BSI Headmen Meet Their Government

AS reported briefly in October PIM, BSI Government headmen and assistant headmen, 150 in number, came from all over the Group to attend the Head men’s Conference, held in Honiara from October 3-8.

The conference, the first of its kind, was designed for an exchange of ideas between Government and headmen and to afford headmen a chance of seeing for themselves the new capital and the work being done therein.

The conference opened with a cere monial parade of the Armed Constabulary and an address of welcome by the Acting Resident Commissioner (Mr. J. D. A. Ger mond), attended by all the European resi dents of Honiara, numerous outside visitors and some 500 Solomon Islanders.

Mr. Germond presented two medals: the British Empire Medal (Military Division) to S/Sgt. Buga (of the Armed Constabu lary) for meritorious service during the war, and the Medal of Freedom, a US award, to Johnson Soro, now deceased, of Savo Island, whose daughter received the medal in his stead.

Throughout the week, headmen listened to addresses by senior Government officers on various aspects of Government ad ministration and inspected new buildings, the radio station, hospital, workshops.

Armed Constabulary headquarters and gaol and the Government Trade Scheme.

They were particularly interested in the Bailey bridge now being erected over the

Matanikau River and when they were in vited to push it, saw it roll forward an other thirty feet towards the western bank.

Farm machinery in operation at the Government agricultural experimental farm, at Hu, received a deeply interested

inspection during a day’s visit to see the farm’s activities.

The entertainment side of the pro gramme included sports and a grand scale feast at Armed Constabulary head quarters on October 8 which marked the close of the conference. The feast was followed by a two-hours programme of native dancing before a big European and Solomon Islander audience.

These photographs show some of the 150 headmen and assistant headmen who attended the conference; and (at left), the Acting Resident Commissioner (Mr. J. D. A.

Germond), listening while part of his address of welcome is translated into Pidgin by Sgt.-Major Richardson, of the BSI Armed Constabulary. Behind Mr. Germond is Mr.

Peebles (Assistant Secretary to Government) as ADC.