LIFE AT NAURU.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 3

LIFE AT NAURU.

WORK AND AMUSEMENT ON PACIFIC ISLAND.

AUCKLAND, January 13. Down for three month’s holiday from Nauru, the little atoll from thirty-two to thirty-live miles south of the Equator which is the source of the world’s chief supply of phosphates, is Mr William Knight, the officer commanding police and Crown Prosecutor on the island.

“The finest life in the world is to lie found on the islands providing you have something of the hermit in your make-up,” he says. He lots spent the whole of the last eighteen years on Nauru and the smaller Ocean Island, which is also rich in phosphates. He joined the Ocean Island service from the British Navy in 1907 ns a shift engineer in the wireless station. Mr Knight tells an interesting story of life on tlu* islands, of the daily work, the pleasures, sports and amusements, the customs of the native Nauruans and the imported Chinese labourers, and above all the system of governments under mandate held from the League of Nations by Britain. Australia and New Zealand in conjunction. The little community of Nauru consists of about 2100 people, of whom a]>proximately 1200 are Nauruans, 800 Chinese and SO whites. The Chinese are brought from Hong Kong, where they sign contracts to remain on the island for two years. They range from coolies to specialists, such ns mechanics, the latter being excellent craftsmen, while all arc good workmen. Wages vary from 32s a. month for the lowest forms of coolie labour to £8 for the best of mechanics. The Chinese live in compounds and receive their food in addition to the money payments.

The present Administrator ('General Griffiths) was appointed by Australia, and it is expected that Australia will again be asked to undertake the responsibility of making an appointment when the term of his office expires next. June. The work of administration is carried out oil strictly businesslike lines, with a leaning towards sympathy for the Nauruans. Aboslutc prohibition is enforced so far as the natives are concerned, and very heavy penalties are provided for supplying them with liquor. In a general way the Administrator acts as a father to the native community, and is so regarded by the Nauruans. The system is strict hut sympathetic, and the natives were so satisfied with ii that two years ago, when some complaints were made to ;|ic Mandate Committee of the League nr Nations, the whole of Hie fourteen chiefs signed a petition asking that the present system should be continued without alteration. The petition was drawn, no ami signed alter a meeting called bv the natives themselves. Amusements on the islands consist of picture shows and theatricals lor the whites and a picture show, which was purchased hv the Government, for the Nauruans. In the native cinema only educative films are shown. Some of the more lurid American productions could not. be tolerated for obvious reasons. In other ways, too. the natives are being taught to amuse themselves. For instance, a eo-oneralive store has been established for them. It is run by Nauruans under advice, from one of the whites. The whole of the profits, with the exception of a small allowance to the white adviser, goes lo I lie natives.

In I lie police force, Mr Knight has forty men, Nauruan and Gilbert Islanders. Apart from their ordinary duties they do at least one shoot every two weeks at the rifle butts. Ihe men are very keen-eyed and some of them are very goods shots. In addition to the police, there is a physical training class of Hid men. from whom recruits are drawn. ’I hey also art- trained in arms. •

The main sport ni the white population is cricket, and frer|uenl matches are played against team* from visiting ships. Tennis is also popular, and about half-a-dozen tournaments are played yearly on illuminated courts. The Nauruans have been taught the Australian game of football. They have taken to it very kindly. Playing in their hare feet they display great vigour and not a little skill. They arc also learning tennis and are proving just as efficient at this sport. Interesting experiments are earrieil out in the breeding of fish. Spawn is taken from the ocean and cultivated in the lagoon which forms the crater of the atoll. Money is practically unknown on the island. There are two stores, one conducted by the Commission and the other hv Messrs Burns. Philip and Co. From these all necessities and most luxuries can he secured, the cost being charged monthly against 1 lie employee’s account.