[?]S. Pacific Conference
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
In April
Accommodation Problem in Noumea
DELEGATES have been and are being selected in all Territories of the South Pacific and Micro lesia to attend the Second South >acific Conference, which will be ield in Noumea, New Caledonia, letween April 16 and 28. Practic ,lly all delegates are natives of the arious Territories, supported by earns of European and native 'facials and advisers.
The First Conference was held in Suva, Fiji, in 1950.
The Conferences are an essential lart of the organisation and tructure of the South Pacific Com nission, and are called together very three years. They deal with 11 aspects of native life and pro ress. They make recommendatiohs 3 the Commission, and to the six lember Governments (Britain, 'ranee, United States, Australia, Eolland, New Zealand) which con rol all the South Pacific Tern aries.
The following are the delegates rom the Australian Territories: New Guinea: Waiau Ahnon, a clerk -om the Rabaul Education Department; dvent Tarosi, a teacher from Dreger afen. Alternatives: Takanpan, New reland district; Nason, New Britain.
Papua: Paulus Apek, teacher of Sogeri; liss Tani Sisa, handcrafts branch of ducation Department. Alternatives: Tu iaus Sambud, medical assistant of ona: Elliott Elijah, a Bougainville Coo perative inspector.
Advisers and officials: Director of istrict Services, Mr. J. H. Jones; Miss . A. McLachlan, officer in charge of the Women’s Division of the Department of ducation; agricultural officer. Mr. R. S. arne; Mr. R. Thompson, social welfare Ulcer from the Education Department.
A Conference of this kind pro ides difficult problems of accom iodation. This Second Conference ill take place at the Pentagon uilding at Anse Vata, Noumea eadquarters of the South Pacific ommission; but there is not accom lodation in that area normally for t least 100 delegates, officials, dvisers and staff. Some presum bly will be lodged in Noumea town, )me two miles away. Noumea snerally is overcrowded. SPC ficials have been labouring on the roblem for some time.
Suva solved it more simply in 150. The Government made avail ile the Teachers’ Training Col ge at Nasinu, complete with halls id barracks, and the willing young ijian students provided a fine >rps of clerks and attendants.
Mr. J. H. Common, of the Fiji üblic Works Department, has been ransferred to Aden as Assistant lirector of Public Works.