Move Quickly

If BSI Planters Want Australian Rule, They Should Move Quickly

npHE transfer of Western Pacific JL Commission headquarters from Suva to Honiara, in the British Solomons, has been officially an nounced, to become effective in 1952.

Among the remaining remnant of non-official European residents in the Solomons, there is great dis content with the British Adminis tration, and no one seems to think that the proposed change in head quarters will improve conditions there.

The proposal that Australia should take over this Administra tion was quite seriously discussed, at the highest levels, in London, last year. Mr. Spender rather liked the idea. But Mr. Spender has de parted, and there has been no fur ther consideration of the suggestion.

The plan probably is dead. Can

berra did not like it much, anyhow.

Australia has all the headaches she wants in Papua-New-Guinea, with out seeking more in the ‘‘woeful Solomons.”

It is rather a pity. The Solo mons are such a big territory, and so under-populated, and capable of enormous development—it is a tragedy that the archipelago should be left to the care of the unimagina tive and indifferent officials who have had charge of affairs there for so many years.

If the non-official folk of BSI really do wish to be transferred to Australia, now is the time to get busy. There is just a chance that they can beat down the hostility of Canberra, and the indifference of London, before the migration from Suva is due to take place, early next year.