the Solomons

Closed Districts" in the Solomons Rennell and Bellona

AN issue of the Gazette of the Western Pacific Commission of February 15 brought the “Closed District Regulation. 1937” (British Solomon Islands), into operation. The scope and purpose of the new law is thus described by the High Commissioner (Sir Arthur Richards): — Owing to isolation, difficulty of access, and absence of inducement to traders to operate there, the native inhabitants of the Islands of Rennell and Bellona had not, until recent years, been brought into contact to any appreciable extent with visitors from beyond the confines of their home islands. They had therefore large ly retained their primitive character and customs and had avoided infection with many diseases which have taken such heavy toll of native lives throughout the Pacific Islands. In consequence they have not developed any immunity from, or resistance to, such diseases.

In recent years, as a result of visits of scientific and other expeditions, know ledge of the primitive conditions existing in the two islands has gradually spread and attracted other oversea expeditions and yachting parties. Missionary bodies are also taking a lively interest in the

two islands. In consequence the visits of vessels are becoming frequent, and the introduction of infection, with heavy mortality amongst the natives, has de monstrated the urgent necessity, in the interests of the health and lives of these people, of Government control of oversea contact with the two islands.

The Closed District Regulation 1937 has therefore been enacted to give the Administration the necessary powers of control. Under the Regulation the High Commissioner may declare any area to be a closed district, and entrance into a closed district is prohibited, except in certain specified cases, without a permit issued by the Resident Commissioner.

It is proposed to declare the Islands of Rennell and Bellona to be a closed dis trict under the Regulation, and, until health conditions in those islands are satisfactory, it is proposed to issue per mits very sparingly, under strict condi tions, and only to responsible and ap proved persons. Such permits will auth orise a single visit only' of limited dura tion, and the conditions of issue will pro vide, amongst other things, that no nat ives shall be removed from a closed dis trict without the Resident Commission er’s permission.

Such permission will normally be limited to a small specified number of male natives and will be given only when the Resident Commissioner is satisfied that such removal is in the best interests of the natives concerned or of the native community and for an approved purpose

such as education at an approved educa tional institution with a definite object.

The permit in such cases will require that all such natives shall be brought before a Deputy Commissioner or other specified officer for examination to en sure that they fully understand the pur pose for which they have been taken from their islands; that they shall be medically examined and, if not certified as fit, that they shall be repatriated forthwith or after medical attention as the Resident Commissioner may direct; and that they shall be repatriated at any time they so desire.

Medical examination will be required of all applicants for permits and of every person on board the ship in which the visit is to be made, including any native of a closed district who is being repatri ated, and permits will not be issued if the medical examination shows any indi cation of infectious disease. The ship will be inspected to ensure that it is in a sanitary condition, and a period of quarantine before the visit is made may be imposed.

It is not proposed at present to declare any areas in the Solomons Group other than the Islands of Rennell and Bellona to be closed districts.

Inspector A. E. Meredith, Officer-in-

Charge of the Nabouwalu district, Fiji,

was recently transferred to Suva. Mr.

Alan G. Rcay has been appointed to Nabouwalu.