Delegates Assemble In Suva

First South Pacific Conference

BY April 20, the representatives of 16 major groups of South Pacific Islanders were assembling in Suva, to attend the First South Pacific Con ference, which will be opened there by the Governor of Fiji on April 24. It will dis cuss political, social and economic prob lems.

The Conference will make recommenda tions to the fifth session of the South Pacific Commission which will sit in Suva on May 10.

The South Pacific Conference is the first of its kind ever held, and in future will be convened at intervals of not more than three years.

The South Pacific Commission, a fact finding, technical and advisory bodv set up to protect the interests of non-self governing peoples in the Pacific, is sup ported by six Pacific Powers—Australia, New Zealand, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

It is sponsoring and financing this Suva Conference of native leaders so that they shall have full opportunity to formulate a common policy, and make their needs and views known to the world.

The first Conference may be of par ticular topical interest because the Dutch Papuan delegates are expected to declare strongly that surrender of sovereignty in Western New Guinea to the Indonesian republic would be inimical to the interests of the natives.

Delegates, who have been chosen in ac cordance with the constitutional practice of their territories, will come from Papua, Dutch and Australian New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, French Oceania, Ameri can and Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, the New Hebrides, the Tokelau Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga.

These territories will also send ad visers. Commissioners representing the six participating Governments, and mem bers of the South Pacific Commission’s Research Council, will also attend as ob servers.

The chairman of the Conference will be Sir Brian Freeston, who is Governor of Fiji, High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and senior Commissioner for the United Kingdom on the South Pacific Commission.

Delegates

French Oceania

Delegates: M. LUCIEN VAYSSIERE. Professeur Technique, Chief of the Public Education Service. M. PAUL BERNIERE, West Coast Delegate to the Representative Assembly.

Cook Islands And Niue

Delegates: Mrs. Makea Nui Teremoa"Na

ARIKI (Rarotonga). ROBERT REX (Niue).

Alternates: RONGOMATANE ARIKI (Atiu).

ALBERT R. HENRY (Rarotonga).

American Samoa

Delegates: HIGH CHIEF TUFELE, County Chief of Pitiuta County, Manu’a; Member of Governor’s Advisory Council; Member of The House of Alii, Legislature of American Samoa (aged 52 years). HIGH CHIEF TUITELE, of Lealataua County, Tutuila; Member of the Governor’s Advisory Council; Member of the House of Alii, Legislature of American Samoa (aged 51 years).

Advisers; High Talking Chief Mariota

P. TUTASOSOPO, Speaker of The House of Re presentatives of the Legislature of American Samoa and High Talking Chief of Sua and Vai fanua Counties of Samoa (aged 45 years).

LIEUT. EDWARD V. P. HORNE, USN Assistant Attorney-General, Government of American Samoa.

Western Samoa

Delegates: HON. TAMASESE. Member of the Council of State. HON. MAiLIETOA. Member of the Council of State.

Alternates; HON. TUALAULELEI, Member of the Legislative Assembly. PAIPULE ANAPU.

Chairman of the Fono of Faipule.

Gilbert Islands

Delegates: Cadet Administration Officer, I. G.

TURBOTT. Acting Co-operative Societies Officer.

TUTU TEKANENE, Senior Assistant Medical Practitioner.

Ellice Islands

Delegates: Assistant Administrative Officer, F.

PENITALA TEO, Acting Administrative Officer, Ellice Islands District. lOSEFA, Acting Head master. King George V. School.

Fiji

Delegates; HON. JOELI RAVAI. Fourth Native Member of the Fiji Legislative Council. HON.

VISHNU DEO, MLC, Indian Member for the Southern Division.

Alternates: HON. RATU E. T. CAKOBAU. MC.

MLC. Fifth Native Member. HON. M. S.

BUKSH. MLC, Indian Nominated Member.

Nauru

Delegate: JACOB.

Alternate: RAYMOND GADABU.

Adviser; T. H. CODE.

British Solomon Islands

Delegates; M. BELADE. Senior Dresser, Medical Staff. BALHASAR GINA, Honiara Post Office.

Alternates: MR. M. J. FORSTER, Adminis trative Officer, in Charge of Central District.

Dr. J. S. Mackenzie-Pollock, Senior

Medical Officer.

New Hebrides

Delegates: M. SUVA-PETERO (Pr.). Catechist at the Marist Mission. Tanna. JOHN KALSA KAU (Br,), Assistant Medical Practitioner.

New Caledonia

Delegates: M. Raphael Bouanani, M. Maou

Djoel.

Alternate: M. LESCAN DU PLESSIX, Director of the Native Affairs Service.

Papua

Delegates: Willie Gavera, Bondai Pita.

Alternates: Frank Aisi, Miria Gavera, Aisa Gu’u.

Adviser: Dr. J. T. Gunther.

New Guinea

Delegates, Waiau Ahnon, George Kassi.

Alternates; Kamono Walo. Aisoli Salin.

Advisers: R. H. Boyan. S. H. Christian.

Netherlands New Guinea

Delegates: M. M. POS. E. J. ARIKS.

Alternates: DR. J. V. DE BRUYN, Nether lands New Guinea Civil Administration. P J.

Erkelijn.

Tonga

Delegates: HRH TUNGI, Premier of Tonga.

HRH TU’IPELEHAKE, Governor of Vava’u.

Adviser: P. A. RICHARDSON. Secretary to the Government of Tonga.

Observers

DR. HAROLD J. COOLIDGE, Pacific Science Board, National Research Council (USA).

DR. J. D. COTTRELL, World Health Organi sation.

DR. J. VAN BEUSEKOM, Division of Infor mation from Non-Self-Governing Territories of the United Nations Secretariat.

MR. ANDREW HAMMOND, Caribbean Com mission.

REV. C. F. GRIBBLE. MA, National Missionary Council of Australia.

ARCHDEACON HANDS. National Missionary Council of New Zealand.

Commissioners

FRANCE.—M. R. Lassalle-Sere and M. Pierre C. J. Bonnard.

NETHERLANDS.—Mr J B. D. Pennink.

NEW ZEALAND.—Lieut.-Col. F. W. Voelcker.

United Kingdom.—Mr. H. H. Vaskess.

UNITED STATES.—Dr. Felix M. Keesing. Mr, Milton Shalleck. (Advisers: Mr. Robert R.

Robbins and Mr. Claude C. Ross.) AUSTRALIA.—DetaiIs to come,