Two big decisions for the Ellice

The people of the Ellice Islands, part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, will go to the polls twice this year—to vote in the colony’s general election for the Legislative Council in April, and to vote in their referendum in August on secession from the colony.

Britain agreed, after her representative, Sir Leslie Monson, had held an on-the-spot inquiry into Ellice requests to be allowed to separate from the Gilberts, that the matter should be settled by referendum.

Apart from a couple of debates in the Legislative Council on secession proposals, there has been no public debate on Ellice aspira tions as both Ellice and Gilbertese representatives agreed on the necessity to keep the subject out of the public arena. Arguments on secession between Gilbertese and Ellice islanders, particularly on cosmopolitan Tarawa, could generate violence.

GEIC's Legislative Council was scheduled for dissolution by the Governor, Mr John Smith, on February 21. Nomination day, for the general election candidates, will be on March 21 and polling day on AP ‘\he new parliament, which changes its name from Legislative Council to House of Assembly, will almost certainly lead the CEIL into independence. Its composition, if many sitting members are un seated, could have an important bearing on the secession issue.

The present Leader of Government Business, Mr Reuben Vatioa, a Gilbertese, has said he would not oppose Ellice secession if the Ellice l^ stem has been suggeste d as an alternative to banish Ellice fears of domination by the more numerous Gilbertese (5,890 Ellice islanders, 47,922 Gilbertese) but Mr Uatioa has opposed this. It is either secession or the present type of unitary government, he has said.