Sir Henry Scott, Qc

Chairman of Session of S. Pacific Commission

AN important session of the South Pacific Commission (which is being held this month in Noumea in conjunction with the South Pacific Conference—see page 107) will be presided over by Sir Henry Milne Scott—an interesting departure from the usual routine.

At present, the Senior Commis sioner for the United Kingdom on the Commission is Sir Ronald Garvey, the new Governor of Fiji.

Sir Ronald, now rather deeply im mersed in Fiji affairs, cannot spare the time to go to New Caledonia; and so Sir Henry Milne Scott has been appointed his alternate.

This announcement is of unusual interest, not only because this is the first time that someone un connected with Governments or Universities has been appointed a Senior Commissioner (Sir Henry is a well known Suva barrister, and a director of some large trading concerns) but also because, in order of rotation, this is Fiji’s turn to preside at the Session.

The South Pacific Commission, since its inception in 1947, has created a big organisation, and now is carrying out important work. Its primary and chief objective is to raise the standard of native life throughout the South Pacific Islands. Chief criticism of it is that the twelve Commissioners are by training and outlook too far re moved from practical and mundane affairs. They have been, almost wholly, either high Governmental officials or University professors and lecturers. It is argued that the Commission cannot attain maximum usefulness unless it also represents the viewpoint of private enterprise in the South Pacific.

Sir Henry Milne Scott probably has contributed more than any other private individual to native welfare in the South Pacific. He always has taken a keen interest in the native Fijians, of whom he is very fond. He has made large personal gifts to native welfare.

The land upon which is built the new college for Fijian boys (see front cover of this issue) is a re cent gift from him. He has given years of valuable service to the Lepers Trust Board of Fiji.

Dr. W. E. H. Stanner, Reader

in Comparative Sociology in the Department of Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, has been appointed Aus tralia’s Second Commissioner on the South Pacific Commission (Mr J. R. Halligan is Senior Commis sioner). Dr. Stanner is a graduate of Sydney University: gained his Doctorate in Philosophy in Eng land; and has done distinguished

field work in anthropological re search, from the economic and social side, in North Australia, East Africa, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.

After special training in America in certain aspects of civil admin istration, he served in South-West Pacific during the war.