INSTRUCTOR TO ROYAL TONGAN GUARDS

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3614, 15 September 1927, Page 2

INSTRUCTOR TO ROYAL TONGAN GUARDS

PLENTY OF AFPMOANTS OFFERING. V [“Times” Special.] AUCKLAND, Last . Night. The lure of the “Islands" evidently Is- as strong as even it was. There have been over SO applications for the position of chief police inspector and instructor to the Royal Guards of Tonga. This most interesting vacancy was advertised a few days ago and response was immediate. Most of the applicants are men of naval or military experience and one of them holds the D.S.O. Not all are young men either for the job seems to have made a strong appeal to pensioners of mature years. Whoever may bo chosen by the Tongan Cabinet —the sole arbitress — he will b c a man fully qualified for the post and one who will worthily uphold the dignty of New Zealand in (he British Pacific, Protectorate. The work needs energy, natural ability and above all, tact and commonsense. Although the Royal Guard numbers only thirty warriors and constitutes Tonga’s standing army there is no suggestion of comic opera about the duties of the commander-in-chief. The Kingdom consists of nearly 200 Islands in the groups of Tongatabu, Haapai and Vavau, and there is a well organised police force maintainIng law and order amongst the population of 25,000.