What the Powers Give to the Islands

Islands

IN the combination of gifts together with experience, which each of the Powers represented brings to the South Pacific Commission, we see a flow ing together of the histories of those countries and their best ideals and as pirations for the benefit of the peoples of

the South Pacific,’* said the Prime Ministei and Crown Prince of Tonga (Prince Tugi) in a special statement, after the Confer ence had opened. “A body founded under such auspices must surely meet with great success in all its endeavours.”

Each of the Powers represented, de clared Prince Tugi, had in its past history struggled for certain ideals for its own people. “This effort to assist the peoples of the South Pacific to meet modern con ditions seems to be an extension to others of what they have already achieved for themselves.”

Each Power had something unique in its past history and present circumstances that appeared to make its contribution a very natural development.

The United Kingdom, said Prince Tugi, was probabaly the first of the great Powers to achieve liberty and equality, re spect for law and order, and Parliament ary sovereignty. While her long experi ence in governing colonies was incom parable, it was the lesson of the American Revolution that had taught Britain how best to deal with the national aspirations of her dependent peoples. Britain’s ex perience had fitted her peculiarly for the role she had played, and would continue to play, in colonial affairs.

France was possibly the first nation on the continent of Europe to emerge from the inequalities and the swaddling clothes of feudalism into the light of what was now regarded as democratic political life.

Much of her experience and thinking had been based on the organic unity of her colonies with metropolitan France, and the solidarity of the colonial peoples with Frenchmen in all aspects of life. That assimilation of colonial peoples, rightly or wrongly, had been something unique in the history of colonial powers. “So that France, too, has something from her history and nature to contribute towards the efforts of the Commission,” he said.

The United States, Prince Tugi con tinued, began her history with what was

probably the biggest revolution against a modem power known until then. To-day, the United States led the world in very many branches of physical and social science as well as in technology. That fund of expert knowledge, together with her short but honourable career as a colonial power, fitted the United States to make her own peculiar and unique con tribution to the success of the Commis sion.

The Netherlands began her national existence with a long struggle against Spain for religious and political liberty, and, through her own efforts, gathered unto herself a great colonial empire. Her statesmanlike settlement of differences with Indonesia had resulted perhaps in the most recent example of nation-build ing by a great colonial Power.

Australia must be given credit, said Prince Tugi, for having possessed the courage and enterprise and vision to in itiate the Commission. The Common wealth was fast developing into a highly industrialised country, and was already in a position to supply many of the manu factured commodities, apart from prim ary products such as flour, which the Pacific peoples required.

“So that her interest and participation must be of inestimable value to the at tainment of the aims of the Commission,” added Prince Tugi, who also pointed out that Australia had colonial interests that were essential to her security and welfare.

“Prom the viewpoints of security and defence, New Zealand is vitally concerned with the Pacific. New Zealand is the nearest British Dominion to many of the South Pacific areas. As such she is the country to which the greater number of students from these Pacific countries must go for their higher education. New Zea land has also been remarkably successful, I think, in handling her race relation problems with respect to her own Maori people, and, therefore, should have much of the experience and goodwill so neces sary for the success of an organisation of this kind.”

Goodwill From Overseas

messages of greeting and J goodwill were received from different parts of the world and read to the Conference by the chairman. They in cluded radiograms from the Australian Minister for External Affairs and Terri tories, Mr. Spender; the New Zealand Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Doidge; the High Commissioner for Western Samoa, Mr. Powles.

Mr. Spender expressed confidence “that your deliberations will assist the Commis sion and its Member Governments to in tensify their efforts to bring to the peoples of the territories which you represent, im proved standards of living through the use of all available resources in the fields of education, health and economic devel opment. In all these matters, increasing knowledge is required and the utmost confidence and co-operation between ad ministrations and all sections of the com munity in each territory.”

Mr. Doidge said that “the wishes, inten tions and responsibilities of the six administering Governments cannot ac complish all that must be accomplished without the continued efforts of the peoples of the Territories. The under standing, knowledge and co-operation which are esential to the success of this great venture must, in fact, come from the people themselves. If the South Pacific Commission is to work successfully, it must have your enthusiasm, your interest, understanding and co-operation.”

Control of Mosquito Pest

ON Wednesday, April 26, the Conference got down to serious business. Seven papers, on matters of Importance to the native communities of all the South Pacific Territories had been prepared. Each of these was presented, in turn; discussed by the delegates; and, in relation to each,

a series of resolutions was adopted, to go as recommendations to the South Pacific Commission.

The first or these was a paper on Mos quito Control, prepared by the Papua- New Guinea delegation. After some several hours discussion, the following resolutions were adopted:— This Conference has greatly welcomed the opportunity of exchanging information and views regarding the problems of mos quito control in the different territories and the means hitherto taken to over come them.

The Conference recognises that to achieve success permanent collaboration is necessary between the expert, the ad

ministration and the people, each having' its own part to play.

The Conference is convinced of the im portance of ensuring that each territorial administration should have expert advice at its disposal, and urges the Commission to consider the provision of a team of ex

perts in mosquito control whose services could be placed at the disposal of any territory which asks for such services: full information should be provided by all territories and made available through the Commission.

The Conference feels that in order to enable the populations to play their part, emphasis must be laid on propaganda— eg., by means of cinema films, particularly in the schools.

The Conference suggests that in view of the work which is at present being carried on against fllariasis in several South Pacific territories the Commission should arrange for a conference of experts to meet next year, possibly in Tahiti, where one of these projects is in progress.

As regards the control of mosquitoes in villages the Conference brings to the notice of the Commission the following suggestions: (a) that at least one day in each month should be devoted to mos quito eradication (b) that each village should appoint its own mosquito con troller, either voluntary or paid (c) that in each village a system of raising funds by means of a voluntary levy should be put into effect. The Conference recog nises that mosquitoes are not limited to villages and equal attention should be given to eradication in townships and larger settlements.

The Conference recommends that the Commission should examine the question of training mosquito control personnel with a view to extending such facilities as and when required.

The Commission is invited to consider the possibility of providing or increasing the supply of Gambusia affinis for terri tories where the need exists.

The Conference recognises the serious ness of the possibility that dangerous mos quitoes may be introduced into parts of the area where they do not at present exist, and urges all concerned to take all possible steps against such introduction.

The Healthy Village

A PAPER on the Healthy Village, pre pared by the American Samoa delegation, produced an interesting discussion.

“In these Pacific Islands it is hard to change the customs of the people,” de clared the Hon. Tamasese, MLC, one of the Western Samoan high chiefs.

“You must educate them first —you must tell them the reason why change is neces sary,” continued Tamasese. “Our people cannot be driven.” The speaker com mended the work of women’s committees in Western Samoan villages, emphasised the importance of preventive medicine, and urged that the South Pacific Com mission should consider ways and means to improve water supplies in his territory.

There was no short cut to good health, said the Prime Minister of Tonga (Crown Prince Tugi), but rather it was a subject for long term planning. Dress was a fac tor to be considered, likewise the cultures of the people concerned. Some Pacific peoples, he said had as yet no conception of a scientific approach to the problem, but clung to what was traditional. Others believed that disease was a form of punishment for wrong doing. “We have to depend on education and time for solv ing these problems,” he added.

A recent survey in Rarotonga showed that sanitation was still faulty, remarked the Makea Nui Toremoana Anki, and that between 80 and 90 per cent, of the people suffered from intestinal worms, particu larly hookworm, and in that manner the vitality of the villagers was lowered. The speaker criticised the European-patterned houses in use in Rarotonga, and asked the Commission to consider the designing of a type of dwelling suitable for the tropics.

“Tuberculosis is the scourge of the Pacific,” the Makea declared. “We know that. There is no need for us to wait for that superfluous information.” Progress

could not be achieved by individual terri tories, she said, but only by united action.

The Makea also directed attention to the fact that the Cook Islanders had now acquired a taste for European food, thus introducing into their diet debris-forming food “without the benefit of tooth brushes.” The consequence was that dental health in those islands was in a very sorry state. While general medical treatment was free, the people had to pay for dental services. Unfortunately, the

average Cook Islander was economically unable to afford dental treatment.

After other sneakers related exnerienees Alter otner speaKers matea experiences on their islands, the Commission’s Member for Social Development, Mr. H. E. Maude, referred to the projects approved, which included teacher and training facilities, extension of visual Etids in teaching, a study to ensure more efficient methods of teaching to read and write in the various vernaculars of the South Pacific area, a survey of the languages, another on house building types, especially for school buildings in the tropics, and pilot expenments in community development. lt had been decided to hold a conference of educational experts from the area, said

Mr. Maude, but for various reasons that had been postponed.

The Conference approved of the followreenmmendations*— mg recommeauauuns.

The Commission was advised that in the low coral islands further advice was needed concerning the protection of wells against pollution, also as to the best types of latrines The problem of health should be regarded as one having economic, cultural, and educational aspects, and all those aspects should be taken into any programme for the improvement of health in the villages.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of greater attention to preventative public

health measures in villages rather than on merely curative measures.

Attention was drawn to the importance of education and propaganda for public health. It was recommended that films suitable for public health education be made available for distribution to terri tories.

The outstanding part played by women in the health of the village was recognised, particularly the value of women’s commit tees as a means of promoting knowledge in the practice of hygiene. It was .sug gested that where such committees do not exist they should be established.

The South Pacific Commission’s Re search Council was invited to advise ter ritorial administrations on modern tech niques for the conversion of house and village refuse into compost for the en richment of the soil.

Education Problems

THERE was an interesting discussion on The Village School, a paper pre sented by the Research Department of the Papua-New-Guinea Department of Education.

While parents permitted their sons to go to school in Dutch New Guinea, said Nicholas Jauwe (one of the two native delegates from that territory) there was opposition to the instruction of girls in the schools. The argument used by parents concerning girls, was that if they learned to write they would cause “too much nuisance” by sending letters to young men in the villages in a language the parents could not understand.

Furthermore, if the girls were educated, he said, they would no longer submit to the old marriage customs of New Guinea and the parents would lose their dowries.

Jauwe advocated the separation of parish work from the usual duties of school teachers, and said that the former work should be carried out by mission workers solely. He asked the South Pacific Commission to give special atten tion to educational problems of New Guinea.

Hon. Vishnu Deo, MLC, of Fiji, com menting on the parents’ objection to sending girls to school, remarked: “If you teach them English or any other language they will write to young men in precisely the same way!’’

Tonga’s Prime Minister, Prince Tugi, (who is also Minister of Education) said that English should be the second mother tongue of Pacific Islanders, and so enable them to adjust themselves to a modern tongue. At the same time he favoured the retention of the local languages. The Islanders, he declared, no longer lived in the days of whaling vessels: “Nowadays we are within eight hours of Sydney and five days of London. We have to accept this world whether we like it or not.”

“The aim among our people must ulti mately be English as a second mother tongue. Those people associated with FTance and Holland must have three mother tongues. That is not so ridicu lous as it sounds. The Swiss have four mother tongues!”

However, the indigenous languages, in Prince Tugi’s opinion, embodied certain ways of feeling and thinking, and should certainly be retained, as they contained thoughts that in many cases could not be translated into English. “The position is that the South Pacific child cannot do without English and attain the benefits which modern civilisation can provide,” he added.

While it was necessary to supply liter ature in the local languages, he reminded the Conference that the mass of tech nical information from Britain and Ameri can sources was in the English language and it was most important in their own interests that the Pacific Islanders should have access to it.

M. Lucien Vaissiere, Director of Educa tion for French Oceania, said that France believed in teaching the native peoples in the French language. But that did not necessarily mean that the local languages were to be ignored, the French view being that such instruction should come later, and not in the early stages. He suggested that the Commission should consider an exchange of teachers, possibly during the holiday periods, between the territories, also the establishment of what he called “a pool of literature” for schools to be compiled in both French and English.

Of the one and a half million people in New Guinea and Papua, said Aisoli Salin (who came from Kavieng) very few were literate. The difficulty of so many languages and dialects, he declared, ac centuated the problem. “We have no common tongue,” commented Salin. “To make our people literate is the job of the village schools. It is a most difficult and complex problem. We have a long way to go along the road of education. As yet we have hardly taken the first steps.”

Future of Co-operative Societies

AN outstanding feature among many native peoples in the Pacific to-day is the establishment of co-operative societies. A discussion on this subject was led by Ratu Edward Cakabau when a paper was nresented by the Registrar of Co-operative Societies in Fiji. The co operative societies, he declared, offered a new development from the old form of communal life, and assisted the people to adjust themselves to modern conditions.

When the peoples of the Gilbert and Ellice Group first began the movement, said Mr. I. G. Turbot (.who spoke on behalf of the delegation), there was a tendency to dismiss staff over-night However, that situation had been remedied with understanding, and officials now generally fulfilled their full term of a year. The movement now owned two 120 ft. vessels, each with a capacity of 100 tons, for the collection of copra amone the islands, and had also pur chased several trucks.

Branch stations had been established at Canton and Ocean Islands, he con

tinned, and had been most successful.

While the movement generally had been guided by the administration which, in certain instances had advanced finance,

there were inherent co-operative charac teristics in the people themselves on which to build (Continued on page up

The South Pacific Commission was asked by this delegation to explore the possibilities of an inter-territorial buying and selling co-operative society with headquarters, either in Australia or New Zealand so as to facilitate both imports and exports for the islanders.

ASAD story of the destruction of the co-operative movement by the Japanese during their occupation of Nauru was related by Raymond Gadabu, a delegate from that island. Prior to the war, he said, the co-operatives had in vested £5,000 in Australia. All stores and equipment were lost during the war.

However, with Government assistance the movement had been re-established, and was now venturing into the field of fur niture manufacturing for the new homes now under construction at Nauru.

“Apart from keeping a fatherly eye on the accounts, which are audited by Euro peans,” said the delegate, “the adminis tration does not interfere and we are left to manage our own affairs.” Profits were accumulating, he added, so as to facilitate trading conditions, and, for the present no bonuses would be distributed.

“Our co-operative societies are the fruit of much labour and concentrated effort,” he said. “We believe that co-operative societies should be established for the benefit of all the peoples, and not merely for a section.”

Land transport was a serious problem for the co-operatives, said George Kassi, of the Australian New Guinea delegation, because of vast distances and difficult ter rain, and the only means available for communication with remote areas was by human portage.

This speaker asked for the compilation of literature concerning co-operative societies in other parts of the world, and for its distribution through the Commis sion. “We want to know what the other fellow is doing,” he said.

Though no co-operative societies had as yet been established in New Caledonia, stated M. Raphael Boumari, a native dele gate from that colony, he supported the request for information through the Com mission. “We want to know how to adapt this movement to requirements in our own territory,” he remarked.

Miria Gavera, who has had a wide ex perience with co-operative societies in New Guinea, and is secretary of a con cern with an annual turnover of £lO,OOO, asked: “Would it be better for one society in the village to handle marketing, store-keeping, community advancement, and other activities of the villagers, or would it be preferable that a separate society should be established for each activity?” The tendency in Papua, he said, was definitely towards multi-pur pose societies.

ALBERT HENRY said the Cook Islands Producers’ Co-operative Society had a membership of 6,000. Financial re sources were meagre, but the New Zea land Government eventually advanced £ll,OOO, and that enabled a vessel to be purchased. The latter left on its first trading voyage among the islands in May, 1949.

While certain difficulties had to be overcome in Western Samoa, said high chief Tamasese, the movement for co operatives was well worthy of study. It was his opinion that it was more suitable for some territories than others. “People should be careful though,” he observed, “that Government advice and help do not necessarily mean Government control!”

Tire movement was still in its infancy in French Oceania, declared M. Paul Berniere, of Tahiti, but it had emerged spontaneously in the Tuamotus and Aus trals as a natural characteristic of the peoples. Each worker who went from Kurutu to the phosphate island of Maka

tea sent home a proportion of his wages to be used at home to build a trading schooner. It was essential to make a be ginning with the most simple and elementary types of co-operative societies.

The scheme, he believed, could be intro duced in districts in Tahiti, where the people could share a tractor or an electric plough, and that would involve only the cost of a mechanic for maintenance pur

poses to be paid by -the society. The plan could be still further expanded in time by the provision of copra dryers and storage facilities.

As yet, only one co-operative had been established in Dutch New Guinea, that had stood up against the competition of Chinese and other shopkeepers, said Nicholas Jauwe. He supported a request from the Gilberts that the Commission should obtain the fullest possible infor mation of the movement in other parts of

the world and disseminate it through the territorial administrations.

The chairman (Sir Brian Freeston) in formed the Conference that a project in relation to. co-operative societies had already been approved by the Commission, and would be undertaken as soon as pos sible throughout the Pacific area.

IN a series of resolutions, the conference noted that delegates from territories where the movement had not been

established had derived help and en couragement from accounts given by others where it was firmly established.

The Commission was requested to ex plore the possibility of establishing an inter-territorial co-operative buying and selling society in Australia or New Zea land. The purpose of such an organisa tion, it was stated, comprising all terri tories participating in the conference, would be to facilitate transactions be tween co-operatives in the territories.

The Commission was recommended to collect, at its headquarters, full informa tion on the functioning of such societies, in the South Pacific and elsewhere; the documentation to include information concerning community advancement societies. The information, it was sug gested, should be available to administra tions.

The Conference suggested, further, that the Commission should recommend mem ber governments that they provide facilities for representatives of other ad ministrations to study on the spot in South Pacific territories the practical functioning of co-operatives.

The Conference noted that the Com mission, on the recommendation of its research council, had already included in its list of approved projects a study of the development of the co-operative move ment throughout the area.

Problem of the Islands’

Future Food

ONE of the most interesting discussions took place on May 1, when a paper on the Improvement and Diversifi cation of Pood and Export Crops was pre sented by the Papua-New Guinea delega tion.

“We do not want to stay on Australia’s back for all time,” said Waiau Ahnon, a delegate from Australian New Guinea,”

so, therefore, we are casting our eyes in fields of economic development beyond our country.” The economy of his territory, he declared, was dangerously tied to copra production. But it was felt that the co-operative societies would stimulate the native population in other directions.

For example, New Guinea at present im ported some 10,000 tons of rice, but there was no reason why that commodity should not be produced locally in con siderable quantities. More attention must also be given to the production of nutritious foods.

“That we lack a nutritious diet has been demonstrated to us clearly at this conference,” stated Ahnon, who is a man of small stature. “There are men here from other territories of considerable height and physique, while we are men of comparatively small size.” One method by which the physical stature of peoples in New Guinea and Papua might be in creased, said Ahnon, would be by the provision of meals at schools for under nourished children.

THE peoples of the Solomons, said Bel shazar Gina, were not allied so closely to a copra economy. “Those who have coconut trees have all the money they require at the moment,” he remarked, “but those who do not possess them have no money.” It was felt that in the event of a fall in price of copra it was essential that other crops should be developed, and the delegate asked for expert advice.

At the conference, said Gina, he had observed many people eating chocolate.

There were numerous cocoa plants in his territory, but at present the seeds were wasted as the people did not know how to make the best use of them. Pepper, which was now in much demand, was also grown easily in his territory. The islanders wanted to know which were the best varieties of trees to plant, and about marketing possibilities.

A COUNTRY’S best asset was a healthy population, declared the Hon. M. S.

Buksh, of Fiji, and a balanced agri cultural programme spelled health. One of the most serious problems that faced the South Pacific peoples was the lack of proteins both for man and beast. Fiji, realising the situation, was making a suc cessful attempt to increase the colony’s milk production.

“The Gilbertese have rightly been called ‘the Lowlands Scots of the Pacific,’ ” said Mr. I. G. Tubott (Gilbert Islands) “be cause their time and effort are mainly employed in a subsistence agriculture.

But then- desire is to rise above that state. They cannot advance rapidly while they remain on a subsistence level.

Through their co-operative societies they now have the necessary capital to enter into a modern economic enterprise.”

Mr. Turbott asked for guidance in the establishment of alternative cash crops from copra, improvement in coconut planting methods, and the introduction of additions of diet for the Gilbert and Ellice Islanders.

MARCUS KASIEPO, from Dutch New Guinea, declared that his people de sired to be informed as to the best methods of storing and conserving food.

Considerable supplies of foodstuffs were now wasted, following meetings of his people.

Public enemy No. 1 in Western Samoa, said the Hon. Tamasese, MLC, was the rhinoceros beetle which was accidentally introduced into that territory in 1910.

While it was being reduced, it was still a serious menace, and he asked the Com mission to find a parasite that would re lieve his islands of that pest.

Bananas still led in food value in Western Samoa and, with taro, was the principal crop, said the delegate. During 1948-49, some 15,000 tons of copra were exported, also 2,900 tons of cocoa, and

87,000 tons of bananas. Tamasese believed that those three principal exports would retain their premier position for many years to come, also that high rates would be obtained for them.

Speaking of the production difficulties in Western Samoa, Tamasese said that the growing of cotton had been abandoned because the work was considered laborious and the return uncertain. There were, nevertheless, other products that could be developed. His own belief was that the

territory's future food supplies would be abundant.

The difficulties of living on a small island with only a small portion available for the growing of foodstuffs, combined with an inadequate supply of water, were commented upon by Jacob of Nauru, When the phosphate there was worked out, he declared, much of the area would be waste. Most of the soil was porous and unsuitable for agriculture, except on a minor scale. He requested that one of

the Commission’s experts should visit Nauru and advise as to what crops could be grown there successfully.

PRINCE TUGI, Prime Minister of Tonga, a keen advocate of mechanis ation in agriculture, said: “If we do not improve our tools for tilling, weeding, and harvesting, we cannot hope for much progress. At present we are merely plant ing to keep our people alive —we are not planning for export. Mechanisation would change that situation. To-day we expend many man-hours in cultivation, whereas the work could so easily be per formed by machinery. I believe that the use of the latter is of crucial importance if we are to raise the living standard of the Pacific peoples.”

While the New Hebrides was not so de pendent upon copra as were other terri tories, said John Kalsakau, a compre hensive survey of the resources there was essential. He asked for a soil survey, an economic survey, and information as to the marketing of new products in the Pacific. His people were anxious to ex port provided they had the necessary in formation and understanding of safe guards.

Makea Nui Toremoana Ariki, of Raro tonga, urged the necessity of afforestation for the Cook Islands in an effort to pre vent further erosion, which was a serious problem, and to provide timber for orange and tomato shipments. Though rats were one of the main causes of the loss of food crops, she said, haphazard and in effectual methods were employed to eradi cate them.

Experts believed that there would be a large increase in population in the Group within the next decade; therefore, it was essential to plan for future food supplies.

There were many points, Makea added, on which the Commission could give ad vice.

HOW the American administration had controlled the sale of copra in his territory on a non-profit making basis, and disposed of it in San Francisco to the highest bidders, was related by high Chief Tufele, of Eastern Samoa, and he thought that information of the system would be of value to other Pacific groups.

A complete study both of local con ditions, particularly of soils, also of mar kets overseas, was essential, said M. Maou Djoel, of New Caledonia, if plans to ex port were to succeed.

An increase in population in French Oceania had brought new problems in its train, said M. Paul Berniere, of Tahiti.

The people were now consuming consider able quantities of canned foods, though experts had directed attention to its dis advantages, and were not producing suf ficient natural foods. The peoples had yet to be convinced of the necessity for a balanced diet, and that could only be accomplished by propaganda methods.

Much could be done to influence parents by establishing gardens at schools.

As for exports, it was his opinion pro ducers would have first to be assured of stable and remunerative markets. What was the use, he asked, of diversifying foods and improving crops if, overnight, prices fell? Such tendencies had in the past discouraged people from experiment ing with new crops. The speaker asked for experts to give practical advice on these problems.

The Importance of Fish

AN introductory paper on fisheries methods in the South Pacific terri tories, was presented by M. M.

Legand, oceanographer at the French In stitute of Oceania, Noumea.

If there was too great exploitation, said M. Paul Berniere, of Tahiti, there was a

grave danger of causing irreparable danger to fish supplies, and he instanced tuna. He urged that the South Pacific Commission be requested to institute an investigation into resources, techniques, and market possibilities.

Much could be done to re-awaken the native peoples’ interest in fishing, declared M. Raphael Bouanani (New Caledonia), if pilot fishing enterprises were undertaken; and he asked that documentation be supplied to the territories concerning fish, also as to illnesses caused by eating poisoned fish from the lagoons.

There was a wide variety of fish catching methods in New Guinea, said Willie Gavera, a delegate from that ter ritory, and research had been undertaken by the Australian Government with a view to exploiting resources commercially.

There were vast lakes in Papua which, he believed, would prove suitable for fish culture. This delegate asked for infor mation on research into pond fish culture.

Tutu Tekanene, a senior assistant medi cal practitioner from the Gilbert Islands, said there had been no commercial fish ing by Europeans in his Group; but the co-operative societies had for some time been exporting sun-dried fish to other islands quite successfully, and had plans for deep-sea fishing on a commercial basis. However, technical advice was ne cessary on certain aspects before the scheme could be proceeded with.

Michael Belade, of the British Solomon Islands, who spoke in his own tongue, asked the Commission “to make a book with pictures in it to show the different fish.”

As commercial fishing was likely to be undertaken on a considerable scale in Fijian waters, said Ratu Edward Cakabau, it was essential that care should be exercised to see that the local domestic

supply was not diminished. He questioned the wisdom of sending women out into the water to fish, at all hours of the night, which took place in some districts, and which he believed was detrimental to health. “And health, sir,” Ratu Edward added, “we have made No. 1 priority at this conference!”

Nicholas Jauwe, of Netherlands New Guinea, asked for information concern ing deep-sea fishing. His people, he said, had had experience only of shore fishing.

Few Nauruans were now engaged in fishing, said Raymond Gadabu, as they found more profitable work elsewhere— yet the waters around Nauru teemed with fish. No scientific survey of resources, he said, had yet been undertaken.

The method of stupefying fish by vege table poisons put into the lagoons, and so catching them, claimed Tamasese, MLC, of Western Samoa, was introduced by missionaries on returning from New Guinea. “Is this fish good for human

consumption?” he asked. He also re minded the conference that quantities of young fish were destroyed in that way, and he asked for an investigation.

“Why are some fish poisonous in one region and not in another?” was a question concerning which he asked for more information.

Petero, a New Hebrides delegate who spoke in French, also asked for an in vestigation into fish resources in his ter ritory, and for protection against the use of explosives in catching fish.

There was a possibility that commercial fishing in the Cook Group, said Rongo matane Ariki. of Atiu, would upset the local economy of the atolls. At the same time, he favoured sending fish to those islands which were constantly without such a diet.

The use of both poison and explosives was prohibited by the Government in American Samoa, said the high chief Tutele, who suggested a recommendation on those lines to the Commission. “If we continue such habits,” he said, “in 50 years’ time we will not see any fish around our beautiful reefs!”

The balance of our report of the discussions and recommendations of the South Pacific Conference will be published in the June issue.

The Rev. R. P. Garrity, vicar of All Saints’, Birkenhead, New Zealand, has been accepted for mission work by the Melanesian Mission. He will be stationed in Honiara. He has had two previous terms in the diocese of Melanesia. His wife and son will go with him.

Mr. John W. Cox, who recently spent his leave in Queensland, has returned to Kieta, Bougainville, where he has been promoted to Works Supervisor, PWD.

Mr. C. Baines who is on the staff of one of the Administrative Departments in Port Moresby, and is also local scout master, arrived in Brisbane recently on leave. He said that there were now two groups of scouts in Papua numbering 54 youngsters Papuan scouts wore a lap lap with the scout emblem sewn on one corner. The idea was to teach them self reliance —a quality which Papuan natives had lost since the days of their fathers and grandfathers.

The twin daughters of Mr. Frank Mills, head councillor of Naghir Island, in the Torres Group (Torres Strait), were married recently. The photograph shows the two brides, Misses Cessa and Ina Mills, outside the church. The Mills family are held in high esteem in the Torres Islands.