Pacific Islands

Year Book

THERE have been many flattering references made in the news papers to the Pacific Islands Year Book for 1932, which was published in De cember. We have pleasure in quoting the following reference to the book from The Melbourne Herald of Febru ary 4: Many interesting articles and a mass of useful information are to be found in “The Pacific Islands Year Book, 1932,’’ compiled and edited by R. W. Robson (Sydney: Pacific Publications Ltd.). It will be of particular value to business men and others who have, or hope to have, interests in the islands. The thousands of islands in the Pacific are ruled over by half-a-dozen nations and governed by a score of different administrations. Each year their economic and political importance is increasing. Particularly is this so for Australia, for this potential market is at our very doorstep. Every aspect of island life is covered in this altogether admirable year book —administration, communications, sta tistical and business figures, missionary work, island history, customs tariffs and tourist attractions. There is also a number of maps

and many illustrations and the book is fully indexed.

In a brief introduction the editor apolo gises for any shortcomings and stresses the difficulties experienced in gathering the in formation for this first issue. He promises a more detailed and enlarged book for 1933, and hopes to make the book the standard work of reference in all matters relating to the Pacific. Mr. Robson is to be congratu lated on what he has done. There are hun dreds who will call down blessings on his head for making available facts and figures hitherto only available after a trying search.

The book is selling remarkably well in all parts of Australia and New Zea land, as well as in the South Seas, and a very large number of orders have been received from reference libraries in Great Britain and America. Copies may be had from booksellers and Islands stores: or by sending 8/6 direct to Pacific Publications Ltd., Union House, 247 George Street, Sydney.

The census, which was taken in the British Solomon Islands some months ago and was the first accurate one ever taken, has revealed that whereas the native poplation was supposed to be around 150,000, it was actually only 90,719.