South Pacific
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Commission
Scope of Work Now Being Done
Headquarters: Anse Vata, Noumea, New Caledonia
TO mark the fourth anniversary of the South Pacific Commission, there was a “Visitors’ Day,” on February 6, B‘ the Commission’s headquarters at Noumea.
The Agreement establishing the Com mission was signed in Canberra, on Feb ruary 6, 1947, by representatives of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States. The First Session was held in Sydney in May, 1948; and, at the Second Session, in October, 1948, also in Sydney, Noumea was chosen as the permanent seat of the Commission. Headquarters were set up there on March 5, 1949.
The Commission has two auxiliary bodies —the Research Council and the South Pacific Conference.
At present, under direction of the Research Council, there are close on 40 major projects in the three main fields of activity being undertaken throughout the South Pacific. In some, activity is just beginning, while in others prelimin ary reports by experts following field in vestigations have been submitted for the Council to consider.
For example, on a coral atoll in the Gilbert and Ellice Group, two scientists are at present studying the problem of how to improve the native economy on such islands. A research team has just completed its work in Tahiti as part of a Pacific-wide study of the best tech niques for determining the incidence of tuberculosis. Elsewhere, other workers are investigating such common diseases as yaws and filariasis.
In Suva last month, a meeting of Re search Council members was held to consider an expert report on facilities for professions.! and technical training of native peoples.
In New Caledonia and Fiji, special In troduction Gardens are discovering what economically-useful plants and trees can be introduced to various parts of the Pacific.
Several dozen other projects are being carried on simultaneously.
Plant And Animal Quarantine
THE Commission last October agreed that a conference of experts to con sider the question of plant and animal quarantine be held in Suva about the end of March, 1951.
Two specialist officers from each of the six member Governments will attend.
They will seek a common quarantine policy for the whole South Pacific region.
Co-Ordination
On January 26, 27 and 29 a co-ordina tion meeting was held at the head quarters of the Commission at Noumea., and attended by the Executive Officers for Health, Economic Development and Social Developments. They dealt with the Agenda for the Seventh Session of the Commission (at Noumea commencing April 28), preparations for the Third Meeting of the Research Council (June), relationships between projects in the different fields, and recruitment of per sonnel.
Investigation Of Tb Incidence
THE tuberculosis research team under the leadership of Dr. J. Guillermin returned to Noumea from Tahiti on February 1, after completing 12 months of field work in New Guinea, New Ireland, New Caledonia, Western Samoa and French Oceania.
The team’s main objective was the study of techniques for ascertaining the incidence of tuberculosis among native people. The results obtained are being re examined. Directions will be drafted for finalising research on the techniques of individual diagnosis.
A new team will carry on the Com mission’s tuberculosis research in 1951 probably commencing in the Cook Islands.
Mr, Claude G. Ross, United States consul in New Caledonia, arrived in Tahiti on January 19, with the first plane sent from Honolulu to inaugurate the new service by the Hawaii-Tahiti Airways. Mr. Ross is making his periodical visit to French Oceania.