From Solomons

Lifting Controls

Official Announcement

'T'HE following statement of the 1 rehabilitation position in the British Solomon Islands was issued from the office of the Resident Com missioner, at the Administration's new headquarters, Honiara, Guadal canal, on December 21.

It will be seen that it is the policy of the British Colonial Office authori ties to remove all the crippling and embarrassing wartime controls from their Territories at the earliest

possible moment.

THE public is advised that Special Regulation No. 1 of 1944, requiring persons entering and leaving the British Solomon Islands Protectorate to secure written permits, has been re pealed as from December 15, 1945.

It wifi, of course, be necessary for those entering the Protectorate to carry pass ports and go through the usual for malities.

While the Protectorate Government is anxious to encourage the early return to the Solomon Islands of all who have interests there, and is willing to assist to the extent that very limited facilities permit, it should be clearly understood that conditions are still by no means normal and that the Government cannot arrange or assist in arranging passages to and from the Protectorate.

It should also be clearly understood that the Government can in no way guarantee to provide supplies of any kind —neither can accommodation nor trans portation within the Group be assured.

Furthermore, as there are no commer cial firms yet operating, it will be neces sary for those who wish to return to make their own arrangements for the supply and shipment to the Protectorate of all provisions, equipment, fuel, etc., which they will need for their proposed operations.

At present, the only overseas shipping service is provided by the Government operated vessel, HMCS “Kurimarau,” ply ing between Guadalcanal and Suva.

While it is impossible at present to ac cept inward freights, shipping space on the outward voyage will be available.

Any person desiring to return to the Protectorate is strongly advised to con sult someone with personal knowledge of prevailing conditions before deciding whether or not to return at this time.

For the information of trading in terests, it is advised that, when private trade has been re-established and traders can show they have the neces sary facilities and organisation to cater for all trade requirements without re course to Government assistance, either for transport or distribution, it is pro posed that the Trade Rehabilitation Scheme be wound up, as circumstances permit, and stocks in hand made avail able for purchase by commercial in terests.

Firms previously operating in the Pro tectorate are invited to state their in tentions with reference to the resump tion of trading operations.

No Help For Civilians

AUSTRALIAN people with interests in the British Solomons have not re ceived the Resident Commissioner’s announcement with enthusiasm.

“All very well —but what are they really doing for the rehabilitation of civilians?” remarked one man. “It is reported that

they have been given £300,000 by the British Colonial Office for the re-estab lishment of the Administration in the Solomons. But there is not one penny piece for the assistance of the planters and traders, who lost practically every thing when the Japs invaded.

“There can be no rehabilitation of civilians, anyway, without a shipping ser vice. Nothing has been done to provide a shipping service, so far as we know.

“It looks as if the Administration is waiting for the trading and shipping in terests to do something. The latter are not likely to do anything unless they are assisted and encouraged by the Adminis tration.”