TAHITIAN IMPRESSIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 August 1933, Page 9

TAHITIAN IMPRESSIONS

MR WILL APPLETON’S' VISIT.

CHINESE PREPONDERANCE

Mr. Will Appleton, of Wellington, now in London, has been writing to friends in 'Wellington (reports the “Dominion”). He made the trip across the Pacific in the Maunganui, and then went via Los Angeles to the Panama Canal, Havana, and New York, thence on to London. At Tali iti lie met Mr. and Mrs. Eastham Guild (Mrs. Guild is “Carrie Fin,” tlie authoress), who have a delightful paradise of a home in Tahiti. The Guilds were in New Zealand last year deep-sea fishing at Cape Brett, and have since acquired a very handsome Auckland-built launch,, in which they do a lot of fishing round the island. “There is a strong preponderance of Chinese in Tahiti,” wrote Mr. Appleton. “It seems a pity that some restriction is not placed on this Asiatic invasion. . . .Lt seems a crime that these simple, good-hearted people—the Tahitians —should intermarry with the scum of the Orient. Unfortunately the trading activities of the group .are dominated by the Chinese, although there are some fine European stores, run mostly by New Zealand firms. • Gradually, however, the Chinese are getting a grip. The latest development is "the control of the smaller shipping services, and it is only' a matter of time before they close in like a huge octopus. “The town of Papeete is not impressive, and the buildings, for the most part, aire dirty and grubby. Most of the business premises are occupied by Chinese, the intrusion of whom seems to be inevitable, but greatly’ resented by the true Tahitians. In tlie country there are some fine homes, and tlie roads, bordered by wonderful trees and tropical growth, are quite good for motoring.”