[?]ditorial ...

[?]Ime To Review Scope Of

[?]Outh Pacific Commission?

view of the following facts, this nav be a suitable time to review he constitution and authority Hie South Pacific Commission, :h this month is holding its ual meeting in Noumea (New

idonia) ;

The Commission was a bold [wise experiment. There had [nothing like it previously'’ in South Pacific Islands. It is to xpected that, after six years of Bfion, experience has shown [‘some amendments are neces- World conditions have changed, he immediate post-war period, I the Commission was planned [brought into being, few ex ;d and none provided for this l-wide wave of aggressive lialism, which manifests itself irious ways. One effect is that sducation and social welfare of [islands people—a paramount iteration when the Commission I planned—should now take id place to all measures con ;d with the protection of the e races.

Ihe officers of the Commission, potable skill and industry, have ged in wide research in the [ of health, social welfare and Mnic development, and as led a mass of valuable data: here is little evidence that the Jovernments which control the felands Territories concerned done much to apply the know [so expensively gained, or flu ent the recommendations so tolly framed. fhe general welfare of all the ds Territories is necessarily ted by events and conditions ling secur i t y, immigration, port and communications, and ially coconut-planting and the ifacture and shipment of copra.

Overall organisation like the should have authority, within liable limits and safeguards, to at least with such matters as production and marketing of I the introduction of Asiatics, peasures for the control of pests ttiseases.

Experience has shown that : definitely is a crippling lage difficulty in the operations e SPC. The establishment of headquarters in Noumea, and obligation to put all official is into both English and in, have created burdens and cles for the SPC staff which

have retarded its work and limited its usefulness.

THE need for a revision would not have arisen if the organisation had developed according to the original idealistic conception. Each of the six Governments has a Com missioner at the SPC table. The Commission studies the reports of its officers, agrees on its viewpoint, and then individual Commissioners carry the resulting recommendations to their Governments. Provided there is nothing in the recommenda tions likely to be in conflict with more important issues, each Govern ment then is expected to implement the Commission’s decisions. Thus, in all the 14 Territories, there would be general uniformity of policy and co-ordination of administrative measures.

But It has not worked out that way, simply because the political theorists who planned the SPC did not take the limitations of politicians into, consideration. One sees a similar thing in the almost invari able failure o*' public welfare legis lation enacted by socialist planners who try to create a new heaven on earth, while ignoring the weaknesses and frailties of earthbound people.

In our SPC there are represented the Governments of (In their order of financial and territorial respon sibility) Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Holland, United States. The four first-named carry most of the responsibility. The Minister in each Government con cerned with these Territories is almost invariably a junior, whose “business” takes a very minor place in Cabinet meetings.

Britain and France, for example, have far more urgent problems in Africa, Asia, West Indies, etc., than conditions of life in the (to them) insignificant and unimportant South Pacific Islands. One sees a some what similar thing in Australia.

Canberra gives some conscientious effort to the administration of Papua and New Guinea; but there

is little evidence of any attempt to co-ordinate measures there with administration in the adjoining territories of Solomons, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Fiji.

That is simply human nature, as demonstrated in the human beings thrown up by an effete and out moded voting system to become politicians and Cabinet Ministers.

We can expect nothing better, while the system lasts. In practice, as a result, more and more admin istrative power goes to the bureaucrat s—the Departmental officials.

Therefore, why not give some legislative and administrative authority to the SPC? Better that, than to allow the results of large expenditure and much devoted effort by conscientious officers to simply disappear with a mass of printed reports.

A LL administrative and welfare activities in the South Pacific Islands now should be geared to the need for protecting these in digenous peoples against submerg ence by Asians. What is the use of teaching them self-dependence and self-government, if, presently, they are to be surrendered to the care of a race that does not care two pence about the rights of indigenous people?

Indonesia was given to the Indo nesians—and the swarming Chinese are quietly and effectively taking the place of the displaced Dutch.

A bedevilled France is moving out of Indo-China; but the real power behind the forces now taking over is Red China. The fumbling British, after creating a first-class political mess in Singapore (where they have allowed themselves to be bullied by masses of Chinese “students”) have given partial self government to the Malays, ignoring the fact that in Malaya already the Malays are outnumbered by the Chinese, who inevitably will assume political power and do as they wish with the weaker race.

Within half a decade, Japan also will be on the march again. There are nearly 400 millions in India, slowly working themselves along to the point of political explosion.

China, Japan, India —the facts are plain for anyone to see. The six Governments should revise their South Pacific Commission set-up in the light of these facts.

THE French are a proud people; and although any admirer of French achievements and culture is profoundly depressed by what may be seen in France to-day, high French officialdom refuses to ack nowledge that the events of the past 20 or 30 years have reduced the status of France, in relation to world culture.

For example, the French language.

Prior to World War I, a knowledge

of the French language was essential in any plan of education. To-day —mostly because, as France’s influ ence in international affairs has waned, that of the United States has risen—that is not so. Whether we like it or not, the use of English is becoming universal. . . To-day, one who speaks only English may travel through most of New Caledonia and French Oceania (France’s two big Territories in the South Pacific) and suffer no incon venience—most Europeans and many natives know some English. The inference is obvious.

The obligation to print all SPC official records in French as well as in English should be reconsidered, in the light of experience. An authoritative summary in French, made by competent persons, should be sufficient for the purposes of ad ministration in Paris, New Cale donia and French Oceania; and both staff and money thus would be released for the chief purpose of the Commission.

The position of SPC headquarters is a more difficult matter.

It was apparent, when the original plan was implemented, that Noumea should never have been selected — it could be seen then that there would be difficulties relating to language, printing, communications and transport. Headquarters should have been in Suva, the natural South Pacific centre, where most of those difficulties could have been avoided. Experience actually has shown that, if the SPC is to

function at full efficiency, its? quarters should be in Sydney* problems of personnel, as w of communication, transpon printing, disappear automatic.

Noumea was selected parti cause of French sensitiveness? lation to French status, and J because of France’s very go offer of accommodation at!

Vata, just when there seem way of accommodating the Co sion in any other place. J high officialdom has assists Commission, in Noumea, ini ways and in a good spirit; bv does not alter the facts thi since 1948 Noumea, in relati air and sea communication, H come more isolated; (b) SP‘ sonnel generally do not liH ing in New Caledonia; order to assure greater efH the Social Development Sectio part of the printing and puteJ organisation, already have? moved from Noumea to Sy* despite the jealous protests, section of high French Officis * * * These things are plain, seen by any interested otf But it is unlikely that anythii be done, to put greater signii and future usefulness into the until their enters upon thea some figure with enough < force to induce the six preooi Governments to consider thei going—and other related—f-

Rwr.