West Pacific

High Commissioner for West Pacific Deals in Sydney with Solomons' Affairs

THE various people and institutions with which he came into contact dur ing his short visit to Australia were much impressed with the remarkable energy and enterprise of the Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (Sir Murchison Fletcher) who visited Sydney and Melbourne at the end of February.

It was no pleasure trip for the Governor, During the few days he spent in Australia he dealt with a multiplicity of matters, ranging from the trade relationship be tween Australia and Fiji to the adminis tration of the Solomons and the New Hebrides, In collaboration with Sir Maynard Hed strom, His Excellency dealt vigorously with the problem that had arisen in con nection with the Fiji banana trade, and in terviewed various interests in Melbourne and in Sydney and had a conference in Sydney with Australian shippers where the discussion was, to say the least of it, pointed. This matter is referred to else where.

Mr. F. N. Ashley, Resident Commis sioner in the Solomon Islands, came specially to Sydney to meet his chief.

There has been a certain amount of rest lessness in the Solomons lately in con nection with administrative and other matters, and Sir Murchison Fletcher had intended to visit that Protectorate. His time was limited, however, and he could not make satisfactory steamer connec tions, so, as an alternative, he requested Mr. Ashley to meet him in Sydney.

Solomon Islands affairs were dealt with thoroughly and comprehensively. There was a series of meetings held at which representatives of the various commercial firms with interests in the Solomons were invited to discuss their grievances and make any proposals they wished; and the High Commissioner, with Mr. Ashley be side him, went very thoroughly into a score of subjects which have been agitat ing public opinion in that group.

No official announcement has been made, but it may be taken as certain that a number of reforms sought by the Solo mon Islands residents will be agreed to.

These will include a reduction in the native wage rate and probably a review of the laws under which punishment is im posed upon natives guilty of assaults on Europeans.

The question of granting trading licenses to Chinese was also considered; but it appeared that the Administration has a point of view that is not exactly in accord with that of the established European traders. It is believed that a few unscru pulous traders in the past have merci lessly exploited the natives, and it is held that the existence of Chinese traders is a definite check on that sort of thing. Prob ably more will be heard of this matter in the future.

Mr. Ashley returned to the Solomons by the Malaita at the beginning of March.

It is understood that the High Com missioner also dealt with a number of New Hebrides matters. Some of the mem bers of the Condominium joint court ar rived in Sydney on furlough at the begin

ning of March, but it is not known whether His Excellency met them offl- Sir Murchison Fletcher left for Suva by the Aorangi on March 1, and Sir Maynard and Lady Hedstrom by the Monterey on March 7.

“Waiter, my bill!”

"What did you have sir?"

“I don’t know.”

"You don't know?"

“No. I ordered a tender steak.”