THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 187, 27 April 1918, Page 7

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

• COMMONWEALTH INTERSTATE COM- . MISSION'S REPORT NEED FOR EFFICIENT TRADE ORGANISATION (Ren. April 2G, 7.30 p.m.) Melbourne, April 2G. The Inter-Stale Commission's report to Parliament on British and. Australian trade in tho South Pacific says: "At pre. sent the control of these islands by tho British Crown lacks cohesion and system." . It suggests that the question ripe for settlement is whether "some federated control should not be devised at an early date. An authority might be established with but,slight change, if any, in the respective Governments of tho several tracts in the Pacific, but with powers of supervision and co-ordination not nt preseift possessed. Such.'authority .would.not be'subject in any way to tho Commonwealth Government, but to the .If.igh.,Comhiiss,ionersh.ip of. Iho" Pacific, held or not held in conjunction with/the offico of the Governor/General of Australia. This would bo a suitable kernel from which such a representative form of Pacific . federation, might naturally grow. Federated control should preferably have as its central seat the natural rendezvous of most Pacific trade and shipping—Sydney. Fiji is not central for administrative and commercial purposes." The commission suggests that in order 'to ensure a timely settlement of _ the question by tho Government a, conjoint inquiry by representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand should be undertaken. .The report directs attention to .the necessity of a better international agreement regarding the New Hebrides, and the importance of solving tho question of an efficient supply of labour for developing tho trade, of the Islands. The commission is satisfied that without considerable subsidies it will be impossible' in the future to develop the inter-Island trade, or that with. Australian and other parts' of tho Empire. If Australia could consume a substantial proportion of the copra output slie would have no difficulty in controlling the Island trade. The Comiuoiiwaalth could with considerable commcrci.il advantage afford to allow nearly all the productions of tho .Islands ■to bo admitted free. The report advises that tho attention of the Imnerial Government be directed to the serious necessity of Australia retaining tho British rights in.the Island of Nauru, whether l>y its transference to tho British flag or by guarantees against any violation of her commercial status as'it existed before the war. The report generally indicates the scope for tkveloplii" cattle-raising, coffee, cocoa, tapioca, vanilla, and every tropica! production in the Islands.—Press Assn.