British Solomons Plan To
pp. 51-53 · Read in the full issue
Cinderella Territory Seeks A Way Out
Woo Private Enterprise
THE British Government’s new policy for the development of the Solomon Islands was out lined in general terms by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (Sir Robert Stanley) when he opened the BSI Advisory Coun cil meeting in Honiara on February 10. Sir Robert had recently returned from a discussion in London with the British Colonial Office; and he told the Council that: • BSI would receive some special grants (amounts not yet known) wherewith to “finance a develop ment programme and encourage private enterprise.” • A “Development Secretary” will be appointed, to be responsible for the organisation and supervision of developmental schemes. • As it was not possible for “a Government by itself, however much money it spends, to develop a terri tory such as this without the assist
ance of private enterprise and the stimulus of competition,” official steps will be taken to encourage private enterprise to enter the Solomons. Specific proposals are being examined by the Territory Treasurer, Mr. McLeod Smith, now in London. • The taxation system is being overhauled, with a view to giving private enterprise some relief from “the burden of income tax and sur tax.” • A “Trade Development Officer,” who should undertake fairly frequent visits to Sydney and other important centres, so as to make contact with business people and the Press, and to seek better publicity for BSI resources and opportunities, will be appointed.
Sir Robert, at some length, de scribed measures which were being taken to improve the general standard of administration and pro
vide essential social services; but the great difficulty of holding and training sufficient staff to achieve such ends appeared again and again throughout his review. To assist its purpose of maintaining an adequate staff, the administration s spending large sums in providing adequate housing, attractive salaries and other amenities.
The Economic Position
IN 1954, exports were worth £A1,930,000 and imports £A1,230,368. The Government’s revenues totalled £A506,711 (£A59,000 above estimate) and expenditure was £A603,000; and most of the deficit is being met by a special grant from Britain.
Copra exports totalled 19,021 tons (16,488 tons in 1953) and are esti mated at the same, or a little less, in 1955. Trochus and green snail shell exports were 796 tons (562 in 1953); and super-feet of timber shipped away totalled 4,350,000 (1,800,000 in 1953).
Progress has been made in cocoa planting in Malaita; the possibility of coffee growing is being investi gated; and a special British grant is available for investigation of rice growing.
The Hu Farm Scheme has been discontinued and the cattle are be
ing distributed throughout BSI — Levers have taken 50 for breeding purposes.
The report shows that, despite very limited resources in personnel and funds, a Geological Survey has been going on, especially in Guadal canal. More than traces of some
valuable metals have been found certain of the main islands, and tJ Survey will proceed during 1955. is here that private enterprise rrr be interested, if metals are fou in quantity. It will be remember that private interprise, in the sha of the Emperor Gold Co., of F'
was all ready to explore the gold deposits of Guadalcanal, in the •Forties, but was literally chased out of the Protectorate by the British Socialist Government, which planned the development of BSI by Socialist
processes alone.)
Transport Problems
THE High Commissioner is frank and outspoken on the subject of shipping—and rightly so, for the future of this great archipelago necessarily is bound up with ships.
Nearly all BSI activities depend on vater transport; yet the BSI head juarters, after the war, were placed it Honiara, which is almost an open •oadstead —and apart from lighters, s still without loading and unload ing and docking facilities.
While demands for shipping facil ties have increased, the Govern nent’s fleet of small ships has [iminished. However, an order is icing placed in Hong Kong for a 05-ft diesel vessel to run on a egular schedule within BSI; the \etua is being re-engined; and the f ovala may be available shortly.
'lans have been made for ship epair facilities at Tulagi; and there i talk of providing a floating dock.
BSI roads are in poor condition — specially those around Honiara, hat is because the officials have een unable to get spare parts for leir road-grader, which still is im tobilised.
Considerable improvements have sen effected at Kukum airfield lear Honiara) and plans are be ig made to restore the once-famous enderson airfield (on Guadalcanal) i international standard. Munda rfield may be restored to use, in ace of that at Barakoma.
A plan for the establishment of al port facilities at Honiara will on be submitted to London.
Sir Robert Stanley dealt at some ngth with matters of domestic •ncern education, medical ser ces and the encouragement of eas of local self-government among e Protectorate’s 100,000 natives.