THE SIMPLE LIFE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 19

THE SIMPLE LIFE.

“ CRIME IN COOK ISLANDS.” THE WAYS OF PRISONERS. GOING HOME AT NIGHT. Some further interesting particulars concerning life in the Tokelau Islands, control of which has just I'ecu assumed on liehnlf of New Zealand, are given in his report l>y the Administrator of Samoa, General Sir George Richardson. Tokelau crime, it is explained, is of a very harmless sort. “The Tokelau Islanders,” Sir George remarks, “are a peaceful and very law-abiding people. Julged liy European standards, there is practically no crime.” And clearly nothing hut good is to he gained hy giving their expiatory actions an industrial expression Compare what Dr S. M. Lambert has written after his inspection of the Cook Islands: —“The Polynesian is generally a peaceful, law-abiding citizen, who really needs little governing. There are very few criminal offences to punish, most of the derelictions being non-p:"’u’°iit of taxes: and, except for graver offences, the prisoners in the Cook Islands return to their home each night after their day’s task for the Government is done. The avowed plan of New Zealand in the islands is to teach the natives to govern themselves, and as soon as possible. The natives are contented with the administration given them by New Zealand.” How important it is to supply, if possible, water and food that will reduce the local consumption of coconut, thus increasing the export of copra, on which the economic life of the Tokeiaus depends, is indicated by the following remark of the Administrator: “I would estimate that, for a given area, only 50 ner cent, of copra is obtained in the Tokeiaus, apart from which a large percentage is used for food for the natives, and food for pigs and hens. Very destructive to the cocpuut in the Tokeiaus are the numerous rats, and they cannot verv well be poisoned where the pigs and fowls run. Each village has “from 50 to 100 pigs, innumerable cats, but no dogs.” The food of the Tokelau Islanders consists of fish, fowl, pork, bananas, ta’ amu (a root vegetable of the taro family), and pandanus: “their regular food is fish and coconut.’ “Fish is fairly plentiful, more plentiful than in Samoa. Fowls are kept in the village only and are used sparingly ' or food. The 50 pigs kept in each village are not enough to provide meat even once a week . . . Only ( a tew trees exist, and therefore these are a luxury. . The only exportable produce grown on these islands is copra. . ■ Owing to the absence of humus in the soil, the coconut trees growing in coral are fertilised almost entirely by rain, so that during periods of , drought the coconut crop diminishes considerably.” TRANSPORTATION OF SOIL. The Administrator adds that a rain gauge has been installed at Atafu. All available land is fully planted with coconuts. In planting bananas, humus has to be provided as far as possible from leaves and ashes. The possibility of improving the plantations by conveying soil from Samoa is being considered, “due precaution being taken to avoid introducing from Samoa rhinoceros beetle.” The fertility of the Tokelau soil cannot be improved to any great extent. Tokelau islanders have skill in mat-mak-ing. Tokelau mats are among the best made m the Pacific. 'The local pandanus leaf used in their manufacture has an exceptionally tough and durable fibre, and lends itself well to the bleaching processes. The mats are made of double thickness, strong and clean. All the officials are native; there is no resident European official. Some people may sec a Gilbert and Sullivan flavour in the" fact that the chief of police on each of the three atolls commands a force of two policeman; and the new nractioe of calling Gilbert Islanders “Gilbcrtians" seems unnecessarily to invite the gibe. But the fact i» that the simplicity of the offi'-ial machinery, and the 'absence of European officialdom, are a great _ tribute to. tho character of the Tokelau islanders. WHERE SCIENCE SCORES. The chief of police at Atafu has been getting £5 per annum, and the of one of his force is exactly the rami' amount. The other half receives £1 a year less. The magistrate himself, Mika, received not more than £8 -per annum Relatively, a great tribute was paid to science when the annual salary' of the native medical practitioner, John A. Logologo, was fixed at £6O, with a ration allowance of £24. Medicine still scores in the tact that second place on the salary list is filled by the native medical dresser (Vaina) at £l2 per annum. But the Samoan Administration proposes that in future there will be no second officer. Each atoll will have _ its own native medical practitioner, if available, or dresser. ‘The hospital tales (houses) on each island,” reports the Administrator of Western Samoa, “are clean and well cared for. The medical dressers appear to know their duties, and to be able to deal with common ailments.” From time to time ,a higher medical authority will visit the Tokeiaus and inspect. This will be arranged for by the chief medical efficient Samoa, Dr T. R. Ritchie, who will himself visit the Tokeiaus once a year. The social life of the people consists of: —(1) Religious gatherings under the auspices of the pastors; (2) bi-weekly dances in the Government meetinghouses; (3) telling yarns (mostly fish tales) on the part of the old men while making sennet. Draughts are played; the board is a piece of 'wood with squares scratched on it; the draughts are shells or stones of distinct size or colour. PATRIARCHAL JURISDICTION. It is perhaps an extraordinary thing that, thouugh the Tokelau islanders are small and there are visible limits to the expansion of the population, land disputes, so far, seem to be few. The old men of the village are looked upon as matais (really heads of families) or chiefs. Each matai, or chief, has his own area of land, and assumes the powe to divide up the land. When a young man marries they sit in council and allot a piece of land to him. In eases where fh allocation is a small area and is insufficient to support the man and his family ! he works for a matai who h,,s more land [ than the latter and his family can work themselves He is paid for tiis labour .by a share in the coconut crop. By working the land is meant collecting the taller nuts. Very little other effort is required, as there is no undergrowth to be cleared as in Samoa.