GERMANY'S PACIFIC POSSESSIONS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14653, 6 March 1918, Page 7

GERMANY'S PACIFIC POSSESSIONS.

RETENTION FAVOURED,

MOTION BY HAPuBOrR BOARD

At the monthly meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board Mr T. Edwards moved: "That the -Nelson Harbour Board realising the immensity of the question of the future occupation of the Pacific colonies, strongly urge the representatives to the Imperial Conference in England to safeguard New Zealand's interests by allowing no other settlement of the question than the permanent retention of those colonies by ; Great Britain.", . '"-,,,■ f ].n speaking to the motion Sir Edwards said the vital importance to New Zealand as to who should retain possession ox the pacific colonies now m .the hands of Britain—particularly Samoa— could not be over-estimated. If we failed to keep them an endless and crstly task confronted us, compelling us m Nee Zealand to maintain a navy and a coiisiderable military force to protect .ourselves against a menace winch wunM keep us in a constant state of uncertainty and danger of mvasio.-i, whivh, considering the blood-: that had been spilt and the supreme sacrifice in life, made the prospect intolerable. .Mr Washbourn seeoti.it><l the motion II.» believed the whole o>' i»i.j people in thy Dominion deslru-l that lug Islands !»i«ouH be retained.

Mr Field, iv supporting- the motion, ■ai'iit would never 10 >•> -.ft tiie liermans got. hues, in i'«'' I'-1' '"■ ; <: >m The chairman said tiiat after the -"»-•■-:<e of bi'jod a.n-1 t>« a-•'■.* •; i^hting the Germans, they should never he allowed in the Pacific again, and he believed that such, resolutions would strengthen t-hft hands of iNew Zealand's representatives at the Impsrhi Conference. Tho motion was earned.