South Pacific

Commission

Plans and Projects at Research Council’s Third Meeting

Headquarters: Anse Vata, Noumea, New Caledonia

THE Third Meeting of the Research Council of the South Pacific Com mission was held from 17th to 25th June at Commission headquarters in Noumea. Seventeen specialists in the Commission’s three main fields of activity Df health, economic development and social development attended, mainly from territories in the South Pacific area. Mr.

EL Hayden (Director of Education in Fiji) was chairman.

The Council reviewed the work pro gramme of the Commission and formu ated recommendations for 1952. Those will be considered by the Commission at ts Eighth Session, in October.

Forty-three projects were reviewed in he three fields—9 in Health, 13 in Econo nic Development and 21 in Social De velopment.

Health projects included those dealing vith tuberculosis, filariasis and elephan nasis, and nutrition (including infant ceding).

Arrangements were also reviewed for he international conference of filariasis txperts, to be held in Tahiti next August mder Commission auspices.

The Council considered the programme )f the Commission’s tuberculosis team rtiich is continuing in Eastern Polynesia he work carried on last year in the terri ories of Papua and New Guinea, New reland, New Caledonia and Tahiti.

The work of the Commission’s nutrition xpert, who is now in the New Hebrides, ontinuing research carried out last year a New Ireland, New Britain and the ’robriands, was similarly reviewed.

One of the main items discussed in ae economic field was the project on cash tops, or crops grown for commercial dis osal. The Commission will secure the jrvices of experts to investigate the copra, acao, coffee and tea industries through ut the South Pacific.

Other projects considered in this field icluded fisheries, the subsistence of in igenous peoples and the control of ests, diseases and weeds in the region, xperts will be engaged to carry out these ivestigations.

In the field of social development the 2 projects considered included three on immunity development, located in Fiji, apua-New Guinea, and Netherlands New ruinea.

The Commission has approved the en agement of experts to investigate native ousing, and to find means for assisting >land peoples to play a more important art in commerce and industry in the rea.

A survey of the vocational training of Jands peoples was carried out last year >r the Commission by Mr. R. A. Derrick, f Fiji. In approving his report at its -st Session, the Commission strongly -ressed its importance to member overnments, and agreed to the appoint ient of an expert to produce a detailed lan for setting up a central vocational aining institute in the Pacific.

During the meeting a provisional agenda as also considered for the Second South acific Conference, which will be held in oumea early in 1953.

The following attended the Research

ouncil meeting:—

Health

:. E. Massal.—Executive Officer for Health, Sbuth Pacific Commission.

Dr. J. M. Cruikshank. —Inspector-General, South Pacific Health Service and Director, Medical Services, Fiji.

Dr. T. R. A. Davis.—Chief Medical Officer, Cook Islands.

Dr. D. Jamieson (vice Dr. J. T. Gunther). — Tuberculosis Officer, Department of Public Health, Papua and New Guinea.

Dr. M. E. J. M. Heckenroth. —Major, Colonial Health Service, Colonial Hospital, Noumea.

New Caledonia.

Dr. J. C. van Hell.—Head of Government Mlalariplogicai Service, Netherlands New Guinea.

Economic Development

Dr. H. G. MacMillan.—Executive Officer for Economic Development, South Pacific Com mission.

Dr. F. Bugnicourt.—Director, French Institute of Oceania, New Caledonia.

Dr. B. T. Dickson.—Chief of the Division of Plant Industry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra.

Mr. D. R. Eden. —General Manager, NZ Repara tion Estates, Western Samoa.

Mr. B. E. V. Parham. —Acting Deputy Director Department of Agriculture. Fiji.

Mr. Homer Baker (vice Dean K. A. Ryerson).— Economist to the High Commissioner for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Social Development

Mr. H. E. Maude.—Executive Officer for Social Development, South Pacific Commission.

Dr. J. van Baal (vice Dr. J. V. de Bruyni.— Head of the Office of Native Affairs and of the Department of Education, Netherlands New Guinea.

M. M. Grangie.—Director of Education, New Caledonia.

Mr. W. C. Groves.—Director of Education, Papua and New Guinea.

Mr. H. Hayden.—Director of Education. Fiji, and Educational Adviser, Western Pacific High Commission.

Observers

Health.—Dr. E. Hipsley: Medical Officer in Charge. Australian Institute of Anatomy, Canberra.

Economic Development.—Mr. D. T. Lattin: Senior Research Officer, Department of Territories, Canberra.

South Pacific Commission

Mr. John Ryan.—Acting Secretary-General.