World’S Richest Native Community

Curious Educational Problem In Central Pacific

WHAT is to be the fate of the natives of Nauru, who probably are the richest natives in the world?

After Nauru was taken from Germany and placed under a Mandate, it was decided that the natives of Nauru should benefit from the enormously valuable phosphate deposits; and. every year, a certain sum is taken from the £500,000 or so received from the sale of phos phate, and put away for the benefit of the natives. The accumulated fund gives every one of the 1,600 Nauruans (intel ligent people, of mostly Polynesian de scent) comparative independence.

But what are they going to do with

their independence? The problem in trigued Mr. H. E. Hurst, a businessman, of Geelong, Victoria, who has made a hobby of his study of Pacific races, and who has lived on Nauru Island.

As a practical contribution towards solving the problem, Mr. Hurst took 12 young Nauruans home to Geelong some time ago, and applied himself to the task of educating them, and providing them with a future.

The “P.1.M.” heard of this interesting experiment, and wrote to Mr. Hurst; and the latter kindly supplied the following article.