A MANDATED ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 13 January 1926, Page 9

A MANDATED ISLAND.

NAURU AND THE NAURUANS. THE ADMINISTRATION. HOW NAiIVES ARE HELPED. Down for a three months' holiday from Nauru, the little atoll from 32 to 35 miles south of the Equator, which is the source of the world's chief supply of phosphates, is Mr. William Knight, the O.C. Police and Crown Prosecutor on the island. "The finest life in the world is to be found on the islands, providing you have something of the hermit in your makeup," he says. He has spent the whole of the last 18 years there—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 as shift engineer in the wireless station. When war broke out he offered himself for active service, but was rejected as medically unfit. Then in May, 1916, he was uppointetl to his present position, and in the whole of the 18 years he has only come to the outer world for his periodical holidays of three months in two years. Mr. Knight tells an interesting story of the life on the 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 government under a mandate held from the League of Nations by Britain, Australia and New Zealand in conjunction. Chinese Good Workmen. The little community on Nauru consists of about 2100 people, of whom approximately 1200 are Nauruans, 800 Chinese and 80 whites. The Chinese are brought from Hongkong, where they sign contracts to remain on the island for two years. They range from coolies to specialists, such as mechanics, the latter being excellent craftsmen, while all are good workmen. The wages vary from 32/ a month for the lowest forms of coolie labour to £8 for the best of the mechanics. The Chinese live in compounds and receive their, food in addition to the money payment. 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 JuneThe- work of administration is carried out on strictly businesslike lines with a leaning towards sympathy for the Nauruans. The island is divided into 14 districts, each with a chief or head man. Complaints and- suggestions are heard by the Administrator once a month. Absolute prohibition is enforced so far as the natives are concerned, and very heavy penalties are provided for supplying them with liquor. Father to the Natives. 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 but sympathetic, a.nd the natives'were so, satisfied;, with it that; two years ago,, when some complaints were made to the Mandate , Committee of the League of Nations,,the whole of the 14 chiefs signed a petition asking that.the present,system shoulu be continued without alteration. The petition was drawn up and signed after a meeting called by the natives themselves. There is no forced labour on the island, except that a certain amount of communal work is done in such ways as roadmaking, sanitation, and so forth. Once.a month the Administrator makes a complete tour of inspection throughout the island, with the consequence that everything is always kept in apple-pie order, and no loophole is left for the introduction of epidemics of disease. Immense Deposits. The phosphate deposits are worked by the British Phosphate Commission, which has to pay a royalty on every ton taken out. This royalty goes to the natives from whose land it is mined, and is paid monthly. If the Commission desires to take over a single foot of land it can only be done with the sanction of the Administrator, who. makes a strict investigation, and, if he approves, orders a survey and the payment of compensation. It is estimated that the phosphate deposits, extend" to an average depth of 40 feet, and that it will take 150 years to exhaust them, while those on the smaller Ocean Island will last 100 years. The amusements on the islands consist of picture shows and theatricals for the whites, and a picture show, which was purchased by the Government for the Nauruans. In the native cinema only educative films are shown. Some of the more lurid American productions could ; not ibe tolerated, for obvious reason's. In other ways, too, the natives are being taught to help themselves. For instance, a co-operative store has been established for them. It is run by the Nauruans, under advice from one of the whites. The whole of the profits, with the exception of a small allowance t6 the white adviser, goes to the natives. Training the Police. In the police force, Mr. Knight has 40 men—Nauruans and Gilbert Islanders. They are distributed throughout the 14 districts, reporting, to Mr. Knight, who also makes frequent inspections. Apart' from their ordinary duties, they do at least one shoot every two weeks at the rifle butts. The men are very keeneyed, and some of them are very g O od shots. In addition to the police, there is a physical training class of 100 men, from whom recruits are drawn. They also aTe trained in arms. • The main sport of the white poprjation is cricket, and frequent matches are played against teams from visiting shins. Tennis is also popular, and about half a dozen tournaments are played yearly on the illuminated courts. The Nauruans have been taught the Australian game of football. They have taken to it very kindly. Playing in their bare feet, they display great vigour and not a little skill. They are also learning tennis, and are proving just as efficient at this sport. ■( Interesting experiments are carried out in the breeding of fish. The spawn is taken from the ocean and cultivated in the lagoon which forms the crater of the atoll. The chief fruits grown on the island are coconuts, soursop, limes and pawpaws. A little copra , is produced. ' Money is practically unknown on the island. There are two stores, one conducted by the Commission and the other by Burns, Philp and Co. From these all necessities and most luxuries can be secured by "chits," the cost being charged monthly against the employee's acoouni. • lii '