British Western Pacifh

New Commissioner Visits British Western Pacifh

DURING late August and all Sep tember, an interesting event was taking place in the Southwest Paci

fic. The first High Commissioner t the Western Pacific, unattached Fiji, was visiting the archipelago? of New Hebrides, Solomons as Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and msi ing the acquaintance of his mr kingdom. Hitherto, the office HCWP always has been tacked to the Governorship of Fiji, and ft British Territories named alws T have suffered under an inferiorh complex, because they felt they we' merely an appendage of Fiji.

Now, with a status and a Goi ernor of their own, they hope tffi they may lose some of their baoi wardness, and bulk more impoo antly in the South Pacific won' They expect, for example, that thri official head may join all the otH; Administration representatives the twice-yearly sessions of II South Pacific Commission, in Nol mea.

The new HCWP, Mr. R. C.

Stanley, CMG, OBE, accompanir by his wife and daughter, left Suj in August and proceeded via Nil- Hebrides ports to the Solomons. . is impossible to give a recital of the islands they visited and the ceis monies with which they wo\ greeted. The warmth of the w* come they got in most places serw to set off the unpleasant weatH. conditions they met at sea, moss* in small ships. route from Vila and Santo, tl party called at Tikopia. Them; they went on to Vanikoro, wher His Excellency gave a cocktail pair on board the Betua to Vanikoro res dents on August 30, and dined Mr. Haling’s house.

The Betua, accompanied by tr Government patrol ship Margery, ♦ rived at Graciosa Bay on Septemth 1. Mr. Stanley and the DC mae official visits and were entertaim by the natives.

At Santa Anna, San Cristovy Mr. Stanley was met by the Actib Resident Commissioner of BS2 (Mr. P. A. Richardson) in MV Bin\ They received Mr. Charlie Kupq of Santa Anna, on the Betua His Excellency departed for KD Kira, where he landed in unifoitc on September 3; and, after inspe© ing a guard of honour and meetib the assembled Government Hess men of San Cristoval, he gave s cocktail party to European visitol in the DCs house. This house wv built many years ago by Mr. J. • Barley, who was also responsible ff

he original planning of the station, low one of the most beautiful in the Guests at the cock ail party included Father Hill of *awa School on Ugi Island, Miss Head from Pamua, Father Leemans f the Roman Catholic Mission at Vainoni, and Messrs. P. and J.

Campbell, sons of Mr. F. M. Camp ed, of Waimamura. The Bishop f Melanesia, (Rt. Rev. S. G. Caul )n) arrived at Kira Kira in the fission ship Southern Cross and isited His Excellency on board 'etua.

The Betua (with the HCWP arty) Bina (with Acting RC) outhern Cross (with the Bishop of lelanesia) the RCS Nareau (sent > the Solomons from Suva for the [igh Commissioner’s visit and nor lally part of the G and E Colony’s ;et) with boys from Pawa School impeting in the Annual Police 3orts at Honiara, and MV Margery vith the Eastern District Police am for the Police Sports) left Kira ira for Honiara late on September i FTER a rough trip of 24 hours, *• the party reached Honiara, here the new High Commissioner )t his first view of his new capital.

He landed formally, in Colonial Service uniform; was as formally met by the high officials who had been with him at Kira Kira, with the ad dition of District Commissioner G.

A, Skipper and Mrs. Skipper; and then he took part in the usual form

al ceremonies of welcome at the Residency parade-ground. The party spent a week in Honiara and district, Still using the Nareau, Mr. Stan ley, accompanied by his wife and daughter and officials, and by two other official vessels, proceeded west

ward on September 12. The parti was met at every port of call H canoes, which escorted the Narem to the anchorage. The party speie a night at Ugeli, on Rendova Islamr It arrived at Gizo on the 15th; am visited Kia and Tataba (Ysabel) btc for sailing for Honiara on the 19tJj

Plans For Bsip

HTHE new High Commissioner m«r most of his chief Solomon H lands problems face to face on Sep; tember 10, when he had an informs! talk with members of the Advisor* Council.

Mr. Stanley said that he wouKj make no pronouncements on he was now looking the ground oveis and learning all he could. But hi did make the following statements: • He was most anxious to esj tabhsh the headquarters of thd HCWP in Honiara, and he though!; that might be done early in 195Z< The provision of the necessary build) ings, to permit transfer, would haw first priority. • The fundamental long-rangs problem in BSIP was economic. Pm tential sources of wealth had no been fully exploited. Normal pro duction had been impeded b;c “Marching Rule” disorganisation. • Administrative machinery was set up in Malaita to allov< those people, if they wished, to takol a larger part in the management oo their affairs. • It might be advisable to haw a stock-taking, and mark time for i little, in regard to the various plann for development that had been subd mitted. • He was anxious to get on with plans for education. He paid tribute to the great educational work domn by the Christian Missions. • A committee of officials amr non-officials was set up to consides plans for dealing with port facilities —especially the fact that old Tula® was being used by shipping because of its port facilities, while Honiam could not be used because it haor practically none.

Members of the Advisory Councfic are: Mr. W. T. Charles (Judicial Commissioner) Mr. V. J. Shearwiii (Acting Accountant-General) Dn( W. H. McDonald, MBE (Senio;o Medical Officer) Rt. Rev. S. GC Caulton (Bishop of Melanesia) Mn!

K. H. D. Hay, Mr. R. A. Dethridges; Mr. G. Kuper, Mr. L. F. Gill, anor Messrs. G. Vouza, GM, W. Paiaei BEM, M. Talasasa and S. Sitai.

The High Commissioner and party" left Honiara for Ocean Island om< September 24.