Conference?

Next S. Pacific

Closing Scenes In Suva

Suva, May 6.

THE South Pacific Conference ended on May 5 in a flurry of newspaper headings. Never, in all history, did the Islands get so much publicity as be tween April 20 and May 6.

By 11 to 4, the delegations voted for another Conference in two years’ time, instead of three. The French Territories, with Western Samoa, constituted the minoritv. The Commission will decide. of a place for the next Conference produced a lively dis cussion. The Australians wanted New Guinea; the French delegations urged Tahiti; another section suggested New Zealand; some realists spoke up for Sydney.

Australia and NZ are wiped out, it sCV'tos, by the ruling that the gathering :nu be in the Islands, north of Capri ce n.

The Australian plan is that New Guinea m mediately should begin to pre pare accommodation and facilities for , holdn v fli£ 1952 Conference in the High lands" mat cool and pleasant country t 1 -> 4 lies at about 5,000 feet, eastward c M'>unt Hagen. It is argued that thus re could be laid the foundations of a i/own-a cool, healthy hill-station, in the pf.Gtile uplands, which might have a pro found effect on the future of New f'uinea.

Again, the Commission will decide. (All Conference decisions go as recommenda tions to the Commission.) THE last days of the Conference were marked by a general newspaper at tack upon Australia’s representa tion. Australia controls two thirds of the South Pacific population and half the land area; pays a third of the cost of the Commission; but Australia, said

the critics, did not exercise much influ ence in the set-up. The attack obviously was directed against the Rev. Dr. J. W.

Burton, who, with Mr. J. R. Halligan (secretary of the Territories Department) has been Australia’s representative on the Commission since its formation. Mr.

Halligan has been deeply occupied else where, so much work has fallen upon Dr.

Burton.

Australia’s senior Commissioner should be hard, tough, and ruthless, and very experienced in South Pacific problems.

Dr. Burton, who has been a director of missions all his life, is a kindly, gentle, lovable man. He has brought wisdom and complete sincerity to the Commis sion table, but he is no dynamic force.

Criticism of him embarrassed the Aus tralian Territories Minister. (Mr.

Spender is also Minister for External Affairs; and Dr. John Burton, Secretary of that Department, is a son of the Rev.

Dr. Burton), However, the Rev. Dr. Burton settled matters by promptly resigning. Prob ably, he welcomed the chance —he wanted to drop out of the Commission many months ago.

PRINCE Tugi, of Tonga, whose thought ful contributions to the discussions made him the outstanding figiire among the delegates, caused a stir when he urged that a knowledge of English be made compulsory and general through out tne Islands. He pointed out that education is the islanders’ first need, and that the wide diversity of tongues is the chief factor against education.

The French delegations took the sug gestion amiss—but had nothing really logical to urge against it. For centuries, and until a few decades ago, French was the international language and the language of culture. But now—especially since World War II and the advent of United States as the leading Power— English has become the international language. English is the official language in every country in the Pacific, except New Caledonia and French Oceania.

Prince Tugi also startled the Confer ece by urging birth control in the many Pacific Territories where there has been population revival, and where there is apparent danger of food resources be coming strained.

Tugi’s arguments were supported by some delegates; but there was uncom promising hostility from Catholic sec tions.

THE Conference ended with well-de served tributes to Sir Brian Free ston, whose capable and sympa thetic chairmanship made the Confer ence the success it undoubtedly was; to Mr. Forsyth, Secretary-General, whose fine feat of organisation made the Con ference possible; and to the 60 students of Nasinu College, whose help as mes sengers and servants contributed so much to the delegates’ comfort and convenience. (For report of Conference, and general com ment, see other pages.)