The gilberts-too many children no money

The Gilbert and Ellice Islands, of 16 atolls enclosing some 45,000 people, has the "distinc tion of having the worst, though not the most difficult, population problem in the world". These words were said recently by the director of the population bureau of the British Ministry of Overseas Develop ment, Dr. D. Wolfers.

He hastened to add that the problem was not so much a land problem as an economic one. Accepting, he said, that the growth of population should at least equal the growth of the economy, the Gilberts were in

serious trouble. It has a birth rate of 2.9 per cent, (one of the highest in the world) and an economy that, taking into ac count the exhaustion of phos phate deposits, is declining at about 5 per cent, per year.

There would be disaster, he warned, unless there was more help from outside territories or the colony adopted rigorous birth control methods.

Above, there seems plenty of land for cultivation, but the poor coral soil can't always be made to yield. This is Naanikai Islet on Tarawa Atoll looking east from the top of a new radio mast. The foreground vil lage is inhabited by workers at

the nearby government centre, Bairiki. The Andersen Causeway can be clearly seen. The large white building facing the water is the new seminary for priests at the Catholic Mission. Bonriki Airport is on the point of the atoll on the horizon.

Opposite above, Funafuti Atoll, in the Ellice group, stretches into the distance. The Funafuti airport takes up a good sized portion of this part of the atoll. Opposite below, dancing is an integral part of life in the GEIC. This is a Tabi teuean village.