Officers
Spc Research
Examine Eight Territories In 5 Weeks
MAKING use of service and chartered planes, four of the principal officers of the South Pacific Commission completed a comprehensive tour of the South Pacific at the end of March, when they arrived in Sydney on their way to the Commission’s Headquarters in Noumea. They were:— Dr. L, G. M. Baas Becking, Deputy Chairman of the Research Coun cil.
Mr. H. E. Maude, Deputy Secretary- General of the Commission (tem porarily carrying on the duties of full-time Research Officer in the field of Social Development).
Dr. E. Massal, full-time Health Of ficer of the Research Council.
Dr. H. G. MacMillan, full-time Eco nomic Development Officer of the Research Council.
Between February 26, when they left New Zealand, and April 3, these gentle men planned a tour as follows: — February 26-March 4: In Suva, capital of Fiji, and headquarters of the Western Pacific High Commission.
March 4-9: At Apia, Admn. Hdqrs. of Western Samoa.
March 9-11: At Rarotonga, Admn.
Hdqrs. of Cook Islands.
March 12-15: At Pago Pago, Admn, Hdqrs. of American Samoa.
March 16-20: At Honiara. Admn. Hdqrs. of British Solomon Islands.
March 20-21: At Lae, Australian New Guinea.
March 21-24: At Hollandia, Dutc . I ew Guinea.
March 24-26: At Lae, Australian New Guinea.
March 26-31: At Port Moresby, Admn.
Hdqrs. of Papua-New Guinea.
Owing to dislocation of plane schedu’es, the Honiara visit was omitted.
The officers reported, on their arrival in Sydney, that they had everywhere been received with courtesy, and their search for information had been greatly assisted by the local Administrations. They had accumulated a great deal of valuable in formation which would be put in f o shape, and made readily accessible, when they had settled down in the Commission’s new Headquarters in Noumea.
The officers proceeded from Sydney to New Caledonia by plane after a week in Sydney, in which they had many inter views with experts on the fields of health, education, economic development, anthro pology, etc.