years. The Privy Council and Cabinet passed ordinances which had to be confirmed by the Parliament when it met every three years. He was informed that the Consul, contrary to treaty Tights, had interfered in tho internal affairs of the Tongans. Somehow or other the Consul had been appointed to the Cabinet. Ho did not say that he voted, but ho certainly used his influence, and ho had used it in an extraordinary way— by threatening that, if he did not get his way, he would haul down the flag. Vexatious Regulations, Tho Cabinet was part of tho Privy Council, and the Cabinet had power to issue ordinances and make regulations. One of these authorities had recently issued a regulation that if copra were not prepared within.a certain date it must be destroyed by fire. Even bad copra had a value, and the traders had forwarded a protest to the High Commissioner. This amounted tc a serious interference with trading concerns by a. regulation which had not been confirmed by Parliament. Answering Sir Jas. Carroll. Mr. Allen said he understood that another European firm, being jealous of this Native Trading Company, had "pulled tho strings," with the result that the latter concern was wiped out. Ho understood that one man alono had netted between .£ISOO and .£2OOO in the shape of liquidation expenses. Mr. Allen quoted a letter from a Tongan resident, in which he stated that unless the King granted better conditions, relief might be sought in annexation bj Fiji. Practical!v the Consul was a despotic monarch wit.li tho Cabinet and Privy Council as his tods. Residents viewed tho prospect of annexation to Fiji with alarm. The writer of the letter asked what steps should be taken in order to socuro that an agent should be sent down to Tonga from New Zealand. Union with Tonga, Mr. Allen continued, would be beneficial to New Zealand. The 'l'oagan Islands were a rich group with great trade possibilities. The trade with Now Zealand already amounted to nearly .£IOO,OOO, and it could be very largely increased. If the group wero tied up moro closely to Now Zealand and an agent wero sent down from this country Tongaii.residents would have New Zealand public opinion to fall back upon if they had any real grievances. Mr. Allen said he had felt it impossible to let this appeal go by without faying it before the _ House. New Zealilndori who shared his view looked to a time .when Now Zealand would have a little more to say in the Pacific than they had at the present time. He would like to see a respectful address presented to his Excellency by the House, asking him to communicate with the Mother Country saying that. New Zealand was prepared to enter into closer union with_ Tonga. He did not suggest that tlio' Tongan monarchy should be abolished. Sir Joseph Ward remarked, later that the 1 recent troubles in the Tongan Islands had nothing to do with New Zealand, and wo had 110 right to interfere. Wo could not do more than express opinions to the Home authorities, and forward representations. He had' interviewed the Secretary of State for. the Colonies, and urged that, New Zealand shonld bo given control of tho Tongan Islands, but tho Secretary did not sco his way to do anything. There would eventually bo a great confederation of British possessions iu the Pacific. lie recognised the difficulties felt in tho Tongan Islands, and the imnortance of having an administration in which tho inhabitants would feel confidence.