PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3191, 15 September 1917, Page 2

PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC

FUTURE TRADE -PROSPECTS. The development of trade in the Pacific Mantis has ever been a matter of importance to New Zealand, and to Auckland in particular, as it was from that port that tho first started witli tho South Seas by schooners and cutters long ago. Somo interesting facts regarding the Islands were related to a "Star" reporter by Mr. G. B. Smith Itewso, who arrived in Auckland this week after having finent tho last twelve months as British Consul ot Nukualofa (Tonga), and has now been transferred to Nauru. Prior to tho war is a big phosphate island, was tu the hands of tho Germans, but it iw now under tho jurisdiction of the British High Commissioner for tho. Western Pacific. Mt. Bewso has spent eleven years in tlio Pacific, and been stationed in turn at Fiji, tho Gilbert, the F-llico Group, and Tonga.. Prior to that he was for five years in tho Tndi.in. Aimy. He then joined' the Colonial Office, and wag a couplo of .years in China before coming to tho Pacific. For tho last nine years Mr. Rewso has been accompanied bv his wife, who on ono occasion was for two years without seeing another Hiiropcanwomnn. This is ono of the sacrifices that have to lie made by those who labour at tho far-stretched outposts of the British Empire. "When war broke out," remarked Mr. TCewso, "like most of the white men in tlio Pacific, I was anxious to go to the front, but although physically fit, T was Riven to understand that I was wanted ! to remain at my post. A year ago. I was at Homo, and tried to enlist, but was informed that if I was well enough to go to the front I was fit to return to the Pacific, and was then sent to Tonga. I have now finished with that group, and may say tho climate there is so mild in the winter months that it would bo a good health resort for peonle from New Zealand. Of course, at Christmas time, in tlw summer, it is hot enough, but my wife and I have enjoyed good health. "To my mind what Toncro requires ia some other industry in addition to the production of copra. That group has had three bad , seasons as far as copra is concerned, which is a serious matter for the people. This year they have an excellent crop, but tho trouble is to get ships to carry it to the market in Europe. I understand that in Samoa there are fully 5000 tons of copra accumutated awaiting ehipment, and 1 suppose the other islands are in a similar position. i "As far as the Tongans are concerned they are very patriotic in this war. Many of them are willing to go to the front if wanted, and the natives, some twenty thousand in number, raised no less than ;E-lfiflO for the Kitchener Memorial Fund. I am glad to be ablo to stato that the Tonftans ore not dying out, as the latest returns show a slight increase in their numbers. There is no doubt in my mind that the Paoifio Islands must ever be populated by a dark race. "Tho problem for the future ie whether the Islands will bo populated by the descendants of the present owners or by Asiatics. In Samoa they hnve already got a number of Chinesecoolies, who were imported to work on the estates of Hie Germans. In Fiji, as you know, Ihe Tndiniis are imported to work on tlio sugar plantations. Both those races are better workers than are the natives, and the question for the future is whether the Asiatics may not some -das. urtoondorato,"