PACIFIC PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 8

PACIFIC PROBLEMS.

POSITION OF N.Z. NEW CIVIL SERVICE URGED. ADDRESS BY MR. D. M. RAE. The history of the Pacific and the problems of to-day formed the basis of an interesting address given this morning by Mr. D. M. Rae, principal of the Auckland Training College, at a Victoria League gathering. Mr. Rae suggested that New Zealand would do well to establish a Pacific Civil Service, in which young men could bo specially trained for administrative posts in Samoa, the Cook Islands and possibly Fiji. At present the Dominion "lost" overseas many of its brilliant young men, including Rhodes scholars, while efficient control of the Dominion's mandated and other territories called for an understanding of the language and history of the native and dark-skinned peoples. Ho would also like to see in Auckland a school of anthropology and of Pacific studies. Speaking of Japan, Mr. Rae said that country had given the world the most dramatic example of nation building in modern times. From a feudal country it bad become one of the most powerful, both from military "and industrial, viewpoints. Spain, which had played such a large part in the story of the Pacific,, had reached the evening of her day, and Britain her noon, but Japan was standing 011 the threshold of the morning. Japan was organising her industrial life in such a way as to go well ahead of the world in capturing markets and trade. This development might be followed by repercussions 011 her national life, as was the case in England after the Napoleonic Wars, but eyes should be kept carefully on Japan aiid on the Pacific.

Mr. Rae concluded with a plea for the encouragement of some suitable scheme of emigration from England to New Zealand and Australia. The Fairbridge scheme had proved successful in Canada and in West Australia, and he would like to see further developments along these or similar lines.

The speaker was introduced by Mr. L. S. Rickerbv, a member of the council of the league, and at the conclusion of the address the president, MisS J. A. Mowbray, spoke briefly and thanked Mr. Eae on behalf of the gathering.