THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2247, 5 September 1914, Page 9

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

THEIR FUTURE GOVERNMENT. fly,Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright

Sydney, September 3. Sir Everard iru 'lhurn, late Governor of Fiji) and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, stated in an interview that ;he'considered' that a confederation of certain of the British islands in the Pacific and having some relation to Australia or New_ Zealand, or, both, must come some day. It was, becoming evident that the islands were more easily managed from this part of the world than from Downing Street. It would therefore be well to allow them very largely to manage , their own affairs, under Australian or New Zealand control.

Certain of the islands which compose, the outer belt of New Zealand territory'" could best be controlled from Now Zealand ; and others were, both geographically and commercially, appendages of Australia. ;

He believed the time had arrived for the definite annexation of Tonga, especially in view of the taking of Samoa. The federation of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, with Australian or New Zealand suzerainty would" however be a bettter solution.

■If the Imperial authorities _ came to "that conclusion, the responsibility tor looking after the islands Bhould be taken over by the Commonwealth and the Dominion, r either combined or each having control of separate spheres, the Commonwealth being, responsible for, say,' the islands in the Western Pacific, and New Zealand for those in the Eastern Pacific.