Native Co-Operatives In The

Pacific Islands

Growth and Character of a New Movement

of the resolutions passed at Jvf the Second South Pacific Con ference, held at Noumea in lApril, expressed awareness of the rvalue and importance of “co operatives” in the production, trans port and marketing of copra and icther commodities, and in securing tfair prices to the native producers.

The South Pacific Commission rwas requested to intensify its efforts rto encourage and develop the co operative movement and to place [specialist advisers at the disposal of Islands Administrations requesting isuch assistance. Specialist confer ences are planned for next year on technical aspects of the co-operative [movement.

Native co-operative organisation is now being strongly encouraged by most of the South Pacific Islands Governments—Fiji, Gilbert and Ellice, Solomons, Papua-New Guinea, for example. There was an important conference of Fijians in relation to Co-operatives recently.

IN view of this interest in the co operatives in the South Pacific area, a paper entitled “The Co

operative Movement in Papua and New Guinea,” prepared by the Registry of Co-operative Societies, Port Moresby, for the South Pacific Commission, is of significance.

The paper briefly describes the be ginning of group economic activities and how, in the early post-war years, Native Affairs Officers began to investigate the ramifications of the Co-operative movement. It was then realised thkt the Administra tion had an unprecedented oppor tunity of providing the native people with a planned pattern of social and economic development through their own efforts. The Native Economic Development Ordinance, 1951, made it possible for the Native Societies to be registered and given adequate protection.

To-day there are 110 existing Native Societies in P-NG. It has needed patient effort to amalgamate the vast number of small Societies into the worthwhile organisations now existing. There are three main types of Co-operative activity in the Territory. They deal with consump tion, production and the provision of services.

CONSUMER Societies originated in the natives’ desire to own their own trading stores. There are 19 Societies which operate con sumer stores solely and 72 Societies which operate consumer stores in conjunction with other activities, a total number of 91. These 91 Societies had a total store turnover of

'115,800 during the year 1951-52 the final quarter is estimated) an increase of £46,576 over the previ ous year’s figures.

There are 89 Producer Societies, whose main crop is copra. These Societies are important because of their contribution to the economy of the Territory in the exportation of a commodity in world-wide de mand. Their copra sales during 1951-52 yielded £65,750 (in the previ ous year the total was £30,347). The inadequacy of transport seriously handicapped activities and a group of native Societies amalgamated to purchase a vessel at a cost of £7,000.

It is fully employed carrying copra from the Gulf Division to Port Moresby, backloading store goods for Consumer stores. rfIHERE are only two Service Societies —both in the Central Division of Papua. They are ermed Builder Societies, and con vlst of groups of natives with van 's qualifications applicable to con ctional contracting. lie members join, their ability sessed and the Society tenders v construction work, such as build and cementing. Tools and con ting equipment are bought with members’ capital contributions, bers receive wages based on assessed skill, and any surplus mg is retained for later dis til out ion.

This retention of surplus is im portant in that it enables reserves to be made against possible unem ployment of members. It also makes possible the acquisition of suitable assets, thereby enabling higher types of contracts to be undertaken.

The services of these two Societies are in great demand.

/"X)-OPERATIVE Officers on being Vj posted to a District begin classes of instruction in Co operative principles, procedure, book keeping and general business prin ciples. This is a major task, as can be appreciated when it is realised that many members of the classes are semi-literate, and often com

hetely illiterate. So enthusiastic *re the natives for this training nat in many cases tribal differ nces have: been submerged. 1 These Co-operative schools are [Derating at 6 centres—Kikipi and nu (Gulf Division), Gehua (Milne ?ay), Sohano (Bougainville), and ravieng (New Ireland). The sixth ;hool, at Port Moresby, as well as raining natives as store managers :nd office-bearers, provides trained native inspectors employed by the idministration to assist the work I the Co-operative Officers.

The average number of students Bing trained as storemen at each )o-operative School on outstations 18, and the period of instruction aries from 6 weeks to 3 months.

Specialised technical training is Iso arranged and natives are at resent trained to operate saw-mills, nd in seamanship, engineering, nimal husbandry and cane furni ure making.

“An examination of the future pos bilities of Co-operatve develop lent reveals,” says the report, “that le movement has a real value both or the native people and the Ter tory as a whole.”

CHE report instances the trend towards the formation of So cieties into representative Asse rtions as evidenced by the three ssociations now in existence in the •ulf, New Ireland and Bougainville •istricts.

According to the report, the aim to extend this concept of Associa on to all groups, and the next ,ep in logical sequence will be the malgamation of Associations in a Wholesale Union. Such a body, it thought, would be able to affiliate it h Co-operative organisations [ready existent in Australia and yerseas, providing both a source : supply and a market for export.

Suitable transport will be one of le major requirements of Societies, ative economic development has, ) far, been concentrated in the jastal regions, the nature of the irrain making the construction of >ads difficult and costly to main tin. Shipping, therefore, is the Dvious solution, and the officials link that widespread acquisition of nail coastal vessels is a future de dopment which can be confidently iticipated.

A note of warning is sounded in le conclusion of the report: the mger of an economy based on ono-culture is stressed. Efforts to versify the production of Societies ive largely failed because the high :ice of copra attracts producers i the coconut field only.

Miss Ulric Cole, California-born riter and composer, passed through Sidney in May, en route to Tahiti, here she plans to live. “The tempo : life in Tahiti is so much more isurely,” she says. “No one worries, d one bustles, and the people are le happiest I have ever known.”