positors to whistle
for their money.

The government owns and operates most of the railways, telegraph lines,
and telephone system. There is good service at a low cost. The
government manages and supports all public schools. Attendance is
compulsory and practically everything is free from the kindergarten to
the university. There are old-age pensions for deserving poor people of
good character; there are likewise prisons for those of criminal
character--and the two are pretty apt to get together. "Bad" trusts and
monopolies have not got the upper hand anywhere in New Zealand and the
government sees to it that they do not. Great Britain appoints a
governor of the colony, but the people elect a legislative council and a
house of representatives.

New Zealand has also something more than productive lands; the colony
has plenty of coal fields, gold-mines, silver-mines, iron ore, and
copper ore. Even if all the rest of the world were closed against this
far-away colony, the New Zealanders could worry along quite well, for
they easily rank among the most prosperous and well-governed people in
the world.

CHAPTER XXVIII

SAMOA AND FIJI

The Samoa, or Navigator's, Islands, discovered by a Dutch navigator in
1722, attracted but little attention until the introduction of
Christianity in 1830. Only a few of the group are inhabited; the others
are chiefly barren rocks.

The islands are of volcanic origin, and earthquakes are frequent, but
not severe. Fringing coral reefs form barriers that in a great measure
protect the islands from heavy seas. The group lie on the steamship
route between Australia and the Pacific coast of North America; hence
they are important to the United States. The larger islands are
mountainous and well forested. Some of the mountains attain the height
of five thousand feet.

Early in the '80's there were three rival chiefs, each of whom wanted to
be king. As a result, they were at war most of the time, and the
property of Americans and Europeans suffered greatly. So, in 1889, Great
Britain, Germany, and the United States formed a joint protectorate over
them. Ten years later another outbreak was stirred up by foreign
adventurers; so the islands were annexed to Germany and the United
States for the sake of peace. The two largest, Savii and Upolu, were
ceded to Germany; Tutuila and the Manua group were taken by the United
States. On condition of having a free hand in the Cook group, Great
B