Resettlement

Agreement Nearer On Nauruans

Statements by an Australian repre sentative at the meeting of the United Nations Trusteeship in New York in June suggest that the Australian Government and the Nauruan Councillors are approaching agree ment on the resettlement of the N am uans on Curtis Island, off the coast °f Queensland near Gladstone.

A .. . r r HE Australian representative, Mr. **■ R - Marsh, who is Director of Nauruan Resettlement, said that ” ei I t . her A he Nauruan , s nor * he Aus ‘ ralian Government knew of any is land whlch wa& more sultable f °r re settlement, and that the problem of

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Governments view that it could not agree to make available any part of the Australian continent or its nearby islands for the resettlement of the Nauruans, with sovereignty over it vested in the resettled Nauruans.

But he said that if a suitable island away from Australia could be found> efforts would be made to give the Nauruans sovereignty over it.

Meanwhile, the Australian Govern ment had formulated a resettlement scheme based on Curtis Island under which the Nauruans would be able

to manage their own affairs “sub stantially without interference” to an extent that might be described as self government.

Important features of the scheme were that the Nauruans would own Curtis Island and would govern it as a separate administration under the Queensland Local Government Act; the management of the Land Owners’

Royalty Investment Fund would vest in the Nauruans; and a local authority would be established enjoying exten sive powers including “complete financial autonomy”.

Mr. Marsh said that the Australian Government had already started measures for the resettlement of Curtis Island. Drawings of the type of homes for resettlement were ready.

In reply to questions by the Russian representative, Mr. P. F.

Shakhov, Mr. Marsh said: • Some elder members of the Nauruan community would probably remain on Nauru, but the resettled Nauruans would still be owners of their land and would continue to re ceive phosphate royalties. • Members of the Nauru Council were going to Australia in July to discuss the resettlement question with the Australian Administration, which indicated “a belief on the part of the Nauruans that there are prospects of working out an acceptable resettle ment scheme”.

Mr. Marsh added that the Aus tralian Government and the Nauruan Council would also discuss the estab lishment of a Legislative Council for Nauru.

A UN mission will visit Nauru and NG next year.