He’S Off To

Nauru!

Australia’s Territories Minister

THE Australian Acting-Minister for Territories, Mr. Chambers, went off on what is more or less a pleasure cruise at the end of April, leaving Papua- New Guinea affairs (especially in relation to copra) in a state of confusion—see articles elsewhere.

Mr. Chambers joined the phosphate ship “Triadic,” en route to Nauru—sometimes called Pleasant Island. He expects to be absent for a month.

Nauru is held under Trusteeship by Australia, Britain and New Zealand, jointly. By agreement, Australia takes responsibility for administration. There is a small community of Nauruans (Micro nesians, with a strong affinity with Poly nesians) , but most of the island’s activities are grouped around the large phosphate industry, in which the British Phosphate Commission employs large numbers of Chinese and Gilbertese.

A small royalty per ton of phosphate is paid to the credit of the Nauruans.

They, and the Banabans of Ocean Island, similarly treated, are easily the richest natives in the Pacific.

But the Nauruans are not happy. They have been petitioning the Trusteeship Council, asking for a larger share in local administration. Russians and similar mischief-makers on the Trusteeship council have taken up their case vocifer ously, as a means of annoying the Trustees.

There has been nothing wrong with the administration and there was only one way to treat the Nauruans who, notori ously, have been pampered and spoiled.

But the Australian Socialists, with their sensitive Brown Brother complex, have de cided that this matter needs their most urgent attention—and the Minister him self has gone off to deal with it, leaving Papua and New Guinea to stew in their own copra.

The Administrator of Nauru, Mr Ridgeway, is quite competent to handle the situation. But, that way, there would have been no tropical picnic for the Minister. And how these Socialists love to go tripping around!