'Nauruans Capable Of Independence’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31114, 18 July 1966, Page 11

'Nauruans Capable Of Independence’

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, July 17. The spokesman for 2700 Nauruans, Head Chief Hammer de Roburt, believes that they could govern themselves as an independent State if Australia were to withdraw from the island.

He told the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations, which is discussing conditions in Australian-adminis-tered Nauru, that the question wsa hypothetical, however. The question was put to Mr de Roburt by Mr Chiping Kiang, of Formosa, who also asked how long the phosphate deposits in the island would last. These are its sole resource.

Mr R. S. Leydin, the special representative of Australia, replied that the estimate was another 25 to 30 years but Mr de Roburt believed four

or five years eould be added to that estimate. Mr Kiang recalled Mr do Roburt’s earlier statement that after two years' trial I the Nauruans would be ready ■ for independence and he askled whether he believed the Nauruans would acquire sufficient administration experience in that period. Mr do ! Roburt said he believed they would. The training of Nauruans to fill key positions in local I Government bodies was in the hands of the administering authority, which was doing very well, he said. About M Nauruans were receiving training in Australia.