S.P. Commission’S Session Of Hard Work

Many Plans and Projects for Islands Administration

MANY of the decisions taken by the South Pacific Commission, in a hard-working session extending from October 6 to 16, are of considerable interest to all of the South Pacific Territories. The NZ High in Western Samoa, Mr.

G. R. Powles, was chairman. The Commission is engaged on 43 projects “affecting the economic and social development of non-self-governing territories and the welfare and advancement of their peoples.”

Dr. A. H. J. Kroon, a Dutch agri- •cultural scientist with many years

of experience in Indonesia, was appointed Executive Officer for Economic Development on the Re search Council, which is a small body of experts, permanently employed to advise the Commission. The office was vacated by Dr. McMillan last year.

The next South Pacific Conference (an assembly of mostly native dele gates from all South Pacific terri tones—there were 60 delegates from 17 territories in Suva in 1950, at the first Conference) will be held in Noumea in April, 1953.

Industries And Foods

Including plans for the introduc tion and distribution of economl plants, improvement of tropica pastures and of stock, survey of lan« uses, control of pests, diseases am weeds, the Commission considered 1; major projects in the field of economl development.

A survey of the possibilities of ex panding the cocoa and coffee indus tries in various territories has beei completed; a survey of the coconu industry is proceeding. Plans to as sist rice production are being made.

The SPC wishes to assist Island people generally to make greater usi of their fish resources. Following ! conference of experts in May last, i has decided to give assistance to al institutions engaged in this form o research, especially in French Oceania An official announcement says: Other projects approved by tlt, Commission included an examinatioi of financial and commercial relation as they affect the economic develop rnent of island people , the study o the possibilities of participation o native people in industrial develop ments; and the initiation of at economic survey in Western Samoa The Commission also decided to b* associated with a statistical analyst of a sample agricultural census o Papua and New Guinea.

As it is couched in typical officialese it is difficult to understand what thi; means. Private enterprise might lib an interpretation of the first sentence

Apia’S Chief Problem

Under the heading of “Social De velopment” there appear to be, ii process of planning or execution, ; considerable number of projects con cerned with the education of th« Islanders—especially the backwan peoples of Melanesia.

Since it was established five year ago, the SPC has learned that, befor the “advancement” of Islanders cai be achieved, they must be instructed and before they can be instructed they must be in some degree literate and before they can become evet slightly literate there must be pro vided for them trained teachers ant some medium for teaching. As then are many hundreds of differed languages among the li million prim itive folk in Melansia, the SPC hat become increasingly concerned wit) the problem of literacy.

These projects therefore cover i wide variety of literacy studies ant instruction techniques—but there stil is no indication of what medium thi experts favour for teaching in thi village school —the vernacular, or thi most common Territory languages or Pidgin, or the inculcation, at thu lowest possible level, of simple Eng;

sh.

The Commission, however, has stablished a Literature Bureau to reduce and distribute simple reading latter for Islands people; and that ureau has given authority to produce quarterly magazine for the use of ic literate Islanders. This will meet real need.

Co-Operative Movements

Having been informed that there a growing interest throughout the luth Pacific in the formation of co icrative societies among Islanders, e Commission has decided to range “a technical meeting” of -operative organisations with a view fostering the movement.

The official statement says the movement is “a means of promoting social and economic advancement.”

The subject should be examined in a thoroughly practical way before the SPC commits itself to furtherance of the movement. The general impression is (a) native co-operative societies rarely are efficient and economically sound except under European man agement and (b) the movement is frequently encouraged by adminis trative officers of advanced Leftist views as a means of expressing their hatred of private enterprise.

The Commission has decided to assist welfare centres and community development projects in various terri tories by grants and in other ways.