Commission

South Pacific

Fifth Session Held In Suva In May

Headquarters: Anse Vata Noumea, New Caledonia

THE Fifth Session of the South Pacific Commission—which immediately fol lowed the first South Pacific Confer ence—was held in the Suva Girls’ Gram mar School, Suva, Fiji, between May 11 and May 19. Sir Brian Freeston, Gover nor of Fiji, and the United Kingdom’s senior Commissioner representative on the Commission, was chairman. Repre sentatives were: Australia: Dr. J. W. Burton and Dr. J.

Gunther.

France: M. Lassalle-Sere and M. P. C.

J. Bonnard.

Netherlands: Mr. J. B. D. Pennink and Dr. De Bruyn.

New Zealand: Mr. C. G. R. Mackay and Lt.-Col. F. W. Voelcker.

United Kingdom; Sir Brian Freeston and Mr. H. H. Vaskess (with Mr. H. A.

C. Dobbs as an alternate).

United States: Dr. Felix Keesing and Mr. R. R. Robbins.

The Chairman said the only new sub ject on the agenda was the report of the South Pacific Conference Other items were either of a housekeeping nature or referred to the works programme.

Dr. Keesing pointed out that the re port of the Conference would require careful study. On his motion it was re ferred to a committee of the whole for consideration.

Dr. Keesing said the Conference had been one of great significance, and had fulfilled all the intentions of the Com mission.

Colonel Voelcker declared that the Conference had considerably widened the scope of the Commission’s work.

The Conference resolutions—which had followed the presentation of papers on misquito control, the healthy village, vo cational training, the village school, co operative societies, fisheries methods, and the improvement and diversification of food and export crops—were considered in detail by the Commissioners, in com mittee. On the following day it was an nounced that some of them dealt with matters which already were receiving at tention; others were sent to the Research Council for investigation and report; and others would be formally transmitted to the member Governments, for action where thought desirable.

It was apparent that the Commission, having given so much time and effort to the Conference, had no intention of al lowing the resolutions to be merely “pigeon-holed.”

Transportation

MR. McKAY (NZ) initiated a discus sion on air and sea transport ser vices in the South Pacific. Com missioners generally agreed that the whole situation was governed by eco nomic conditions: the companies now were giving the utmost possible service —some probably at a loss —and improve ments could be made only if substantial subsidies were paid.

The matter was referred to the August meeting.

Resignations

THE resignation was received, with re gret, of Dr. L. G. M. Baas Becking, who has been deputy chairman of

the Research Council since January, 1949. It is understood Dr. Baas Beck ing will visit Tahiti in September, be fore taking up other work.

Brigadier P. L. Hunt announced that he would retire from the post of deputy secretary general on reaching the nor mal retiring age next November.

Both vacancies will be dealt with by the Commission, later in the year.

Headquarters Cost

THE Commission accepted, with grati tude, the suggestion of the French authorities that the Commission, in 30 equal annual payments, repay the cost of converting the Pentagon Building, in

Noumea for use as the headquarters of the Commission. The estimated cost is about £60,000. The French stated that they would charge no interest, but they asked that they be protected against cur rency fluctuations, and this was agreed to.

Technical Help

THE Commission agreed on a formula for ascertaining the views of mem ber Governments on the question of a special technical assistance programme for the territories of the South Pacific area.

This proposed programme has received considerable additional impetus by sug gestions by the Australian Government that the Commission be provided with a special technical assistance fund of its own, and an assurance of its willingness to make an initial contribution.

The Commission defined with more preciseness the question as to whether it would build up new research facilities and additional research work or would be concerned more with the application to the South Pacific Area of results of research already known.

Information Service

IT was laid down that the establishment by it of any permanent research facilities, which would involve con siderable expense, should be examined very critically and endorsed only where the required facilities are found to be unobtainable from institutions already existing.

A matter which received serious atten tion and support at this session is the proposition that the Commission should establish an information service to en sure that technical information of value to local administrations should be dis seminated throughout the area on the widest possible basis.

At the final sitting, on May 19, there were various formalities and courtesies.

The Government and people of Fiji were thanked for hospitality and help; tributes were paid to Sir Brian Freeston for his Chairmanship of both Commisssion and Conference; and Mr. Forsyth (secretary general) and his staff were warmly praised for superb organisation.