Group
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
New Colonists in Phoenix Group Why Burns Philp Gave up Lease of Islands
THE article giving the history of Can ton Island and other portions of the Phoenix Group, which was published in the September issue of the “P.1.M.”, places some interesting facts of Central Pacific history upon record. I should like to make that record complete by explain ing what has happened there in recent years (writes a correspondent).
The interests of Captain Allen in the Phoenix Group, comorising the islands of Canton, Sydney, Hull, Gardner, Phoenix and Birney, were purchased in 1926, from the liquidator of the Samoa Shipping and Trading Co., Ltd., by Burns Phflp (South Sea) Co. Ltd. The licence to occupy these islands of the Phoenix Group, which was originally granted by the British Govern ment, was for a period of 99 years, and this licence still had 75 years to run when the islands passed into the control and occupation of Burns Philo (S.S.) Co., Ltd., in 1926.
Burns Philp (S S.) Co., Ltd., gave par ticular attention to the large fertile is lands of Hull and Sydney, and gangs of labourers were sent there and consider able areas planted up in coconuts.
In 1937-38, just when these extensive coconut plantations were coming into profitable bearing, the Phoenix Group— hitherto unpopulated and scarcely noted upon the current maps—came suddenly into world-wide importance because of their position on the direct aeroplane route between Hawaii and Fiji.
In 1938, the British High Commissioner for the Western Pacific informed Burns Philp (S.S.) Co.. Ltd., that the admini strator of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony had reported that a surplus or population in the Gilbert Islands was creating an embarrassment; that it was desired to transfer this surplus popula tion from the Gilberts to some other is lands in the Pacific —preferably islands already developed and with considerable areas of good land suitable for garden ing, and with an abundant supply of fish, sea-fo.vl and other Islands food; and the High Commissioner regarded the Phoenix Group as being admirably suited for settlement because of their general fertil ity and their amnle supply of native food stuffs.
Discussions ensued between the High Commissioner and the directors of Bums Philp (S.S.) Co., Ltd., and finally the latter, in the belief that they were there by performing an Imperial service, re linquished their interests in the Phoenix Group to the British Government for a nominal payment, representing the capital expended on development since 1926. The arrangement was completed in 1938 and the High Commission lost no time in transferring considerable numbers of Gilbert Islands natives, as colonists, to the unoccupied islands of the Phoenix Group—especially Hull and Sydney Is lands, It may be noted now, as a matter of record, that American interests have established an important seaplane base on Canton Island; that Canton Island and Enderbury Island are now under the joint control of the United States and Great Britain; and that the other islands of the Phoenix Group are part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony Administration, and are being colonised by Gilbertese natives.
Monsieur Robert Kuter has replaced Monsieur Adolphe de Gaillande as As sistant French Resident Commissioner in the New Hebrides.