Polynesians Govern

Themselves Interesting Development in G. & E.

Islands

of the interpstino- I ) V s C t lfi 2 C n V - he par t teken° by Polynesians hi thei^own government. In the Gilbert and Ellice i s i an ds Colony, for example, a large proportion of the administrative work of government has been carried out for many years by Native Magistrates the Kaubure (elected village officials),’ and Native Scribes, Each island has a Native Magistrate, appointed by the European District Officer, with the approval, of course, of the Resident Commissioner, and on him

falls the bulk of the executive work He deals with all questions affecting the welfare of the people as a whole, issues orders and instructions, and generally exercises control over the community. ~r ^l. e Kaubure are elected in each village district, all natives over 30 being entitled to vote, and those chosen serve for three years being eligible for re-election at the end of each term. They represent their village on the Island Council and serve as jurors in the Native Court.

It is the duty of the Native Scribe to register births, marriages, and deaths on his island; to keep all Native Government books; and to perform the necessary clerical work in connection with the Native Court and the Lands Court. He is responsible, too, for collecting licence fees, taxes, fines, etc., and for the pay ment of Government moneys.

Power to make local regulations* per taining to such matters as public health, maintenance of peace and good order, performance of communal works, con servation of food supplies, and the eco nomic and social betterment of the natives is vested in the Island Council of each atoll. The Council consists of the Magistrate, the recognised High Chief of island, the Kaubure, leading native officials, and a number of elected village men.

On each island, two courts are usually held each month—the Native Court and the Lands Court. The former adjudicates civil cases (breach of contract, divorce, bastardy, etc.) and criminal cases (as sault, theft, damage to property, trespass, adultery, sorcery, etc.). The function of the Lands Court, as the name implies, is to hear and settle disputes relating to the ownership of native land. Proceedings in both courts are under the supervision of a European District Officer, who has power to review judgments and amend sentences.

The whole system of native government in the G. and E. Group, Phoenix Group, and Ocean Island, is based on regulations incorporated in the Native Laws Ordin ance 1917, promulgated by the High Commission for the Western Pacific. Five amendments to the Ordinance have been made through the years, as practice demanded.

Now, by a new Ordinance (G. and E.

Colony, No. 4, 1941), just issued by the WP High Commission, the original Na tive Laws Ordinance and associated amendments have been repealed and re placed by new, revised regulations, titled the Native Government Ordinance, which brings up to date the whole machinery of native government and sets out in detail the constitution, procedure, laws and penalties.

In these related groups of islands in Polynesia, local government by native bodies has attained a degree of progress, nrobably not equalled anywhere else in the Pacific. In granting, from time to time, increased responsibilities to native officials, the British authorities have no doubt taken the long view that eventually the islanders will reach the desired stage of complete self-government.

Mr. C. Healy, Assistant Resident Magis trate in the Papuan Service, has been transferred from loma (the Government station in the Northern Division nearest the TNG border), to Daru (right round in the Western section of the Territory).

Mrs. Healy and their family have gone with him.

Mr. L, Livingston, of Wau, recently arrived in Sydney from New Guinea, with Mrs. Livingston and their son.

They intend settling down in Tasmania, where Mr. Livingston will enter private practice as a surveyor.

Dr. H. B. Hetherington, senior medical officer in the British Solomon Islands, received the award of OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, recently.