TRUE HAPPINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 11

TRUE HAPPINESS

THE SOUTH SEAS CODE

LIFE ON MAUPITI

Nine months spent in the South Seas have convinced Mr. G.Samson, an English novelist and scenario writer, that the Polynesian outlook on life brings true, happiness in every sense of the word. Mr. Samson arrived by the Maunganui today ■■with the intention, of spending several months in Now Zealand completing a novel of Tahiti and other Soutlv Sea islands. ■ Interviewed by a ''Post" reporter, 'Mr.-Samson said that his'novel was to be published in New York early next year. It was his first work- of the kind, but he had been writing scenarios in Hollywood for two and a half ycais before 'he left for.tho South Seas. He had also written a- stage play .which was to be produced in a West End theatre, London, in the autumn of this year. '. ■• ' , ■■• ' '. Mr. Samson said that Papeete., no more epitomised'the South Seas.than New York stood for the whole of the United States. It was merely the capital of French Oceania arid a conglomeration of dust, tin roofs, and 'dilapidated .Chinese-stores, and it was only, in the inland districts that one saw: something of the real island life. Even that, however, had been ruined by misguided missionaries in the past, andwhat the influence of the missionaries had failed to touch tho tourist traffic had spoiled. There was one island where tho tr^o Polynesian life still; existed, and where the wholesome outlook of the natives with their hospitality and kindness'of heart <was to bo; seen at its best. ' That was the island of Maupiti, two hundred miles from Tahiti, which was safeguarded' to. a largo extent from the pernicious in-; fluence of civilisation by a coral reef' which made access a difficult and dangerous matter.' '.''■. ■ EMBARRASSING Once, on the island the ■ visitor, was. liable to have an enforced stay of uncertain duration,' said Mr. Samson, for the slightest wind from the. south-east closed the: narrow passage to thesmall, native schooners which alone could' navigate it. He had had .that experi-; enco himself on Ma,upiti. 'He had notintended to stay, but had been;obliged to spend six days on the island. Noverthelcss they had' been very pleasant clays, and he was. sorry to leave. There; were about a hundred families on Man-; piti, and every one. of them made him a present, the gifts ranging from suck-, ing pigs and fowls to huge yams and. luscious bananas. • "I did not want to bring them all: away ,with me, :butthe captain of the' boat, told me 'the islanders, would be broken-hearted if I' did not accept: everything," Mi* Samson ' continued. "Eventually I took the presents on: board with me. I was very disturbed as to what to do for. the islanders in return, as I. had not expected anything; of the kind. I askedl the captain about it, and ho 'advised me1 to buy some; ship"'s stores and present them to the: islanders. So I bought a number of; bags of . flour, sugar, and coffee,, and gave'them to the people.- The chief of; the.island explained that,th,e last thing, they had in mind was to make me! imagine that they, wanted anything in/ return.for their presents, and that' ii I was simply giving.them- tho stores, because I felt indebted to the island-, ers they could not possibly accept them.. They had given.me the -presents be-; cause they were, happy about, my .visit.) I had to speak in English and translate, my words into French so that the cap-: .tain'could understan,dtme'.and tell'thenatives.what I ha'd.:sa,id,,and. that I in-; sistcd. upon their taking ■■ the stores.' Then, and only, then, did the chief re-; veal.,that; they had no alternative.;; they- had not,-had.,,a boat^.for eight, months, -and had been out-of flour for four months. After that nothing would; get them to believe that I -was not the, King ofiEngland, or at least a member; of i the Boyal Family, and they gave, me the title of King'for the.i..rest of; my. stay.V . . - : - ' ... '■■Mr. Samson said that the hospitality of the natives was oftcii.niost cnibiir-. .rassing. ..Everyone, offered him a house; •to sleep in, and in order not to offend; tho simple people^he had been obliged; to slecp--i.il-two or three, houses-each, night, "i/knowit-sounds fantastic, and if anyone had told-me -the same thing; I would have sairl.it was unbelievable,, but it is truonevertheless." .'■ .'. _ The islanders lived to bring happiness into other people's lives. They, had a simple', code which was Socialism; hi its finest application, and which was-; a lesson to anyone taking the trouble, to look into the Polynesian question.; One could' not leave the. island_ with-; out-tears in'one's eyes and a feeling of: intense admiration for the people, Mr. Samson. concluded...- . /