NEW ZEALAND HAS ISLANDS NEAR THE EQUATOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND HAS ISLANDS NEAR THE EQUATOR.

MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN BRITAIN IN 1826. (By E. J. HOWARD, M.P.) Suva. November 16.—The auxiliary ketch Tokelau was wrecked at the Tokelau Islands, and is a total loss. No lives were lost. The Lady Roberts brought the crew back to Apia. This is the fourth ship which has been lost on the Tokelau Islands, the last wreck being eighteen months ago. The above cablegram appeared in all the papers of New Zealand last Tuesday, but few people know that the Tokelau group of islands is part cf New Zealand territory. Almost up on the equator, this quaint group of coral atolls, with its population of a little over 1000, was turned over to New Zealand in 1926 The group proper consists of four atoll islands, but one of these, Swain’s Island, belongs to America. The islands lie roughly about 270 miles further on than Apia. The Tokelau group came into Great Britain’s hands by petition from the natives in 1916. For a time they were administered by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific as part of the Ellice group. To-day they are practically part of New Zealand, and come under the guidance of the Administrator of Western Samoa and the Hon W. Nosworthy. New Zealand is becoming a nation of islands, and has more responsibilities in that way than England had in 1826.