South Pacific

Commission

Decisions of Seventh Session at Noumea

Headquarters: Anse Vata, Noumea, New Caledonia

THE Seventh Session of the South Pacific Commission was held at its headquarters in Noumea from April 28 to May 7. Delegations attended from the member Governments of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Session was under the Chairmanship of Australia; and, pending the arrival of Mr. J. R. Halligan, Pro fessor K. O. Shatwell, as chairman, opened the procedings.

In his opening address, the Chairman remarked that the foundation of the South Pacific Commission was a proof that at the end of World War II there were to be found among the leaders of six nations men of vision and of historical sense.

“Men not forced to make a hurried accommodation by the necessity of events,” he continued, “but who rather sought by wisdom and foresight to accord their actions with the emerging pattern of history, and by common action to achieve the common good. But as with every other ideal, the only test is the extent to which it becomes realized in the lives of ordinary men.”

The Chairman went on to say that the Commission was at a critical point in its history. The machinery had been set up and was beginning to work; but whether its work would achieve what its founders hoped depended upon the continued labours of all who were then associated

with it. “There are most encouraging signs,” continued the Chairman. “Some of them are to be discerned in the matters which will be discussed at this Session.”

Programme of Work Consideration by the Commission of its work programme for 1951 was an im portant item on the agenda.

In the field of Social Development, the Commission authorised publication of a report on the vocational training of island peoples. This was prepared by Mr. R. A.

Derrick, Director of Technical Training, Fiji, who last year was loaned to the Commission to conduct a six months’ survey of vocational training throughout the South Pacific.

The Commission decided that a specialist be engaged to investigate the possibile costs and other planning neces sary should a decision be made by the member Governments to encourage the development of a centralised training institution or institutions for islands peoples.

Two projects in applied anthropology were approved. One provides for pro motion of studies of de-population and over-population problems in various areas of the South Pacific. The second will comprise investigations of means for assisting Islands peoples to play a more

important part in commerce and industry in the area.

Plant and Animal Quarantine Plant and animal quarantine in the South Pacific, and fisheries, were the main subjects discussed in the field of economic development.

The Commission unanimously declared the report of the Plant and Animal Quarantine Conference held at Suva in

April to be a highly valuable contribution to the protection of the territories of the South Pacific against pests, diseases and weeds. The report was transmitted to the member Governments for further study and action. „ „ Meanwhile, a sum of £Stg.3,ooo was made available to enable effect to be given to recommendations of the report.

These include the appointment of a research officer who, among other duties, will develop an information service con cerning pests, diseases and weeds of the region. Plant quarantine and animal

advisory committees are to be set up, comprising officials and specialists from both member Governments and territorial administrations. They will serve as technical committees to advise the Com mission in dealing with plant and animal quarantine matters.

Fish Resources The full investigation of the fisheries resources of the South Pacific forms one of the most important of the economic projects to be undertaken by the Com mission.

At this Session it was decided to appoint a fisheries expert to survey the fisheries problems of the region and advise the Commission regarding future research requirements. He will investigate such matters as local fishing techniques, and the transport, storage, processing and marketing of fish.

Filaria and Leprosy In the field of health, the Commission made available a grant of up to £Stg.Boo to the Medical Research Institute of French Oceania for investigation into filariasis in Tahiti.

The Commission is sponsoring a filariasis conference of world experts, to meet in Papeete next August.

Following requests from territories, the Commission has authorised the engage ment of a specialist in leprosy. His services will be available in an advisory capacity to territories on request.

South Pacific Conference A progress report was approved at this Session on action taken on the recom mendations concerning the welfare of Islands peoples contained in the reso lutions of the First South Pacific Con ference held in Fiji in April, 1950. (This Conference is a subsidiary body to the Commission, and provides a direct link between it and the Islands peoples it is designed to serve. The First Conference was attended by 28 delegates and. 32 alternates and advisers, the majority being indigenous peoples from the 15 territories in the Commission area.) At the invitation of the French authorities, the Second South Pacific Conference will be held in Noumea early in 1953.

Tribute to W. D. Forsyth At the closing meeting of the Session, on May 7, high tribute was paid to the work of the retiring Secretary-General, Mr. W. D. Forsyth, who will return to

Australia in June to resume duty with the Department of External Affairs, from which he was given extended leave in 1948 to become the first Secretary- General of the Commission.

The Commission recorded by resolution its high regard for Mr, Forsyth, and its recognition of the inestimable value of the efficient and untiring service he had rendered to the Commission, The Commission decided to offer the post of Secretary-General to Sir Brian Freeston, K.C.M.G., 0.8. E., present Governor of Fiji, and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. Sir Brian has been Senior Commissioner for the United Kingdom on the Commission since its inception.

At the final meeting Mr. John Ryan was appointed Deputy Secretary-General.

He had been acting in this post for some months. The next Session of the Com mission will be held in October.