Federation?

Why Not a Pacific Islands Federation?

Need For Machinery For Consideration

Of Common Problems

The proposal to form, out of the British islands and territories of the Pacific, a Pacific Islands Federation, has been under consideration for many years. It was first brought into the sphere of practical politics by a series of well-written articles published in The Western Pacific Herald in 1913; and it was advanced a further stage in 1921 when the Legislative Council of Fiji, on the motion of Sir (then Mr.) Henry Scott, passed a resolution approving of Federation.

Sir Henry Scott very kindly has acceded to our request that he write for The Pacific Islands Monthly an explanation of this important proposal. Sir Henry is a well-known legal practitioner in Suva and is a member of both the Executive and Legislative Councils of Fiji,

IN the year 1921, I moved the Legis lative Council of Fiji in the above matter and the resolution was, I under stand, forwarded to the Colonial Office.

But no steps have since been taken.

The object of the motion was to give publicity to the views expressed and to try and bring about an inter change of ideas. To some extent this was successful, as the Kingdom eff Tonga (through its Premier) did not approve; and some expression of opin ion was heard from the British Solo mon Islands in opposition. The ques tion has not since been publicly de bated or considered.

That there are difficulties and practical ones to be faced no one can deny, and it may be that it will be some years before anything further can be done; but I

am convinced that sooner or later a closer union of British interests in these islands will be brought about. Nothing is ever achieved without opposi tion, and the trouble is that vast distances ex isting between the various islands make it extremely difficult to have an interchange of ideas which, of course, is so necessary if agree ment is ever to be reached on so vital a question. Such a conference is a condition prece dent.

The area cover ing what we know

In 1921 the Legislative Council of Fiji, on the motion of Sir Henry (then Mr.) Scott, K.C., passed the following motion as an expression of opinion from the Elected side of the Council : THAT in the opinion of this Council. (a) The interests of the Em pire in the Pacific would best be served by a confed eration of the British Is lands of the Western Paci fic, governed and controlled from a common centre. (b) That this resolution be transmitted to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, respectfully asking for his approval.

as the Western Pacific is, in extent, as large as the area stretching across the Continent of Africa from Mom bassa to the mouth of the Congo River—really enormous. I would, however, like to see the representatives of all the present varied forms of governments meet together at a round table conference, to discuss the ques tion and see whether the difficulties could not be minimised, if not over come. I mention the following admin istrations by way of illustration: (a) British Crown Colony of Fiji. (b) British Crown Colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands (controlled by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific residing in Fiji). (c) British Solomon Islands (also controlled by the High Commis sioner for the Western Pacific, residing in Fiji). (d) Samoa. (e) Tonga.

It seems to me that the question might at first be classed under three heads:

(a) Administration,

(b) Financial, and (c) Trade and Commerce.

Variety Of Administration.

In dealing with the first it would be difficult to conceive more varying forms of administration than now exist.

In Fiji there is an Executive Council and a Legislative Council. The former is to some extent analogous to a Min istry in a pelf-goveming Dominion, and this Council determines the pol icy of the Government—subject, of course, to specific directions received by the Governor from the Secretary of State. It is the highest institution in the country, being, in effect, the Gov ernor’s Cabinet.

For some years past, in addition to the official members, two unofficial members are appointed to this Coun cil by the King, on the recommenda tion of the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The Legislative Council is the body that is partly elective. The Europeans, enjoying a fairly liberal franchise, elect six members and the Indians three members. The Fijians, also, have three native members, who are appointed by the Governor from names selected by the Great Council of Chiefs, usually once in three years. There are 13 nominated (official) members The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Col ony (including Ocean Island) is gov erned by Resident Commissioners, who are directly controlled by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific

(who is also Governor of Fiji) from Suva, as is also the British Solomon Islands.

Tonga is a Kingdom with a British Agent and Consul.

Samoa is Governed by New Zealand, under a mandate from the League of Nations.

It may be that, as a first step, a Customs Union might be attempted.

I would not like to see island jeal ousies aroused, but I always have thought that Suva should be the dis tributing centre for most of these is lands.

Example Of Medical School,

Fiji, to-day, is gradually showing what can be done. We now have— thanks to the assistance received from the Rockfeller

Foundation repre sented in Fiji by Dr. S. M. Lam bert, M.D., Deputy Medical Central Authority, West ern Pacific High Commission a very fine central Medical School, close to the Col onial War Memor ial Hospital, Suva, where native stu dents are being taught; and, after their course of training, and they become qualified, they return to their own island homes to practise medicine. The ad ministrations now linked up in this are Fiji, Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, Tonga,

Solomons and Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Makogai Island Hospital (Fiji) is now a centre for a particular class of oatient. and some wonderful cures have been effected. New Zealand (in cluding Samoa and the Cook Islands) and Tonga are now linked up to this institution, which is controlled by the Fiji Administration.

Education—and particularly tuition in agricultural and technical subjects —will, in my opinion, find a centre in Fiji before many years pass.

Need For Co-Operation And

Co-Ordination.

The whole question of Islands Ad ministration in this part of the Pacific, wants careful, sympathetic and unsel fish consideration; and, if eventually some mors central and unified admin istration could be brought about. I feel sure that good would result. With the faults admittedly attendant on any ad ministration, it must be conceded that in the officials whom the Colonial Office has at its command there ex ists a great asset in native administra tion; and my own view 1 is that a Confederation of the British Islands in the Pacific will eventually lead to a greater co-ordination of work and pol icy, lesser costs and improved com mercial and trade relations, not only amongst the islands themselves, but with the outside world.

The predominant need of all these islands is the establishment of a system of co-operation, so that they may work and act conjointly for their better ment, as a whole.

The same problems of health, hygiene, education, native life and customs, and administrative difficul ties are common to them all. To con tend with these problems by individual effort is but experimental, and of poor effect, compared with what unity amongst them is capable of achieving.

The British rightly regard it a bounden duty towards a primitive people to lift them up and protect them against themselves. The protection Great Britain affords these islands is not given because they are regarded as being of anv great economic value.

Prom an economic standpoint, however, I know of no better service towards the nrosperity of the Western Pacific Islands than unification Mr. A. W. Freeman, 8.A., 8.E., chair man and managing director of Aus tral-Malay Tin Ltd., and its subsidi aries, died from heart failure on board the Nieuw Holland on October 1. Mr.

Freeman was a brother of Mr. W. A.

Freeman, chairman of directors of Placer Development and Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.