Gilbertesc May Go

Another Pacific Migration?

Gilbertesc May Go To Gizo

PLANS for settling Islanders from the crowded Gilberts at Gizo H 2,800 acres) in the British Solomons are under way.

Last year a pilot party of 10 Gilbertese went to Gizo and re turned in September with a favour able report.

A good many problems will have to be solved, and the initial settle ment will be experimental. People used to an atoll climate may not readily become acclimatised to a different type. (But the Ocean Island Banabans, after early bouts of homesickness, soon become comfort ably settled at Rabi, in Fiji). There is also a malaria problem at Gizo which does not occur in the Gilberts. (This still appears the most ex exaordinary of all the planned Pacific migrations. As PIM said in October, when we first learned of the proposal: “Why Gizo?” Gizo is a small chunk of volcanic red mud, mostly in the perpendicular, the Ad ministrative centre of the Western

Solomons and a port of entry. The natives of this part of BSIP seem reasonably industrious and it might be imagined they could make use of their land. Guadalcanal, on the other hand, has a great deal of un

used land, and a small populat However, neither BSIP or G & E made any official statement 1 regard to the migration—so we not know just where in Gizo Gilbertese are to settle : —or why