17 Independent Administrations

In Central And South Pacific

Plea For Machinery For Communication And

Consultation

In the Central and South Pacific, in regular communication with Australia and New Zealand, are the following Islands groups and Terri tories, each under a separate and mostly independent administration:

Crown Colony Of Fiji

Australian Territory Of

Papua

Mandate Territory (Aus

Tralia) Of New Guinea,

Bismarck Archipelago,

And Northern Solomon

Islands

Mandate Territory (Jap

An) Of Marshall, Caro

Line And Ladrone Is.

American Territory Of

Guam

British Crown Colony Of

Gilbert And Ellice Is.

French Territory Of New

Caledonia

British And French Con

Dominium Of New Heb

Rides

Mandate Territory (New

Zealand) Of Samoa

American Territory Of

Samoa

NAURU, ffoverned jointly by Brit ain, Australia and N.Z.

British Solomon Islands

Protectorate

British Protectorate Of

Tongan Islands

New Zealand Territory Of

Cook Islands

French Colony Or Society

And Marquesas Is.

Australian Territory Of

Norfolk Island

American Territory Of Ha

Waiian Islands, Etc.

These communities and administra tions have very many interests in com mon; yet, between them, there is little consultation or communication. The Governors consult only with their res pective headquarters in London, Paris, Canberra, Tokio, Washington, or Wel lington.

Territories may be next door to one another; but the channel of official communication is around the world.

There is no record of any conference ever having been held to consider their numerous common problems. It is not that the administrators lack enterprise—simply there are no facilities.

The obvious, necessary thing, of course, is a sort of Pacific Islands’ As sociation, which would make it possible for competent representatives of all these Island territories and groups to meet at regular intervals and discuss the numerous problems common to their development and progress. Here are a few suggested almost at random:

The education and future of the nativesi.

Lands laws and native ownership of lands.

Trade and settlement opportunities.

Native labour.

The introduction of Asiatic labour and its social effects.

Industries worthy of encouragement.

The relations between the adminis trations and the missionary organisa tions.

Sanitation and the treatment of disease.

The control of insect and vegetable pests.

These are only a few of the subjects which might be discussed with mutual advantage to the administrators, and for the information of the Govern ments of Britain, France, America, Holland,, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. These nations, for good or evil, are definitely committed to res ponsibility for the welfare of Pacific Islands territories.