THE PACIFIC

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 8

THE PACIFIC

ITS HISTORY AND PROBLEMS.

"The Pacific, Its History and Problems," was the subject of_tn interesting lecture delivered ly'Dr. Guy Scholefield, under tho auspices cf Victoria University College, in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. last evening. Professor Hunter pro--61 Dr.' Scholefield said that in the early days of the nineteenth century England was loth to acquire territories in the Pacific, preferring to recognise tho native kingdoms rather than protect new subjects so far away from Great Britain. French policy in the Pacific always showed more imagination than the British. No sooner was the Panama Canal iirst mooted than the French began to acquire islands, which French writers boasted were athwart British trade routes. lor . twenty years previous to 1870 the British Navy assumed tho single-handed task of stamping out the awful traffic of kidnapping natives from islands in tne Pacific. The first appearance of Germany in the Pacific seemed to be m 1854. One German merchant established a trading concern in Apia of that year, and by commerce Gorman interests'became predominant in certain islands of the Pacihc in later years. This alarmed both the United States and British- colonist, and the United States subsequently established a treaty with Samoa, '.'hrough sheer

incapacity and incompetence, the Spanish Empire had faded from tho Pacific before tho end of the nineteenth century, although it was the r.nly empire represented there at tlio beginning of the century. , Dr. Scholefield'detailed the negotiations leading up to .the establishment of the French and British Condominium m the New Hebrides. Tho Condominium arrangement, . which contained the 6 eeds of futuro trouble, -was most unsatisfactory, and tho lecturer stated that before- leaving England, ho was informed that it was,hoped to, come to'somo amicable settlement with France before the end of the present -year. The surrender of British rights in Samoa to Germany was due laTgely to . Britain desiring to gain Germany's good-will during tho ij nr n »

Boer War. Among the problems of tho Pacino were the New Hebrides, Condominium and the position of Tonga which was somewhat'"out in the cold at present. The frontiers of Japan had been down to -near tho equator. Now Zealand and Australia had very greatly, increased • responsibilities in the Pacific, and the mandate from the League of Isations New Zealand had to administer Samoa in tho interests of the. natives. Germany had, not troubled . with the natives a great deal, although she had cortainly taught the German language 'to them. Great credit was due to the English'missionaries for tho way in which they had worked among tho natives in the Pacific,, but the London Missionary Society was finding the task of educating tho natives too big. Tho lecturer put" forward the view that it was worth while to teach English to the natives, and urged that the utmost attention should bo given to health matters. The for- ■ tility of tho islands was almost unlimit-

Ed, but it would be bettor if . tho natives could be encouraged.to provide all tho labour themselves. At present the Polynesians Were not inclined to work, and thi9 was a problem which New .Zealand was "up against." Seventy-fivo per cent, of the exports from Samoa were from native plantations, and the question naturally aroso whether it was worth while to continue the German plantations. Dr. Scholefield said he was inclined to believe that the islands could » be developed with labour obtained loc|i ally. Ono point which would have to obe considered was-the growth of Anierie can interest in the copra trade. _If this !_ was not watched carefully, American me fluences might subsequently become prei- dominant in British islands. r /Dr. Scholefield was accorded a hearty e vote of thanks for his lecture.