Royalty And The Islanders

Preparations to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in June it befitting manner are now being made in all British South Pacific Islands Representatives of Europeans and Islanders are to go to London and loca ! ceremonies are being organised.

In Papua-N. Guinea

District Committees are to be appointed to direct and control the Coronation celebrations throughout the Territory of Papua-N. Guinea.

A general pattern for the Papua and New Guinea festivities was drafted at a conference under the chairmanship of the Administrator, Mr. Cleland. Here it is: Monday, June I —Special celebra tions for schoolchildren in all Territory schools.

Tuesday, June 2 —Coronation Day: At or before 9 a.m.—Thanksgiv ing Services in all churches. 10 a.m. —Parades and reviews, and Act of Loyalty.

Noon—Tree planting ceremony in towns, mission stations, govern ment centres and villages. 4.30 p.m.—Official receptions.

Evening Native dances and ceremonies, and displays of fireworks.

Wednesday and Thursday, June 3 and 4 —Functions as worked out by the various District Committees in line with the wishes of the communities.

Friday, June 4 —Wherever possible, the festivities to conclude with a Coronation Ball.

At the conference, Mr. Cleland again stressed that he wished to have the symbolic tree-planting ceremonies carried out in every part of the Territory at the same time —at noon on Coronation Day.

An Administration officer will be made responsible for the over-all direction and co-ordination of the Coronation Celebration programmes.

The Administrator has asked local Coronation celebration com mittees to keep native requirements well in mind when planning festiv ities. It is desired to make the celebrations a focus for their loyalty and to convey the real significance of it to them.

It has been suggested that one form of marking the occasion would be to plant trees in all towns, villages, mission centres and govern ment stations.

Fijian Soldiers

Three Fijian soldiers, who will be among Fiji’s representatives at the Coronation in London in June, are now undergoing special training in New Zealand. They are: Sergt. S. Buinisaqa.

Corp. T. Noah.

Driver R. Meli.

Driver Me]i saw active service in the Solomons during World War 11.

Four soldiers from Fiji and eight from the Ist Battalion of the Fiji Infantry Regiment, now in Malaya, will go to London to represent Fiji in the Colonial Coronation Con tinent which will march in the

procession to Buckingham Palace] after the ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

Major O. G. R. Edwards, already in London, will ride in the Queen’s Escort from the Colonies.

Those selected to go from Malaya are Captain J. B. Takala, WOI AC Kilmore, Sgt. A. Sikivou, Cpl. N, Lalabalavu, L/Cpl. S. Tukai, L/Cpl, M. Latu, Pte. J. Qoro and Pte. V Lewaivakaca.

P-Ng Party

Three European officers to accom-j pany the 25 native members of the Royal Papua-New Guinea Con stabulary to the Coronation:— Inspector A .M. Sinclair (in charge of Sogeri Training Depot) in com mand.

Inspector A. M. Sinclair (in charge Sub-Inspector P. A. Broman.

All are officers with distinguished records.

There has been some local sup port for the criticisms made by Mr. George Whittaker, President of the New Guinea RSL, when the selection of the 25 constables for the Coronation was announced. He said he was opposed on several grounds to sending natives at all; but, if a contingent were to go, they should not necessarily be policemen, but should be selected strictly according to the merit of their rel corded war service.

The decision to send natives has been generally approved—the argu ment being that it is wise to let all dependent native peoples see as much as is possible of the glory and strength of Great Britain.

The matter of sending, in addition to the police party, an official party to represent the Territories of Papua, New Guinea and North Aus tralia, is under consideration in Canberra. —Own Correspondent.