THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12929, 27 July 1905, Page 3

THE SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS.

SOME OF MR. C. J. PARR'S

IMPRESSIONS.

Mr, C. J. Parr, who has just returned to Auckland from a business-cum-pleasure trip to the islands of the South Pacifio, gave a Herald reporter some of the impressions formed during the visit, which extended

over a month.

" Has the recent Tongan trouble quietened down?" was the first question aske^. " Yes; everything appears to be working smoothly again, and although there was at first an impression in some quarters that the action of the High Commissioner of the South Pacific, Sir Everard im Thuru„in deporting the native Premier, was rather highhanded,' this seems to have died out, and the general feeling is that the step was' in the right direction. The unsatisfactory state of affairs prior to the High Commissioner stepping in had caused a fear that some foreign Power might come in, and possibly get hold of the island. - This feeling has now been allayed, and the majority of the residents are agreed that the High Commissioner acted in the best interests of the colony and British prestige in the course adopted by him*." f' . ■ , . "You visited Samoa?" "Oh, yes, and spent a fortnight there. During my stay I came to the conclusion that the majority of the natives preferred "British to German rule. " I made it my business to visit the grave of the famous novelist, the late Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson, which is behind the mountain, and I regret to say that I found the pathway overgrown with weeds and blocked with fallen trees, and the grave itself in a disgraceful state. We cannot, of course, expect our German, friends to keep it in order, but surely the British public, who have enjoyed the dead novelist's great works, could do something to keep it in fitting order. " A matter that caused me to pause and think was the nearness to us of the fortified naval bases, and' the warships of foreign nations, all within easy striking distance of our doors. I had not before fully realised their proximity and the menace to us in the case of an outbreak of hostilities be- j tween England and the nations referred to. It caused me to recognise the necessity for putting our house in order, and teaching' the young people of the colony how to use the rifle, in order that we might be prepared for any emergency." "How are Mr. Seddon's annexation proposals of recent date viewed by the people of Fiji?".' ..:■::.,.; - m "His idea of annexing the ■ island to New Zealand is strongly resented by the majority of the leading whits residents of Suva and Levuka. While they may not be altogether satisfied with the Crown colony system, it is quite clear that they do not wish New Zealand's interference, or the annexation of the island to this colony. Talking of Fiji, I may say that the thing that struck me most was the ever-increasing number of coolies employed. There are now nearly 30,000 coolie labourers working on the sugar plantations, and they go on increasing every year. These coolies are engaged under the.contract. conditions, and when their term of service expires, the bulk of them take up land and settle down in Fiji, with their .wives and ■ families.'-It is only a question of a little time, and Fiji will be a coolie land, as the Fijians are dying out. - ; No ■doubt'-' the 'climate is quite unsuited for [white .labour, but it-is .still a somewhat disquieting thought that the island is to be run by these Hindoos. I was, however, ■ assured by officials who know the coolie well that he is very, amenable to British rule and discipline, and recognises the value of British, superiority, so that I suppose there*'need not be any grave fear of their ever rising against us." , : "As to our trade with the Islands?" ' " This was the most disappointing feature as far. as my, visit was concerned. Although we are closer to the Islands than Sydney, and have good communication, I found that quite four-fifths of the Island trade goes to Australia. The trade is an extensive and profitable one. It seems rather a reflection on the enterprise of our Auckland merchants that a larger proportion of the trade does not come to Auckland. There seems no reason why we should not have a bigger slice of the trade, and it is to be hoped that our merchants will see to it that we do."