with advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Legislature for the government of St Vincent. It consists of the Premier, the other Ministers and, at any time when his office is a public office, the Attorney-General ex officio. The Governor is required to appoint as Premier a member of the House of Representatives who appears to him best able to command a majority in that House. The other Ministers are appointed on the advice of the Premier. The Legislature consists of Her Majesty and a House of Representatives. The House of Representatives consists of a Speaker; members, at the moment nine but after the first general election thirteen, elected in single member constituencies under universal adult suffrage, one of whom can be the Speaker; three nominated members appointed by the Governor, two on the advice of the Premier and one on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and, so long as his office is a public office, the Attorney-General ex officio. Under the constitution the St Vincent Legislature may make laws for the peace, order and good government of the territory. The Constitution contains safeguards for fundamental rights and freedoms. There are special provisions relating to a Bill to alter the Constitution or the law establishing the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court or the law relating to appeals to the Privy Council. The West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (q.v.), was established by Order in Council, to serve all the six territories which were intended to become Associated States, and Montserrat and the Virgin Islands. LAND POLICY All land, other than Crown Land, is freehold. Individual ownership is recognised, but aliens may purchase land only with the approval of the Government. GOVERNMENT GOVERNOR His Excellency Hywel George, CMG, OBE MINISTRY Hon. R. M. Cato, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. H. K. Tannis, Minister for Communications, Works and Labour Hon. J. F. Mitchell, Minister for Agriculture, Trade and Tourism LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL C. St C. Dacon, Speaker R. M. Cato, Member for East St George, Premier E. A. C. Hughes, OBE, Nominated Member and Deputy Speaker CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT Financial Secretary: C. A. Jacobs, MBE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Senior Auditor: H. H. Hamlett, MBE Chief Agricultural and Forest Officer: H. S. READING LIST Veterinary Officer: I. A. E. Kirby Collector of Customs and Excise: S. E. Education Officer and Chief Inspector of Labour Commissioner: E. H. N. Laborde Senior Medical Officer: Dr G. J. Cordyce Superintendent of Prisons: F. O. Mason JUDICIARY Puisne Judge, St Vincent Circuit: N. Peterkin ASPINALL, Sir A. Pocket Guide to the West Indies, Methuen, 1960. T TONGA HE Kingdom of Tonga comprises a group of islands situated in the south-west Pacific between latitudes 15° and 23° 30′ S. and longitudes 173° and 177° W. The group, known as the Tonga or Friendly Islands, is divided into three main sub-groups: Vava'u, Ha'apai and Tongatapu. The total estimated area, including inland waters, is 270 square miles. Tongatapu, the largest island, has an area of 99.2 square miles. The islands on the eastern side are of coral formation, those on the west are volcanic. There are active volcanoes on four of the islands. The climate is healthy, though hot and humid from January to March with temperatures of 32°C (90°F); during the rest of the year it is pleasantly cool with temperatures as low as 11°C (52°F) on Tongatapu. The mean annual temperature is 23°C (73°F); the mean annual rainfall is 70 inches on Tongatapu and 110 inches on Vava'u. The population, as recorded in the 1966 census, numbered 77,429, of whom 76,121 were Tongans. The administrative capital is Nuku'alofa on Tongatapu, the population of which was 15,545 in the 1966 census. In 1967 there were 129 primary schools (79 state schools and the remainder run by Missions); post-primary education is provided by three Government and 44 Mission schools. Total estimated expenditure on education in 1967 amounted to T$966,837. The Government of Tonga Medical Department operates three public hospitals and a number of dispensaries. A new modern Government hospital is under construction and is being financed mainly from British development funds. Estimated Government expenditure on medical services (exclusive of buildings and building maintenance) was T$250,909 in 1967. There is a good regional airport on the island of Tongatapu, situated about 13 miles from Nuku'alofa, and there are limited seaplane facilities at Nuku'alofa and Vava'u harbour. Fiji Airways Limited operate a thrice weekly schedule between Fiji and Tongatapu and Polynesian Airlines fly a scheduled once a week service from Western Samoa and an unscheduled one every fortnight. There are approximately 120 miles of metalled road in Tongatapu and 44 miles in Vava'u suitable for motor traffic. There are some 95 miles of unsealed roads which can only be used by motor traffic in dry weather. The chief ports, which are also port of entry, are Nuku'alofa and Neiafu on Vava'u. 74 vessels, exclusive of warships and yachts, entered the country during the year 1967. A regular monthly passenger and cargo service from New Zealand via Fiji is maintained by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. Regular cargo services are also operated by vessels of the Bank Line and the Union Steam Ship Company. The Tonga Shipping Agency has now been set up under the joint control of the Government and the Tonga Copra Board. It maintains regular internal services between islands of the group and a fourweekly passenger and cargo service with the Fiji Islands. Broadcasting is administered by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission. The studios are situated at Nuku'alofa and the transmitter at Fongoloa, about one mile away. The station (ZCO), known as ‘The Call of the Friendly Islands', was opened by the late Queen Salote Tupou on 4th July 1961. The station broadcasts for seven hours daily from Monday to Friday, for six and half hours on Saturdays and a minimum of two hours on Sundays, in English and Tongan. Transmissions are on medium wave on a frequency of 1,020 kc/s, and can also be heard in New Zealand, Fiji, Norfolk Island, Samoa and Niue. The station broadcasts Samoan and Fijian sessions as well. Commercial advertising is accepted in English and Tongan. The output of the station consists of locally originated programmes including traditional Tongan music and spoken word, news bulletins and weather forecasts. Tonga is essentially an agricultural country, and, in general, a land of peasant proprietors. Only a very small proportion of the population seeks employment in the Government services or in commerce. The main crops are coconuts, bananas, kumalas, yams, taro, cassava, groundnuts, maize, watermelons and pineapples. There is an abundance of fish in the waters of the group which provides a staple fish diet for the inhabitants. Livestock numbers in 1967 were as follows: horses 7,711, cattle 1,775; goats 3,750; pigs 30,174; poultry 127,237. Limited areas of forest land are found in the islands of 'Eua and Vava'u, but timber is not exported. The manufacturing industries in Tonga are the production of desiccated coconut, coir and tobacco goods, which only began quite recently. The chief imports are textiles, flour, preserved meats, sugar, hardware, soap, petrol, kerosene, spirits, beer and wines, tobacco and cigarettes. The Tonga Copra Board and the Tonga Produce Board, established under the provisions of the Agriculture Organisation Act, 1940, both of which are non-profit-making concerns, are charged with purchase, sale and marketing in the interests of the producers. In 1967 traces of oil were found off 'Eua, but it will be some time before its commercial value can be estimated. Revenue and expenditure during the years 1963-67 were: About 50 per cent of revenue accrues from customs duty. The main heads of expenditure are public works, medical services, education and agriculture. The financial year begins on 1st July. There is no Public Debt and the surplus funds account stood at T$1,994,470 on the 30th June 1967. An annual rent of 8s. a year is payable in respect of the allotments of land to which all male Tongans are entitled (see below: Land Policy). In addition there is an annual tax of 32 shillings, for which free education, medical, hospital and dental treatment are provided. Indirect taxation includes import duties (general tariff 33 per cent ad valorem, British preferential tariff 15 per cent ad valorem) and a port and customs service tax on imports of 5 per cent. There is also an export duty on copra of 10 per cent of the f.o.b. value at date of export. HISTORY During the first half of the nineteenth century civil wars were rife in the islands. They were finally checked during the reign of King George Tupou I (1845-93) who had by conquest gathered all power in his own hands. Wesleyan missionaries landed on Tonga in 1826 and by the middle of the century practically all the chiefs and people had been converted to Christianity. Not until the last decade of the century, however, were questions regarding freedom of worship and the relationship of Church and State peaceably settled. In 1900, by a Treaty of Friendship and Protection, Tonga became a British Protected State. There have been two subsequent revisions of the Treaty reflecting the changes which have occurred during the 20th century. Under the latest, signed at Nuku'alofa on 30th May 1968, and ratified on 5th December of the same year, Tonga assumed complete responsibility for her internal affairs (except in connection with legislation required for defence purposes) and a greater degree of responsibility in external affairs. By Article IV of the new Treaty provision is made for the appointment of a Tongan representative in Britain equal in status to the British Commissioner and Consul in Nuku'alofa. Prior to 1965 the latter officer was responsible to the Governor of Fiji (known, in his relations with Tonga, as the United Kingdom Chief Commissioner for Tonga) but the Tonga (Amendment) Order in Council of the 24th June 1965 abolished the office of Chief Commissioner and transferred the functions of that office to the British Commissioner and Consul in Tonga. On 5th July 1967 the coronation took place of King Taufa 'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga, who succeeded his mother, the late Queen Salote. CONSTITUTION The present constitution is based, with relatively little amendment, on that granted in 1875 by King George Tupou I. It provides for a Government consisting of the Sovereign (at present King Taufa 'ahau Tupou IV, KCMG, KBE) a Privy Council and Cabinet, a Legislative Assembly and a Judiciary. The Legislative Assembly consists of the Premier and Ministers of the Crown (including the Governors of Vava'u and Ha'apai), seven representatives of the nobles elected by their peers, and seven representatives of the people elected by popular franchise, every male Tongan of 21 years of age who pays taxes and can read and write and every female Tongan of 21 years of age who can read and write, being qualified to vote. In 1960 for the first time women were included, and held a vote, in the election of Legislative Assembly members. Several women also stood for election but were defeated at the polls. Elections are held every three years. The President of the Legislative Assembly is the Speaker, appointed by the Sovereign. The courts consist of a Supreme Court, a Magistrate's Court and a Land Court. LAND POLICY Every male Tongan on reaching the taxable age of 16 years is entitled to 84 acres of land for cultivation in addition to a small village allotment for his dwelling. Land may not be leased to non-Tongans without the consent of the Government. Immigrant settlement is not encouraged owing to the increasing shortage of land available. GOVERNMENT Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Education Minister of Police: Hon. 'Akau'ola Governor of Vava'u: Hon. Ma'afu Tupou BRITISH COMMISSIONER AND CONSUL A. C. Reid, CMG READING LIST LEDYARD, Patricia. Friendly Island. Peter Davies, 1956. LUKE, Sir Harry. Queen Salote and Her Kingdom. Putnam, 1954. NEILL, J. S. Ten Years in Tonga. Hutchinson, 1955. ROSENDAL, J. The Happy Lagoons: the world of Queen Salote. Jarrold, 1961 |