Coveted Phoenix

Islands

Burns Philp Sell Leases to Government

QUICK and interesting moves have oeen taking place among the islands of the Central Pacific, since their value as stations on the proposed Trans pacific airmail services was recognised.

For many decades, all these small is lands were regarded as British no one wanted them. Then the Ameri cans, planning new airways, reached out and grabbed Howland and Baker Is lands, northern outliers of the Phoenix Group (British).

That brought Britain into action. Her warships meticulously visited, re-occu pied and re-annexed all the other islands which stood in her name, and which might be useful in aviation.

The Phoenix Group—valuable, because it lies right on the track between Fiji and Hawaii —was plastered with titles, and added to the Gilbert and Ellice Island Colony (which is administered by the British Colonial Office through Fiji).

But that did not prevent America, last year, sending an official party to fly the Star and Stripes over Canton and Enderbury Islands, potential air bases in the Phoenix Group. The Brit ish already were in occupation there, with the Union Jack flying; and the Americans settled down happily beside them. The idea, of course, is that each nation will have the right to put its aircraft down there.

It is reported that, in similar fash ion, America has designs on Christmas and Washington Islands, already in British occupation.

The latest development is the sale, quite recently concluded, of leases in the Phoenix Group, held for many years by Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. They have been sold to the G. and E. Islands Gov ernment. The coconut plantations and copra producing plant are to be taken over by the G. and E. Government and, according to the terms of sale, the Gov ernment will establish settlers on the

areas purchased.

Dr. E. P. Ellison, Chief Medical Offi cer in the Cook Group, reached New Zealand from Suva by the November “Niagara”, after a visit to Fiji.