Countries

Future Of Wphc

Australia Doesn't Want Solomons

TT is reported that certain British A advisers, impressed by the eco nomic uselessness of the British Pacific Islands embraced by the Wes tern Pacific High Commission (Solo mons, Gilbert and Ellice and New Hebrides Condominium), have re commended the British Government to again consider the feasibility of getting rid of these administrations.

There has been a suggestion that the Solomons and the British obli gations in the New Hebrides should go to Australia, and the Gilbert and Ellice to either Fiji, or the United States Trust Territory of Micro nesia.

Developments seem unlikely, how ever. There has been no hint that Australia’s Prime Minister, now in London, has discussed this matter.

Canberra is not enthusiastic. Says Canberra: Papua-New Guinea now costs at least £6,000,000 per annum —so why take on another financial headache!

Meanwhile the new High Com missioner for the Western Pacific, Mr. R. C. S. Stanley, is due this month in Suva. He is to make his head quarters there for some time, and is to set out almost immediately, on the largest of the HCWP fleet, to examine his new domain. He will spend some time in Honiara, Tarawa, Ocean Island and Vila.

New Head For G & E

The new Resident Commissioner for Gilbert and Ellice Colony, Mr.

M. L. Bernacchi, is on his way to Tarawa, to assume duty there.

Mr. Bernacchi is 41. He was in the Royal Navy until 1934; then, in 1936-40, he was in the Colonial Ser vice in Fiji, where he was held in high regard; then he returned to the Navy; and he has been in Malaya since 1944. In Fiji, he married Miss Elaine Chapman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Chapman, formerly of Navua, and now residents of Christ church, NZ.

Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Loudon, now residents of Narrabeen, Sydney, are making the round trip to P-NG on the June “Bulolo.” They will dis embark at Moresby, and spend two months on their well-known Eilogo rubber plantation, in Papua.