PACIFIC ABATES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1922, Page 4

PACIFIC ABATES.

CONTROL OF NAURU. ' REPORT TO LEAGUE. AUTHORITY DEFINED. By Telegraph.— Press Assn.— Copyright Received Sept. 19, 8.10 p.m. Geneva, Sept. 18. The political committee of the League of Nations presented the Assembly with the mandates report. The following passages relate to • the Pacific:— The committee noted with great satisfaction the intention of the permanent Mandates Commission to investigate further the question of indentured labor in the Pacific Islands; also land tenure in the mandated territories. The committee is confident that the mandatory Powers will do everything to facilitate the task of the commission in further labors.

The committee notes with pleasure that the mandatory Powers have realised the importance of the duties which the covenant of the League imposes upon them by adding to the official report required by the covenant full replies to the questionaires framed bythe permanent Mandates Commission, With regard to Nauru the committee deems it advisable to prevent possible misinterpretation by taking note: — (1) That the British Empire, which is responsible for the Nauru mandate, consists of Britain, together with a number of territories all owing common allegiance, but distinct in their respective powers of government. The mandatory authority of the British Empire can therefore only be exercised by some one or more of the several Governments of the territories composing the Empire. If. for the statement in the report that the British Empire had transferred the responsibility for the administration partly to Britain, Australia and New Zealand, there were substituted the statement that the British Empire had provided for the administration of the island by Britain, Australia and New Zealand, the position would 'be defined with greater precision and exactitude.

(2) That the statement in the report? that the Governments of Britain. Australia and New Zealand had reserved to themselves the exclusive rights of administration of the rich deposits of phosphates, which constitute the wealth of the island, is capable of misinterpretation without an explanation that the three Governments acquired by direct purchase, through the voluntary sale on the part of owners and not through the mandate, the exclusive rights granted before the war by the German Government to a private company. The committee had the advantage of perusipg an explanatory document presented by the representatives of Australia and as well as a statement handed in by the ’Australian delegate, and recommends that these documents be read together with the report by the permanent mandates commission.

The committee, having considered the matter of the right of petition, expresses the hope that this right may (be defined in such a manner that all'petitions emanating from inhabitants of the mandated areas should be sent to the permanent mandates commission, through the intermediary of the local administration and the mandatory Power. All petitions concerning the welfare of inhabitants emanating from other sources should not be considered by the permanent mandates commission before the mandatory Power has had full opportunity of expressing its views thereon.

Mr. Justice Rich (Australia) added, the following declaration: “The statement in the report and context that it is not clear what powers and means of control the Australian administration possesses in regard to this organisation seems to be capable of misinterpretation without the explanation that the political and economic powers are distinct. The administrator is paramount. He is invested with power to make laws for the peace and good government of the island. The commissioner’s powers are confined to the control over business connected with phosphates, and ho is free from Government interference in such business. They, in common with other citizens, are subject to the laws made by the administrator. Thejr hold, office during the pleasure of their respective Governments.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.