FUTURE OF NAURU

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1947, Page 4

FUTURE OF NAURU

WELLINGTON, August 14. In the House of Itepresentatives, the Prime Minister, answering au urgent question by Mr. W. A. Sheat (Patea), said the Goverximent was fully alive to the importance of Nauru Island to New Zealand and the trusteeship agree ment which had been drafted fo; Naurn provided for a continuation of the tripartite agreements which have obtained hitherto for the administration of the island. Mr. Fraser said thv: draft agreement provided that Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom would act as administering ,authorities under the supervision of a trusteeship council. Mr. Sheat had asked the Prime Min ister if his attention had been called to a report that Anstralia would short,lj- submit a df-aft agreement for tht trusteeship of Nauru to United Na tions and that negotiations between Australia and Great Britain were taking place on the trusteeship question. ■Mr. Sheat asked "whether, in view of the vital importance of Nauru to New Zealaiid, the Prime Minister would state whether New Zealand had been eonsulted .' in connection with these arrangements and whether any claim was Jjeing made on behalf of New Zealand to share in the trusteeship. Mr. Fraser, in his reply, said discussions had been taking place for some time regarding the terms of the trusteeship agreement for Nauru. New Zealand, with Australia and the United Kingdom, was responsible for the island under a League of Nations mandate and New Zealand had, of course, been partieipating in these discussions on the draft agreement which would. be submitted jointly at the forthcoming U.nited Nations Assembly.