ISLAND MANDATES

Evening Post, Volume 55, Issue 55, 3 September 1923, Page 7

ISLAND MANDATES

NAURU AND SAMOA

COMMISSION COMMENTS ON

REPORTS

MORE INFORMATION REQUIRED.

(UNHID PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(HEUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

(Received 3rd September, 9.30 a.m.)

GENEVA, 2nd September.

The Permanent Mandates Commission, in a report to the Council of the League of Nations on the administration of Nauru, expresses satisfaction that tho documents submitted to it have enabled it more completely to appreciate the general system of administration than was_ the case last year. It desires information regarding the powers and functions of two officers who sit with tho Administrator in the Appeal Court, and also as to whether no right of appeal is exercised in the case of ignorant natives; and as to whether capital or other severe sentences have been confirmed by hi»her authority. It, would be glad to know what steps are taken to acquaint the persons concerned with the provisions of a contract for labour, particularly whether the text of the ordinance is communicated to them in their respective languages; whether the authorities utilise the services of the Hongkong Government or other agency in China to recruit Chinese workers; and whether there is a Chinese-speaking official in Nauru responsible to the Administrator. The Commission considers that the natives are heavily taxed, and hopes that the next report will. state the amount received from the capitation tax. The report of the Permanent Mandates Commission on Western Samoa regrets that the report of the Mandatory (New Zealand) for the year'ending 31st March,. 1923, was received too late for consideration. It hopes that the Mandatory will address its future reports direct to the Council of the League. The Commission asks for full information, as to the relations between the Administration and the natiyo authorities. It notes with satisfaction that labour is protected, in the same way as in NewZealand, and expresses approval of the progress of education. It desires to know to whom revenue is paid in respect to leases of native holdings.