PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15223, 22 May 1920, Page 3

PACIFIC ISLANDS.

AUSTRALIAN CONTROL URGED. Elec. Tel. Copyright'— United Press Assn.; MELBOURNE, May 22. The report of the Royal Commission on the administration of former German territories m the Pacific Islands recommends that if control be transferred to the Commonwealth the islands, should be administered as part of Papua, or if this is disapproved .the territory should be kept separate from Papua for the purpose of legislation and internal admin- | istration, but that one officer should administer both Governments. (Received May 22, 10.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 22. The report of the commission on the administration of the former German territory considers the cost of the Government will be £220.000 annually. The report recommends £205,000 of this to be raised by local taxation, principally on import andvexport duties, and by the granting of a Commonwealth subsidy of £30,000 annually, the subsidy later to be withdrawn. It advocates the nationalisation of German properties, which should bo carried on by the Commonwealth. . i

, A minority report recommends that the Government be organised on the lines of the present Papuan Government, with an Administrator, Executive, ' and Legislative Council, at a' cost of £168,000 yearly. It advises the imposition of a super-tax on the export of copra, but does not recommend the nationalisation of plantations, stating that this would involve a : capital outlay of- at least £2.500.030. Ifc recommends a preferential Territory tariff, first m favor r>f Australia, and next m favor of the Empire, and also preferential Australian duties m favor of Papua and mandated territories. The report also urges to liquidate the (German Tradinc Company's assets, consisting o f town blocks, which should be held by the Government and leased.