NOTABLE VISITOR

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1932, Page 6

NOTABLE VISITOR

PRIME MINISTER OF TONGA. ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND. (Per Press Association Copyright .) AUCKLAND, December 7. The Prime Minister of Tonga, the Hon. Tugi, who is consort of Queen S. lote, arrived to-daty from Nukualofa wife life eldest sun. Tney will stay iri New Zealand till January 23, and then leave for Sydney and the Prince, who is fourteen, will enter Newington College where His father was educated. 'They tverP greeted by representatives dpthe Interr.'.ii’ Affiirs Deparferoeiit, a'ficP liy business men connected with the Island to’.pe. f

The Prime Minister ’ said that Tonga had been hit liaid by the depression but the trensury had a £140,003 isurplus. Even if the country had no money, the pen,pile would he table to live, because any male Tongan, on reaching the age of sixteen, received from the .State eight acres of land in the bush sipd a quarter >aore jri the village on which he must build himself a home/. On his death the fend reverted to the Crown. He was compelled to grow coconnuts on his bush land, mud this was life insurance against starvation. Edit cat‘on was free and compulsory and 99 per cent, •of the p ; eonle could read and write'. Tile Tongiahs had proved themselves fitted to (vovern themselves wisely.