Solomon Islands
pp. 23-24 · Read in the full issue
Council
THE mid-year session of the Solomon Islands Advisory Council was opened at Tulagi on May 7th, His Honour the Resident Commissioner presiding.
The members present were: —Official: The Secretary to the Government (Captain N. S. B. Kidson), Treasurer and Collector of Customs (Mr, F. E. Johnson, I.S.O.), Commissioner of Lands (Mr. S. G. C.
Knibbs). Non-official: The Right Rev. the Bishop of Melanesia, Mr. D. Mackinnon and Mr. J. C. M. Scott.
The President read an address, reviewing events of concern to the Protectorate since the last meeting of the Council, and Mr. Mackinnon replied on behalf of nonofficial members,
Mining Laws
The more important business discussed related to a new Mining Regulation, the question of whether the Agricultural Committee should continue to function after January, 1936, and a draft Agricultural and Live Stock Regulation.
After discussion, it was decided to base Protectorate mining legislation upon the Fiji Ordinance, recently promulgated.
Non-official members strongly represented the need for the Agricultural Committee to continue, and the necessity of having the services of an Entomologist as expert adviser, and to carry on the research work now proceeding. Official members opposed the recommendations, for financial reasons.
The draft of the Agriculture and Live
Stock Regulation, which gives effect to amendments proposed at a previous meeting of the Council, was approved unanimously, and will probably become operative almost immediately.
Assistance To Planters
The question of Government assistance to planters was reverted to; but, owing to experiments with various types of copra driers having proved inconclusive, it was decided to defer definite action until the October session of the Council, when it is
hoped that more information will be available.
Motions by private members included the abolition of hawker’s licences, and permission for recruiting vessels to carry freight to isolated plantations while en route to recruiting places. Both proposals were agreed to.
Radio Communication
The matter of equipping Government district stations with wireless receiving and transmitting installations capable of maintaining communication with Tulagi, was also debated, and it was decided to obtain information relative to a suitable type of set, and the cost involved, for submission to the Council at the next meeting.