Conference Of Native
pp. 31-32 · Read in the full issue
Peoples
Delegates of 16 Territories To Go To Suva Next April
ACCORDING to present plans, a re markable experiment will be carried out, early next year, by the South Pacific Commission, when it holds—in Suva, commencing about April 24, 1950 the first South Pacific Conference.
It is intended that the Conference shall be attended by native representatives of the native peoples of:— Papua Solomon Islands New Caledonia American Samoa Western Samoa Nauru Fiji Dutch N. Guinea Ellice Islands Cook Islands New Guinea Gilbert Islands French Oceania New Hebrides Tokelau Is.
Tonga will be invited to send a rep resentative.
A statement issued at the head quarters of the Commission, in Noumea, says:— “The primary aim of this Conference, (which is given advisory powers as a body auxiliary to the Commission), is to enable the local inhabitants and insti tutions of the territories within the scope of the Commission to associate with its work.
“Because the native representatives will in most cases not be experienced in the work of international bodies the Commission is anxious to keep the agenda items simple.
“The provisional agenda has not yet been finalised but suggestions include the discussion of village sanitation, sub sistence crops, fisheries and their im
brovement, co-operative movements and land usage.
“The agenda will be considered at the fourth session of the Commission after the suggested agenda items have been commented on by the Territorial Govern ments."
THE Government of Fiji already has applied itself to the preliminary problem of housing, in overcrowded Suva, this Conference and its numerous delegates.
Mr. H. E. Maude, member for Social Development on the Commission’s Re search Council, and Mr. J. Ryan, acting head of the Conference Division of the Secretariat, were in Suva at the end of July, and they discussed these matters with the Fiji Government.
THIS will be the first time in history that members of all the South Pacific communities—it will be noted that they number sixteen—have come together in any convention of this kind. The Fijian, Polynesian and Micro nesian peoples are quite competent to take part in such a gathering; but it may not be so easy to get suitable dele gates from the Melanesian section (Papua, New Guinea, Solomons, New Caledonia and New Hebrides).
The only occasion when men ifrom most of these Territories met together was when selected students, two or three years ago were assembled at the Suva Medical School, to undergo train ing as Native Medical Practitioners.
About 1947 there were young native students there from all the Polynesian countries, and from Guam, Fiji, New Hebrides, Solomons, Papua and New Guinea. It was found, however, that, generally, the young Melanesians were somewhat too backward in their primary education to go into classes with Fijians and Polynesians of the same age. A
plan for a Melanesian Medical School has been under consideration for some time.
All persons concerned with the future of the Pacific native races will follow this South Pacific Conference in Suva, next April, with the liveliest interest.
Special Work For Dr. Elkin
Dr. A. P. ELKIN, Professor of Anthro pology at the University of Sydney, is to assist the South Pacific Com
mission in its research programme by undertaking a study in Social Anthro pology. He will make a review of all that has been accomplished in Mela nesia in the field of Social Anthropology, prepare recommendations on what still needs to be done, and assess priorities for further work in the field. The Com mission hopes that this will produce something of a practical nature, of de finite value to government officers, mis sionaries and others dealing with the problems of native peoples in the South west Pacific. Dr. Elkin already has com menced his task.