B.S.I. Council

Non-Official Protest at £2,762 Item For Unexplained Scheme

From a Special Correspondent

Tulagi, Oct. 27.

TTIIE bi-annual session of the 8.5.1. * Advisory Council opened at Tulagi on October 4, His Honour the Resident Commissioner (Mr. F. N. Ashley, C.M.G.) presiding. Members present were: Official, Messrs. F. E. Johnston, 1.5.0., S. G. C.

Knibbs, and A. E. Osborne; Non-official, Messrs. D. MacKinnon, J. C. M. Scott, C E. Hart and Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley (Bishop of Melanesia).

His Honour the President, in his open ing address and Non-official members in their address in reply, paid eloquent tri bute to the memory of their late col league, Mr. G. E. Clift, whose death since the last meeting deprived the Pro tectorate of a public-spirited citizen, and the Administration of a valued counsel lor.

It was disclosed that for the year ended March 31 last, revenue exceeded expenditure by £5,109. For the current year, considerable extraordinary expen diture is provided for. This item, over £2,000, covers new buildings' and the cost of the recently erected harbour-lights.

The financial Estimates for 1937-38 were adopted after a close scrutiny in committee. Non-official members, how ever, placed on record a strong unani mous protest in respect of an allocation of £2,762 for a scheme regarding which nc particulars were divulged.

A new ration scale for native labourers was approved. It will become effective as from April 1, 1938.

The proposed Coastal Shipping Regu lation, which was withdrawn at the May session, was re-drafted in the interim, and again submitted. After close exami nation in committee, in the course of which various amendments were effected, the Regulation was adopted.

A motion brought down by a Non official member relating to certain amend ments of the Customs tariff, including a reduction in the duty chargeable on twist tobacco (a compulsory ration issue to labourers) was debated. Recommen dations were made to which considera tion will be given by the Administration.

The question of exempting visiting yachts from the payment of light and harbour dues was resolved in the nega tive, and that of providing navigation beacons for Gizo harbour in the affirma tive.

A proposal to set up a committee to inquire into the manner in which native taxes are assessed was withdrawn by Non-official members after hearing a full and comprehensive statement on the sub ject delivered by the President.

The Council, after considering various routine matters, adjourned sine die on October 8.

Mr. Leonard Graham Bartley, 40, an engineer on the staff of the Eastern Ex tension Cable Company, died in Sydney on October 28. He had been stationed at

Suva, Norfolk Island, and Fanning Is

land cable stations. He left a widow and two children.