South Pacific

Commission

Settling-In In the Pentagon, Noumea

BY the end of March, the officials and staff of the South Pacific Commis sion, transported from Sydney in three parties, by air, had settled in the Commission’s new headquarters, in the Pentagon Building, some 21 miles out side Noumea, in New Caledonia.

The French Government has given most complete co-operation, in altering the building and in providing all kinds of amenities. The NC Treasury allocated 3,200,000 Pacific francs for this work in December, and another 800.000 in March —altogether £25,000 Australian.

The majority of the officials, and their families, are in residence at the Penta gon, where suitable apartments, with central kitchen and messing equipment, have been provided. “Transit” quarters also are being provided for the numerous persons who will be coming and going.

The Research Council officers have now arrived in Noumea after a lengthy tour of the Pacific (see article elsewhere), and are making preparations for the first Council session on April 30.

THE Commission will hold its nertt meeting there on May 7. The French chairman will retire in favour of the Netherlands delegate, whose turn it is to preside. M. Lasselle Sere is still First Commissioner for France. M. Bonnard.

Head of Cabinet in Noumea, is Second Commissioner.

Brigadier Hunt, of New Zealand, is acting for six months as immediate As sistant to the Secretary General, Mr. W.

D. Forsyth. The Deputy Secretary General, Mr. H. E. Maude, is acting for the present as Social Development Officer of the Research Council (an important position that was not filled at the October meeting in Sydney).

Towards the end of May, after the heat and dust of removal from Sydney, plus a Council and a Commission meet ing, have cleared away, this new and im portant organisation will settle down to its routine duties, and a more normal life.