Report On The Solomon Islands

Dr. Rutter Sums up the Problems at a London Press Conference

D R t G • RUTTER, who was the officer in charge of Methodist Mission health work in the Solomon

Islands for 10 years, and since the war, Chief Medical Officer in the Pro tectorate, returned with Mrs. Rutter to England in March. At a press con

ference at the Colonial Office, London,

on June 30, Dr. Rutter had this to say about the post-war era in BSI: THERE are only about 150 Europeans In the Solomons. About half the Euro pean population formerly living in Tulagi in the Eastern Solomons have now moved to the main island of Gaudal canal. Before the war life was rather primitive but since the American occupa tion we jhave inherited some of their amenities. We have some roads, our lives are now more mechanised than was the case before the war, we have inherited a pipe-water supply and electric light.

But, for persons living away from the capital, life is still primitive.

The question is often asked: What has been the effect of the war upon the native population of the Solomon Islands?

In the popular mind, the effect tends to be rather exaggerated, although in some cases, of course, there has been a pro found effect. But only a small propor tion of the native population ever saw a Japanese or American soldier. The population is scattered over a very wide area and not more than 10 per cent, had any contact at all with the American Forces. In those Forces excellent dis cipline maintained and there was a segregation of the Forces from the native population which minimised the effect of the occupation.

During the war there was a heavy re cruitment for the labour battalion. In some districts whole villages were des troyed in the war and there was an acute shortage of labour but that shortage is passing. The effect of the war upon the native population is far less than one would have imagined and I think the greater part of that effect will vanish in a reasonably short time.

There was the rise of the Marching Rule Movement which caused some poli tical disturbance. The origin of that phrase is obscure. It was an indepen dence movement, rather bound up with a refusal to work. Partly, its rise was as sociated with the social and economic conditions during the American occupa tion and partly with the general political unrest among native populations every where. At first it was regarded as a rather healthy type of independence movement. There was a tendency among the people to feel that the Americans had more to offer them than the British had but that tendencv has now practically gone. Having let the movement go on for some time, the Government then found that it had developed certain illegal ten dencies such as the setting up of auto nomous courts and the Government last year took a rather firm stand. Leaders of the movement were arrested and, where they had actuallv transgressed the law, were imprisoned. But there was no harshness. In fact, some of the leaders were sent to Fiji on observation courses to see for themselves the working of the Native Administration there.

The old capital, Tulagi, has been com pletely destroyed and a new capital is now being built at Guadalcanal, although it has the major disadvantage of not hav ing a good harbour. The site was selected partly because of its proximity to Hen derson Airfield and also because Guadal

canal is the island where future develop ment in agriculture, timber and gold mining is likely to occur. Very elaborate plans were made for the building of the new capital but we are faced with a great shortage of building materials and we have to make use of salvaged material already on the island. Certain materials have been brought in from outside, but these supplies are negligible.

The copra plantations, the staple in dustry of the islands, were destroyed and the industry has been faced with the necessity of making a fresh start. The only link with the outer world is a 300 tons steamer plying between the Solo mons and Suva. (The small Burns Philp motor vessel “Muliama” began a Sydney- Honiara service in July.) That is why the rehabilitation of the copra industry has been so slow. Churches, schools, etc., have been destroyed and there is great difficulty in getting sufficient salvaged material to get them going again.

THE type of administration in the Solomon Islands before the war was inadequate. An attempt is being made to establish a definite development scheme under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts.

Different departments are being de veloped. One is the medical department which was woefully inadequate for its tasks before the war. But, as I have said, we have to deal with the requirements of a population scattered over a very wide area and so there are great difficulties in the way of administration and medical service. In the past year we have quad rupled our expenditure on medical work in the Solomons. The Education Depart ment, which is now being developed, did not exist before the war. The work was done by the missions and they did very good work indeed. Now, there is a

Director of Education and an inspectorate of schools.

The government is trying to expand communications through the purchase of some small ships.

Then there is the development of native administration. The Government is in ducing the native population to take a bigger share in, and greater responsibility for, the management of their own affairs.

There is development of native councils, native schools and, in certain areas, native taxation regulations by which, under the supervision of the District Commissioner, taxes are levied, collected and spent.

The shipping difficulty is the main problem. Once that is solved, the de velopment plans will go ahead. With in creasing mechanisation, even in copra making, production is likely to in crease.

American War Graves

Mission In Islands

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, July 19.

THE American Army ship LST 711 is now in the course of a tour of the South Pacific with the American Graves Registration Service (Pacific Zone) Search and Recovery Expedition aboard.

The expedition, under the command of Lieutenant R. I. Trapp, USN, is making a final visit to the Islands in search of the remains of American Second World War dead, and after leaving Fiji will go to the New Hebrides, New Zealand, Aus tralia, New Britain, New Ireland, the Admiralty Islands, the Carolines, the Solomons, Santa Cruz, the Gilbert and Ellice Groups and the Marshalls.

The Maori representative Rugby team, which will travel to Fiji by plane, will arrive at Laucala Bay on July 21, and will leave again for Auckland on August 9, after playing a series of matches.