"GOING NATIVE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 9

"GOING NATIVE."

TENDENCY IN THE ISLANDS. HOW IT IS CHECKED. DINNER JACKETS AND DAILY NEWSPAPERS. "Why should a white man dress for dinner in the isolation of one of the Pacific Islands, and why should he read a daily .newspaper which is probably a month old with his morning tea?" These are questions which wil! be readily answered by Captain W. M. Boil. Resident Commissioner of the Island of Savaii, Western Samoa, who is now in Auckland on runough. "Only those white people wno have lived in lonely outposts," he <aid to a pressman to-day, "can underhand how the mind may become cramped and how customs may stale unless those concerned resolutely keep up the practices of civilisation." "In other words," Captain Bell added. 1 "we do these things in order that we may prevent ourselves from 'going native.' The greatest help we have in this endeavour is from books and from the few current magazines that find their wav to the islands."

Even illustrated catalogues from business firms, the visitor said, were helpful. Captain Bell told a rather good story of a form of diversion which is as entertaining as it is inexpensive. When a catalogue a month or two old comes to hand white people will spend a whole evening studying the contents and making out a lengthy list of articles to be ordered. There is no sparing of expense and care is taken to see that such things as items of attire are of modish design and superior quality. Next day the list is destroyed and so ends this harmless flutter of shopping. Many National Types. On the island of Savaii there is a native population of about 14,000 and a nominal white population of 100. Only about 20 are full Europeans. It is a cosmopolitan population. Captain Bell mentioned that in a group of ten people w.io found themselves together before he came away eight different nationalities were represented, namely. Swedish, Danish, Belgian, German, French, American and British. Nearly all members of the group were traders.

"Those people who do not read in the islands," said Captain Bell, "become insular. In fact, they become eo cramped in their outlook that they cannot, as we say, see beyond the reef! For this reason we have established what is known as the. Savaii free library. There are 60 members, who live in various parts of Savaii and of the island of Upolu. In most cases the Individual members are

quite isolated and the loneliness of their lives may be imagined." A small sub-library is maintained for' the benefit of patients in the Apia hospital, and is greatly appreciated bv those who are well enough to read. From Savaii some 20 or 30 benzine boxes filled with books are sent to eight depots around the islands, and when these are returned, sometimes months later, fresh supplies are dispatched. The motor-boat owners carry the books free. Readers take great care of the books and return them at the earliest opportunity. Uplifting Influence of Books. "Only those who have lived in the loneliness of a tropical island," said the commissioner, "can appreciate what an uplifting influence a library may provide. The kindness of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. in helping to maintain a supply of books for many years past is greatly appreciated in Savaii. Books have come also from England, Canada and the United States. "We have now about 1000 volumes, many of them donated by members, but the value of the library would be greatly increased if we could add another 1000 volumes. All kinds of books are appreciated, but, of course, the diversion of popular reading is most widely valued. "I am hoping that as a result of my visit to Xew Zealand," added Captain Bell, "interest may be stimulated among those people, who in the past have so kindly remembered the service which is being rendered by the free library in Savaii."