PACIFIC ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 41, 12 November 1920, Page 3

PACIFIC ISLANDS

QUESTION OF FEDERATION. • U/ Tel««r«ah-i'roß« Association.

Auckland, November 11. The Auckland "Star's" ; Suv- corre'Sjajulwit .telegraphs that at the opening of tji'p.Lejjisintivc Council His Excellency the Governor (Sir Cecil Kodwell) said: ,"Jry; recent-visit to the Solomons Pro-, toctorate was of special interest to' me, in view of Hie ideas which are forminj; thomselves in the l minds of thinking men here . of ■ closer relations botweeu the, Island groups, lending, perlinps, evontually to some system'of federation. I. am u warm advocate of closer relations.. As'the iirst step, I should like to *«e opportunities of conference -and discussion afforded, between the leaders of commerce Here and those responsible the. management of the. considerable muus'ffinl undertakings' which aro growing up in other Pacific groups. I would, However,,ii2wr a 'word cf warning. The dislatices are vevv great. It is not, nerlmps, geofrally, realised that the'area known as the Western Pacific is as vast in extent ns that part of the African Continent which .lies south of a line drawn from the mouth of the river Congo to Mnmlmssa. Among the postulates of successful federation are compactness and contiguity.. Material obstacles to union which- on land can be overcome by building bridges and. railways can oiily be overcome where wid« expanses'ot ocean intervene by means of shipping and aerial communication."

This statement 'has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of the advocates of federation. . ' •