Outh Pacific Commission

What Was Done in 1951

THE inclusion of two more United States territories within the scope of the South Pacific jmmission, and the holding of two ajor international conferences ider Commission auspices, were (table features of the Commis m’s development during 1951, its cond full year of operation.

Guam and the Trust Territory mprising the Mariana, Marshall id Caroline Groups, were formally eluded in the Commission area international agreement on jvember 7.

Two Conferences

Twenty experts, nominated by smber Governments, attended the immission’s plant and animal .arantine conference at Suva in >ril. It sought to unify the arantine procedures of the South .cific territories for the more ade ate protection of their agricul re and stock.

In August the world’s first filari- Ls and elephantiasis conference is held in Papeete, under Com ssion auspices, to review the ex ■ing research and control pro ammes for these diseases, and to opose further measures for corn ting them.

The Commission is putting the commendations of both confer ees into effect.

1951 Work Programme

Pull details of the progress in rying degree, made during the ar in the 39 projects constituting e Commission’s work programme the fields of health, economic velopmefit and social develop ing appear in the Commission’s uarterly Bulletin.”

Fen health projects were for ilated. Commission field workers itinued research in various •ritories throughout the year in trition and alimentation (H. 2 d 5), and tuberculosis (H. 3). [n furtherance of project H.l aidemiology and quarantine) mmission participation in the uth Pacific Health Service was lintained while a committee was ; up to prepare a common code quarantine for non-pestilential leases within the area. [n economic development, Dr. and idame Catala, of the Research stitute of French Oceania, spent ; months for the Commission in e Gilbert and Ellice Islands in stigating ways of producing more Dd on coral atolls (Project E. 6).

Dther projects in which substan .l progress was recorded included Dse dealing with the introduction d distribution of economic plants

(E.l) and control of pests, diseases and weeds (E. 9).

Highlight of activities in social development was the establishment of the South Pacific Literature Bureau, to stimulate publication and circulation throughout the Islands of cheap and simple booklets and pamphlets. The Bureau also ad vises on the setting up of village libraries; while film and filmstrip appraisal services are conducted.

Expert reports on the following four projects, which have been com pleted, will be published for the Commission in book form during 1952: S.l Vocational Training; 5.5, Review of Research on Social An thropology: 5.6, Linguistic Survey; and 5.9, Moturiki community de velopment project. Progress reports were also ccmpletel for 5.2, Visual Education, and 5.13, Vernacular Teaching (the latter for submission

To Unesco).

Substantial progress was made in S.B, comprising an investigation of housing problems in South Pacific territories. This is being under taken for the Commission by Pro fessor J. P. Thijsse, of the Univer sity of Indonesia.

Appointments

Recent appointments include that of Dr. Eric M. Ojala, as Deputy Chairman of the Research Council: Mr. D. H. Urquhart, to undertake a survey of the cacao industry in the South Pacific; and Mr. D. B.

Roberts as Organiser for Islands literature.

In November Sir Brian Freeston, K.C.M.G., 0.8. E., late Governor of Fiji, arrived at Commission head quarters in Noumea to take up the post of Secretary-General.