South Pacific

Commission

Financial Allocations Made at Sixth Session

Headquarters: Anse Vata Noumea, New Caledonia

THE sixth session of the South Pacific Commission was held at Commission headquarters in Noumea between October 23 and November 2.

Chief representatives of member govern ments were: Mr. J. R. Halligan, for Aus tralia, Mons. R. Lassalle-Sere, for France, Mr. J. B. D. Pennink, for the Netherlands.

Mr. C. G. R. McKay, for New Zealand, Sir Brian Freeston, for the United Kingdom, and Dr. F. M. Keesing, for the United States.

Some time was taken up on purely housekeeping problems—such as housing, superannuation fund, advances to officials for the purchase of motor vehicles, etc.— but the two agenda items of general in terest were the report and recommenda tions of the second meeting of the Research Council which met in Sydney in August, and the budget for 1951.

The Commission budgeted to spend £149,165 Stg. in the year January 1 to December 31, 1951. Of this amount about £17,000 is provided for Health projects, £21,000 for Economic Development and about £16,000 for Social Development.

Health

THE allocation for Health will be spent mainly on continuation of projects already begun—£6,ooo, for example, for continuation of research into the tuberculosis problem in Pacific Territories under the control of member governments.

Research in infant feeding and nutrition among the Islanders will also be carried on. Allocation for this is £3,225.

Allocations have been made for research

projects on leprosy (£1,675 allocated) Ophthalmology (£2,125); malaria (£500)-’ and venereal diseases (£2,125); but in all these cases, with the exception of malaria member governments have been asked to submit their needs to the Commission

Economic Development

AMONG projects to be carried out or continued under the heading of Economic Development are the intro duction and distribution of economic plants (provision of £4,000); the intro duction and distribution of cash crops and the appointment of two experts to super vise the project (£6,000); the economic development of coral atolls (£2,800); research into the subsistence of indigenous peoples (£4,650).

Social Development

SOCIAL Development allocations include £6OO for a meeting in Suva of the 'Social Development Committee; £390 for visual education, and £950 for further

ins: mass-literacy campaigns in Pacific territories.

The Commission considered that the appointment of a social anthropologist to the Commission in 1951 was not warranted taut agreed that an anthropologist might be retained by the Commission. For the whole field of social anthropology £2,000 was allocated. Linguistic research has been allocated £650 and the continuation of a survey to determine the most suitable types of native building, £3,750.

At the request of the Administration of Netherlands New Guinea, £l,OOO has been made available for undertaking a Corn munity Development project there; £l,OOO has also been set aside f<pr the estabhsh ment of a pilot Community Centre in an urbanized community. (It was reported after the session ended that it was pro posed to use Rarotonga, Cook Islands, for this experiment. This type of com munity development work, it was said, would include provision of a canteen.

books, films, discussion groups, demon strations, organised games, classes in English, handicrafts, and child welfare.) The Commission endorsed a Research Council proposal that a South Pacific Literature Bureau be created although they did not agree with the provision that such literature be published by the Com mission; £2,365 was provided for this project.

The Commission decided that for 1951 the Research Council shall consist of 17 Members (in addition to the full-time Members) as follows: — Health; Dr. J. M. Cruikshank, Dr. T.

R. A. Davis, Dr. J. A. C. Gray, Dr. J. T.

Gunther, Dr. M. E. J. M. Herkenroth, Dr D. Metselaar.

Economic Development: Mr. F. Bugni court, Dr. B. T. Dickson, Mr. D. R. A.

Eden, Mr. B. E. V. Parham, Dean Knowles A. Ryerson, Mr. T. Strong.

Social Development: Dr. J. V. de Bruyn, Mr M. Grangie, Mr. F. J. H. Grattan, Mr! W. C. Groves, Mr. H. Hayden.

The third meeting of the Research Council will open in Noumea about June 15. 1951.

Second South Pacific

Conference

THE Commission dealt with resolutions passed at the first South Pacific Conference held in Suva in April- May this year when native delegates from Pacific Territories met to discuss some of their problems. , It was decided that a Second South Pacific Conference would be held in April 1953. It has not yet been decided where tnis will be held.

Information Officer

THE Commission approved the addition or an editorial and publications officer to the staff of the Commission to “perform such duties as the Secretary- General may determine/’

The Commission decided, also, to issue a quarterly bulletin which will include Commission progress reports and also appropriate contributions from participat ing governments describing developments in health, social and economic fields within their territories, and also contribution., from non-government organisations hav ing the same common interests as the Commission,

Appointment Of Deputy Chair

Man Research Council

NO appointment has been made to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Baas Becking, Deouty Chairman of the Research Council, who resigned some time ago It is hoped that an appointment will be made after the Seventh Session.

Next Meeting Of Commission

THE next meeting of the Commissioi (the Seventh Session) will bn held at Commission Headquarters Noumea, about April 28, 1951.