Doing

What The Commission Is

Activities in Numerous Fields

AS an indication of the work that the Commission is doing, it may be noted that the following projects are now in hand, or listed for early attention:

Health

Epidemiology and Quarantine —Improvement of epidemiological intelligence ser vice. Standardisation of quarantine regulations relating to non-pestilential diseases.

Nutrition, including Infant Feeding- Study of infant foods. Determination of the nutritive value of island foods. Estab lishment of a “nutrition map” of the area.

Tuberculosis—lnvestigation of simple techniques for individual diagnosis and of epidemiological techniques, including studies of:— (a) The different antigens and methods used in tuberculin tests; (b) The radiographic appearances in different races at different ages; (c) The techniques for detecting Myco bacterium tuberculosis.

Filariasis and Elephantiasis—Establish ment of liaison between various field groups working on filariasis and elephan tiasis. Research to determine further specific investigations needed on these dis eases and organisation of the conduct of these investigations. Conference of ex perts to be held in 1951.

Ophthalmology—Classification of eye liseases in the area. Advice to territorial lealth services on diagnosis, treatment and control.

Leprosy—Study of local conditions meeting leprosy. Advice to territorial lealth services on a uniform system of Jiagnosis and control.

Malaria—Research on control of nalaria. Advice to territorial administra tions on preventative measures.

Venereal Diseases—Studv of local con ations affecting venereal diseases. Advice o territorial health services on a uniform system of diagnosis and control.

Economic Development

Introduction Gardens—lntroduction of economic plants to the area and their ransfer within the area for studv and mprovement in special gardens and iboretums.

Cash Crops—lnvestigation of informa lon available on copra, cacao, coffee, tea md rice, especially with regard to im irovements in quality and in methods of •reduction, and to possibilities of future levelopment.

Pasture and Livestock—lmprovement of he quality of tropical pasture grasses and tock, and promotion of better farming nethods. 6 Land-Use Survey—Correlation and dis emination of information on land utilisa

tion, arising from land-use surveys which may be carried out in South Pacific territories.

Grading of Agricultural Products—Establishment of uniform grading of agricultural products traded in the area, the grades to be both satisfactory to buyers and within the capacity of island producers.

Coral Atolls—A study of atoll and low island economy with a view to discovering ways of increasing the quantity and variety of subsistence and commercial crops, improving domestic animals, and exploiting fisheries and native handi crafts.

Fisheries—Survey of the area with par ticular attention to indigenous fishing methods. Consideration of fish market inf =, anc * processing, poisonous fish, pond culture and deep-sea fishing techniques, Subsistence of Indigenous Peoples— Investigation of subsistence economy, especially domesticated and wild food materials, processing and preservation of fo .o? s > an ? equipment and working topis, with a view to amplifying diet and in creasing efficiency of production, Control of Pests, Diseases and Weeds— Investigation of the pests, diseases and

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weeds affecting plants and animals likely to spread into or within the. areas, oc curence, distribution, present methods of control within and exclusion from terri tories. Development and implementation of quarantine policy in the area. Con ference of experts in 1951.

Commercial Relations—lnvestigation of credit facilities available for the develop ment of agricultural, industrial, and commercial enterprises especially by in digenous peoples.

Records of Current Research—Main tenance of records of research work and investigations relating to economic de velopment which are being carried out in the area or are of importance to the area.

Compilation of an annotated list of pro jects in operation or contemplated.

Social Development

Vocational Training—Survey of voca tional training with a view to the possibilities of further developing cen tralised training institutions. (Com pleted) .

Visual Education —Survey of the use of visual aids in the education of island peoples. (Completed).

Mass Literacy—Study of methods for teaching literacy.

Applied Anthropology—Review of re search work and needs in social anthro pology.

Linguistic Research—Review of linguis tic research work and needs. (Com pleted).

Co-operative Societies —Survey of the co-operative movements with a view to extension and development.

Buildings—Survey to determine the most suitable types of native buildings.

Community Development—Pilot pro

jects in community development in (a) Fiji, and (b) Netherlands New Guinea and (c) to be carried out in an area of de-population.

Archaeological Sites—Recording and preservation of archaeological sites, his torical monuments and archives.

Literature Bureau—Establishment of a South Pacific Literature Bureau to— (a) Encourage production of reading material suitable for the area; (b) Stimulate literary effort by Islands peoples; (c) Prepare model text books; (d) Prepare specimen follow-up material for mass literacy campaigns; (e) Conduct appraisal services for books and for films.

Vernacular Teaching—Collection of source materials for a study of vernacular teaching methods.

Any person or institution wishing to discuss with the Commission any matters relating to the foregoing, should note; Official correspondence should be ad dressed to “The Secretary-General, South

Pacific Commission. Noumea, New Cale donia.”

Informal correspondence may be ad dressed to the Executive Officers for Health, or Economic Development, at the above address; and to the Executive Officer for Social Development, Box 5254, GPO, Sydney.