14

Correspondence is exchanged with the Governments of American Samoa, Fiji, Western Pacific High Commission, the Government of Tonga, and with the British Consuls in Tahiti and New Caledonia on matters of trade, commerce, finance, civil aviation, strategic and defence matters, public works, immigration, agriculture, and health. In association with the Government of Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission, New Zealand is concerned with the operation of a South Pacific Health Service, now in its fourth year of development. New Zealand has two representatives on the South Pacific Board of Health, which has advisory functions concerned with the training of nurses and native medical practitioners and the encouragement of research. In accordance with the agreement establishing the Service, a pool of medical officers is being built up, despite difficulties presented by a widespread post-war shortage of doctors. It is hoped to renew the agreement, which is at present under review, for a further five-year period. During the year negotiations with the Government of French Oceania for a settlement of the advances made during the war to the French authorities in the South Pacific were satisfactorily concluded in Paris. Also under negotiation for renewal is the agreement under which New Zealand on her own behalf and for her island territories, Western Samoa, the Government of Fiji, the Western Pacific High Commission, and the Government of American Samoa, maintains an establishment on Makogai for the treatment of lepers from their respective territories. The term of the agreement just expired was for twenty years, and renewal for a further ten years is under consideration. The New Zealand Government is also a partner with the Australian and United Kingdom Governments in the British Phosphate Commission, which is concerned with the working and supply of much-needed phosphate from Nauru and Ocean Islands. At Nauru the Commission is assisting the Administration in the rehousing of the Nauruans as a contribution to the reparation of the destruction caused by Japanese occupation. THE FAR EAST; SOUTH AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA 1. General During the period, standard definitions of the following geographical terms were adopted : South Asia ... India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Nepal, Afghanistan. South-east Asia ... Burma, Thailand, Indo-China, Malaya, Singapore, British territory in Borneo, Indonesia, Philippines, Portuguese Timor. Far East ... China, Korea, Japan.