THE NEW PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 143, 16 June 1917, Page 17

THE NEW PACIFIC.

POLICY AND GERMAN : " ATMS.

, took bearlisr t-he aboTc JfSrSn by G. B. Fletcher a iaent Australian journalist, has published by Macmillan I' represents the most compreZtot historical earrey of British "£» and German aims in the Pacific £nds that has yet appeared. It is a -"Zjsoose of facts, useful alike to the and merchant, while its in-**-tins descriptions of the native rsce-s "Uniting the myriad islands of and Melanesia will command Nation from the sreneral reader. The 8 "l,or has been fortunate in having had S to fiißt hand sources of informa"U. Tie late Dr. George Brown, the missionary, especially assisted by contributing valuable material, jfj revising the work in manuscript. A Itfissl oi ttie book reveals the influence 'arh Dγ- Brown exercised over the dcsLes of the Pacific. It also shows that b *» among tbe first- writers who persired tie purpose of German colonisation in the Pacific and warned the Bri--y, authorities regarding the menace with tie establishment of these milijyr outposts offered to British colonies. Ht'onlv in Pacfic islands, but also -n Australia and New Zealand, against ir'akb Germany unquestjonxibly cherished jaigns of future annexation. The Ger--js'open hostility to missionaries was pompted by the twofold desire to jentiafee an influence that was distjictlT British, and at the same time to rascwe an obstacle to the unscrupulous Ejrioitation of native populations. The nine of the work accomplished by miscjsurv agency in civilising savages reaves strong endorsement from Sir Wil[jjm MicGregor. Governor of New Oaiiiea. The author quotes Dr. George grown as writing in his autobiography, "is the people are broug-bt under the injuaice of Christian teaching there is art only a softening of their facial exmsion*. but also the signs of intelligent interest which were certainly absest before." Of nine men who have aerefeed the greatest influence upon the pacific Islands, the author says: "They bst be divided into tyro groups of four etch, vrith Robert Louis Stevenson betireen them but stiH of them. In the tot group are Captain Cook. Samuel Msreden. John Williams, and Sir Geo. Grey, and in the second must bo placed G«or?e Brown. LorimeT Fison. James Chainwrs and Sir William MacGregor. Res* men represent the reconcilement of the spirit of European enterprise in exploration and colonisation with the spirit of earnest regard for natwe rights and customs everywhere is the Pacific." Mr. Fletcher deals judicially with the Pacific Droblems irhich the close of the war will leave for elation.