Unattractive Summary of
p. 137 · Read in the full issue
Is Private Enterprise
Attracted?
Unattractive Summary of Conditions in Solomons
ONE newspaper report says that Mr. H. E. Maude (Executive Officer for Social Development, South Pacific Commission Staff), following a visit to the British Solomons, “spoke in glowing terms of the opportunities at present offer ing for private enterprise in the Solomons.
“While trade and industry in other parts of the Pacific were to a large extent in the hands of a few big firms, none of these had as yet re commenced operations in the Pro tectorate, and the field there was still wide open to the small man with enterprise and the necessary capital.”
Comment
Everyone is ajixious to assist the lion-hearted Sir Robert Stanley in his heart-breaking, bricks-without straw task of making the British Solomons at least self-supporting, and advancing development to the point when it may discourage an Asiatic invasion of this huge, fertile archipelago.
But there is no assistance in Mr.
Maude’s phrases. As we have pointed out again and again, there actually are no inducements and few oppor tunities to attract private enterprise into the British Solomons. The Territory is moribund. Here, for example, is a summary of the reasons given to PIM in March by a man who had rejected, after careful examination, a proposal that he should take over a large, well planted coconut property there: • Profits can be made out of
copra—but, unlike New Guinea and New Hebrides, those profits are sub jected to quite heavy income tax ation. • The labour supply is very un certain. Malaita-men —the main source of labour—are increasingly unwilling to enter into any contract over six months. It costs £lO per head to recruit labour, whether for six months or 24 months. There is no non-Solomons labour available. • Practically all transport is water-borne. The availability of suitable vessels is vital. But, except for the Lever Company’s slipway in the Russell group, there is not one slipway available in the Solomons for the repair and maintenance of small ships and launches. If BSI ever is to be developed, there must be good slipways available at at least three points in the archi pelago. • The Chinese have virtually taken possession of all small trad ing and retail distribution in BSI, and there are very few European traders left. There appears to be a slow trickle of Chinese immigra tion from Hongkong (a British Colony) into BSI.
That is how the situation strikes a recent observer. It scarcely justifies Mr. Maude’s “glowing terms.”
The British governmental authority has promised to alter con ditions so as to attract new enter prise. But no details of its plans yet have been published.
The Rev. A. H. Schubert, secretary of the New Guinea Mission Board, has been doing propaganda work in South Australia and Victoria. He was also to attend the annnal synods of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church.