PACIFIC FEDERATION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 May 1921, Page 8

PACIFIC FEDERATION

FIJI MAKES FIRST MOVE

SUVA (Fiji), April 16. On Tuesday the Legislative Council assented to the following motion as an expression of opinion from the elected members: "That in the opinion of this Council (a) the interests of the Empire in the Pacific would best be served by a I confederation of the British Islands of , the Western Pacific, governed and controlled from a common centre; (b) that j this resolution be transmitted to the.j Right Honourable the Secretary of i State for the Colonies, respectfully asking approval. . The Hon. H. M. Scott, K.C., m moving the motion, said he realised that the question was one which would require a great deal of consideration. The question had been much discussed not only by,the Press and public of the Islands, but Australia and New Zealand. There were many interests to safeguard, and the next step would be to invite, the co-operation of various representatives from the Islands concerned. The discussion came under the heading of (1) Administration, (2) Labour, (3) Trade and Commerce. The remarkable diversity in the forms or Government of the carious groups were referred to, and while he would like to see the Gilbert and Ellice Colony, Ocean and Nauru Islands. Solomons and New Hebrides in time included in the federation, he thought a start might be made with Fiii, Tonga, and Western Samoa. It seemed to him that these Islands had the same nroblems to face, the same labour difficulties, and similar products. They all belonged to the Brit\*h Empire. A few jemrs ago"'an Inter -State Trade ■ Commission reported that the Goverrj- ! ment of the Islands lacked cohesion, ' lack of system, and that if no great j change in' Government took pf f""e, the™ I should be greater supervision and I greater co-ordination in the Islands. ' This Commission recommended the ceni tre of Government be Sydney, but | evei-ything political, geographical, and economical po'nted tci Fiii as the centre of Government. A3 a "federation the colony could command greater attention.' 'fo-day the trade of Fiji was £4,590,000. If a confederacy were brough about, this trade would very greatly increase, as greater shipping facilities became available.

He' referred to the inereas'ng activity of Jap*o in the Pacific," Germany's tenacity in clinging to hope of recovering her lest possessions in the Pacific, and America looking acrossihe Pacific to Japan. This state of affairs must cause ample food for reflection to the Island communities whose homes l:e between those two great naval powers, i In working out a constitution, more freedom must he given to the European residents, who had already proved by experience that they were capable of taking a very active part in the'r own governing. There should he one governor and 6ne government by bodies or parliament with a Federal Council at the centre, whi r-h everything clearly po: nted should be Suva. " After fche pass'ner of the resolution, if the Secretary of State gave his conI sent, other practical step? wou'd include a conference between representatives- of the various inhabitants selected fov that purpose. To-day their elected members had raanv restrictions. Although they had had the prneiVe of e'ective representation since 1905, no elected member under the Standing Orders had power to move any vote in the House for the expenditure of rmVic money. no matter hew small. T£ t^e confederacy were inaugurated a upw inteeral j>art of the Empire would be brought into be:nt*. based on- a free and democratic system of Hfp ard srovernmen.t. rApplause).— Auckland Star correspondent.