PACIFIC FEDERATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15496, 27 April 1918, Page 3

PACIFIC FEDERATION.

INTEE-STATE COMMISSION’S EEPOET.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. MELBOUENE, April 2G.

Tne Inter-State Commission’s report to Parliament on British and Australian trade in the South Pacific, says the present control of the islands by the British Crown lacks cohesion and system, and suggests that the question is ripe for a settlement, as to whether come federated control should not be devised at an early date. An authority might be established with but slight change, if any, in the respective Governments of the' several tracts in the Pacific, but with powers of supervision and co-ordination not at present possessed. Such authority would not tie subject in any way to the Commonwealth Government, but to a High Commissionership of the Pacific, held, or not held, in conjunction with the office of Governor-General of Australia. This would be a suitable kernal from which such a representative form of Pacific Federation might naturally grow. The federated control should preferably have at its central seat the natural rendezvous of most of the Pacific trade and shipping. Sydney or Fiji is not central for administrative and commercial purposes. The Commission suggests that in order to ensure a timely settlement of the question of government, a conjoint inquiry by representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand should be undertaken. The report directs attention to the necessity for a better international agreement regarding the New Hebrides, and the importance of solving the question of efficient supply of labour and developing the trade of the islands. The Commission is satisfied that without considerable subsidies it will be impossible in future to develop interisland trade, or that with Australia and other parts of the Empire. If Australia could consume a substantial proportion of the output of copra, she would have no difficulty in controlling the island trade. The Commonwealth could, with considerable commercial advantage, afford to allow nearly aP the productions of the islands to be admitted free. The report advises that the attention of the Imperial Government be directed to the serious necessity of Australia retaining British rights in the island of Nauru, whether by its transference to the British flag or by guarantees against any violation of the commercial status before the war. The report generally indicates scop© for developing cattle-raising, coffee, cocoa, tapioco, vanilla, and every tropical production in the island