DeRoburt back

as President

President Hammer Deßoburt, of Nauru, in January was re elected for his second term of three years. He became the

republic’s first president follow

ing independence in 1968. His

re-election was by parliament,

and he was unopposed.

The President made no changes in his cabinet. He retains for himself the portfolios of External Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Island Develop ment and Industry.

The other portfolios are: Health and Education, Austin Bernicke; Justice. Joseph Detsimea Audoa; Finance, James Ategan Bop; Works and Community Services and Minister Assistant to the President, Buraro Detudamo.

New Speaker of Parliament is a young man. Kenas Aroi, and Deputy Speaker is Victor Eoaeo.

Four new members of parliament were elected in the first elections held in the republic since the phos phate island became independent three years ago.

A total of 48 candidates contested the 18 seats in the Nauru Parlia ment on January 23. Nauru follows

the Australian preferential system of voting.

The Speaker, the Reverend I.

Amram, was one of the four can didates defeated in the election. He was replaced by Kinza Clodumar, a 25-year-old Arts graduate from the Australian National University in Canberra, who is now with the Nauru Public Service. The other three new members, Lawrence Stephen, Ruben Kun and Kennan Adeang, are all aged under 30 and all went to school in Australia. Kun is an Arts graduate at the ANU, Stephen trained as a teacher in Sydney, and is deputy head of Nauru’s primary school.

Stephen unseated Asa Paul Diema; Kun unseated Totouwa Depaune; Adeang unseated Gioura Derog. All members of cabinet were returned.

Only in the Anabar constituency were the two sitting members, Gada raoa and Doguape, elected unop posed. Four candidates stood against President Deßoburt in the Boe con stituency.

Nauru, a former United Nations Trust Territory under Australian ad ministration, became independent on January 31, 1968. The Nauruan population totals about 3,400 out of a total of about 6,500 —the others being mainly Chinese and Gilbert and Ellice Islanders working for the Nauru Phosphate Corporation. Only Nauruan citizens may vote.

Nauru is shortly to extend its over seas representation to include Japan, with which it has growing business.

A Nauruan representative will be ap pointed to Tokyo.

There are already representatives in London and Melbourne.

It’s understood that the Japanese Government was anxious to have full Nauruan diplomatic representation in Tokyo but President Deßoburt takes the sensible view that Nauru does not require the expense of a diplo matic corp. in a formal sense. Its overseas offices are more in the nature of business offices.

The Tokyo decision will, how ever, mean that Japan will have representation in Nauru.

• An internal airline is to be set up in the Cook Islands under the direction of Air New Zealands new Cook Islands manager, Mr. R.

G. Millensted. The airline will init ially link Rarotonga with Aitutaki; Mr. Millensted will also help in the establishment of tourist industry ser vices and supervise preparations for the start of the new jet services next year. He arrives in March.