THE BROTHERHOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 107, 21 September 1912, Page 4

THE BROTHERHOOD.

ADDRESS BY MR. FRASER.

The lecture given by Mr. Eraser at the meeting of the Brotherhood Debating Society lust evening was fairly well-at-tended, and was enjoyed from beginning to end. Mr. Eraser has a good typical Scotch "way with him," and taking (his .hearers into his confidence, was able to reveal some most interesting points concerning his recent tour to the Pacific Islands. The geological fconstruction of the Islands was first dealt with, the peculiar formation of the coral reefs 'being plainly explained. Speaking of the people, Mr. Eraser referred .to the beautiful brown shiny skin of the men and women, the cocoanut oil used doubtless being the beautifying factor. The oil was also used by the Island ladies in hot weather as a means of keeping off mosquitoes. The banana industry was also referred to, the speaker mentioning, that tho clearing of the hill sides, and the other necessary work, necessitated' hard graft' on the part of the .natives. This was at one time none too evident, but the advent of the picture shows had proved a boon to the employers, as every native was possessed of the one ambi-tion->-to see the moving pictures, and he worked with herculean industry to carry out that ambition. The charge for admittance to these l entertainments was Is, and the halls were usually crowded to suffocating point. The Islands were an abode of safety to certain Australians and New Zealariilors who wished to place a respectable distance between themselves and certain matrimonial responsibilities. Debtors icould make (themselves reasonably secure there from an attack by their creditors through the medium of the ever-evident bailiff. The Islanders were an honest people and crime* was scarce. The chief mischief was the excessive drinking of orange beer which. v was responsible for most of the drunkenness on the Island. 'Most of the oranges unable to be exported owing to poor shipping facilities were made into.this beverage, and the waste of oranges was at such times, enormous. At the conclusion of his talk Mr. Fraser I answered several "questions concerning Ihe formation' of the Islands .and. tliehabits of the natives, and before the meeting closed was accorded a 'hearty vote of thanks for his most interesting and instructive address. The next meeting will be held on Friday. October 4. The subject for debate which will probably be the same as will be arranged in the return debate with Stratford, will be announced when arrangements have been'made between the two societies.