A VALUABLE ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17111, 17 March 1919, Page 4

A VALUABLE ISLAND.

The little island of Nauru differs from all the other Pacific possessions taken from the Germans in that it is unlikely to prove a liability to its new owner or mandatory. New Guinea and Samoa will require financial and legislative help; Nauru has abundant wealth of its own and the British company which occupies it has made it in some respects a model in social and sanitary government. In the circumstances, it is not surprising that the New Zealand delegates to the Peace Conference are not submitting meekly to the Australian claim for sole control by the Commonwealth. An Australian force occupied the island, but that can hardly be held to be final, more particularly since the neighbouring island—Ocean Island—which is already British territory, is worked by the same commercial company and would probably for convenience have to go under the same flag. Whatever happens, New Zealand is interested that she should be assured of future supplies of phosphate of lime from these islands and that she should have them on the best terms. Possibly we would get equal treatment under an Australian mandate but the fact remains that, judging from past experience, there are few New Zealanders who would not unhesitatingly prefer that the control should be British rather than Australian. Though Australia and New Zealand are taking over responsibilities in the Pacific, the British Colonial Office will remain a strong governing power there. It already governs Ocean Island and may well be given the mandate for Nauru.