POPULATION PROBLEMS OF THE PACIFIC. By Stephen H. Roberts. (Routledge.
21s.)- Mr. Roberts, an lustralian historian, has written a very remarkable book n the present condition and future prospects of the natives the Pacific islands. We have all heard of the rapid decay the fine Marquesan race. It is comforting to know that he Marquesas arc exceptional. Within recent years the Sanwans and Tongans, like the Maoris, have increased ; hiti and Fiji have stationary populations ; the decline in he New Hebrides and New Caledonia has been checked. Ir. Roberts shows that European influence accentuated, at did not cause, the decline of the island communities, and hat modern administration, particularly by replacing the old 'onanunism by peasant proprietorship, has infused new life nto many islands. Further, the author examines very thor- uglily the effects of Asiatic immigration, especially of the 'Slime; in Fiji, and of the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and hers in Hawaii, "the melting-pot of the Pacific." He peaks most favourably of the Chinese and thinks little of the Ilipino and the. Porto Rican. There is a-great mingling of ees, and the half-breed children of Asiatics and islanders how promise. "Race-mixture," Mr. Roberts concludes, LS one of the most important transforming agencies at work n the Pacific."
Previous page
