A VISITOR TO TAHITI.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1921, Page 3

A VISITOR TO TAHITI.

AIR C. M. LUKE RETURNS. TROUBLE AT PAPEETE OVER TAXATION. WELLINGTON. Sept. ID Among the passengers to arrive here bv the Tahiti oil Saturday morning was Mr Charles M. Luke who. with Mrs Luke, has been on a holiday visit to Tahiti. Air Luke said that they had enjoyed every minute of their holiday. A tine weather passage was experienced both ways, and in lahiti—ciiiefiv in Papeete, the principal port and seat of the French Government eight weeks’ unbroken sunshine was experienced. One week was spent at the plantation of Air G. Al. Acres (formerly of .Messrs -Yerex and Jones, of Wellington), which is on the opposite side of the-island, ami scarcely enjovs flic good climate that Papeete, is famous for. They have more ram there and the atmosphere is more humid. Air Luke said that Airs Luke and 1 ■ were fortunate enough to lie present in Papeete on Julv 1-I—the anniversary ' of the taking of the Bastille—"hid.i is celebrated with a week’s. Icstivities, not only bv the French residents ami colonists, but by the natives of the islands’. During that week all the villages of the group send a delegation to Papeete, with a present ol a suck-ing-pig, or bananas, or oranges., and other "foodstuffs, which are lormally presented to the French Governor as a token or symbol of loyally, and sluc.i are as solemnly handed hack to the natives so that the iot-e may not lack its feasts. During the fete week there me processions and sports and dances, in which the natives, in gay apparel, 7“ play OH important and picturesque part. Their dances are not unlike the -Maori •dances of old, in which botlv undulations figure frequently. Economically, Tahiti was suffering from post-war sickness, like every other place in the world. The chief trouble was the alarming fall m the price" of copra and pearl shell, which does not, for the time being, seem to be in demand. Those were the staple products of the group, and their depreciation in the markets of the world affected everyone in the group. As this fall in the price of copra and pearl shell synchronised with increased taxation, there has been serious trouble in Tahiti, which manilested itscli in a demonstration against official control only some three weeks ago. It seemed that the Government, which was haul pressed for money, was proposing to add fresh taxation on all business concerns retrospectively, irrespective o whether any profits had been inane <>■ not. This was hiterlv resented. A lug demonstration, which took the form of a procession of from 15(10 to 20"" people marched through the town and waited upon the Governor to protest amiinst this harrnssing taxation on a |ieople who were already having a hard time. , Air Luke said that after nearly ten weeks in tropical sunshine. Hie dicoverv of Wellington, undergoing a soaking, with the wind from the south, was not a pleasant one, and he was feeling the sharp change of climate rather acutely.