RAROTONGA.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 9

RAROTONGA.

(To the Editor.) , Sir, —I have read the account of Lord Liverpool's visit to this Island, and as an impartial witness I beg to make a ■few remarks as to how an English ■woman views the description of what took place. On account of rain and wind the official landing had to be postponed for two days, and consequently those who had been invited for Saturday w-ere still uncertain if the weather would permit the reception to take place. Even I, a visitor, received an official invitation. As to the dances and entertainments being inferior to previous ones, the date of Lord Liverpool's visit was not known till too near the time to get them prepared and rehearsed. It was to all the natives a week of enjoyment and festivity, and no work was done during the week. The writer gives the impression that there is an antagonistic or racial feeling being fostered between the natives and the white men. Such ie not the case. In no country where we white people mix with natives have I felt more real cvmpathy and received more- fellowfeeling. The native here is discriminating, and when he finds the white man drinks, and mates with the native women without marriage, ivhen he gets all he can out of them, and sells them stores at exorbitant profit, buys their fruit and copra at one-fifth of what he gets for it, then the native dislikes the white trader, and does not believe his cry of 'Tin doing all 1 can to help the native" to cover his misdeeds. There are, however, white men here who don't shout about the good they are doing, 'but are just in their dealings, feed their workers well, and these men get all the labour they require and live a life of peace in friendship with the natives. In the past the white trader has in a number of cases squeezed the native, and the consequence is that many have found it impossible to grow fruit for the prices given them, and the industry has declined.

Xow that the Resident Commissioner has opened the door for the native to export his own fruit and get a reasonable price, the fruit industry and the making of copra have had a boom, and the friend who has done this for >iew Zealand is being accused of autocracy in his own country, . while he is being ■blessed on this island. lam -English, and have travelled a good deal, and very often a new-comer can see and hear things which are not ehouted from the house-tops. lam ready to verily my statements, and supply any facts necessary to prove that there is quite another side to Mr. Platts' autocratic governinen .— am, e^ LDA £ he^lett.