Third South Pacific Conference

[?]uva, April 23-May 3

EPARATIONS now are in land for the Third South Pacific Conference to be held r the auspices of the South ic Commission. It will take ■ in Fiji, near Suva, in the light between April 23 and 3. legates representing the native ders will proceed from all the ;parate Countries (or Admini ions) of the South Pacific, and the American Trust Territory icronesia, in the latter part of , to Suva, where arrangements are being made for their tion, transport and accommo n. ministration o ffi cia 1 s and ers from each Territory ly accompany the delegates; so the total personnel to be ded for is well over 100. s First Conference was held Suva, and the Second 3rence, in 1954, in Noumea.

Place Of Future

Conferences

had been hoped that this [ Conference would be held in Australian or New Zealand tory—New Guinea or Western a had been suggested—but the isers evidently found the 3m of accommodating over 100 ns for two weeks, under lie conditions, could not be 1 in either of those two Trust •itor i e s . Transportation is ier problem. New Caledonia, 54, presented many difficulties ie assembling and dispersing the delegations, and the isers did not want another iche. >se who favour New Guinea, fer, point out that New Guinea 3t as easy of access as Fiji. b delegations were brought to ;y they could easily be sent 3 New Guinea by ship or But the cost factor is tant—and probably Suva is heapest point of assembly in outh Pacific. it observers hope that, by ig arrangements well in ce, it may be possible to hold Fourth Conference in New a. Wau or Goroka, in the ands, would be an ideal place .ich a gathering; and, given ent warning, the Administra should be able to provide all ssa r y accommodation and ties.

Fiji, the organisers make use 3 extensive modern buildings 3 Teachers’ Training College sinu, a few miles out of Suva.

F’irst Pacific Conference was here.

SCOPE AND vatttf CONF^fnpfq E ° F

Conferences

The Islanders, at these Con ferences, are encouraged to discuss numerous conditions which affect their common life in which have been dealt with by the Medical, Economic Development or Social Development Sections of the S^ l 9 omn i, 1 ? sl< ? n s R esearc h Council.

The subjects are numerous—the

treatment of common diseases, trends in education, the develop ment of new food sources, the training of Islanders for admini- Strative duties, the growth and control of co-operative societies, the introduction of new industries, technical training, control over immigration, standards of housing— are only a few of the matt ers in which all Islanders have a common interest.

The plan, when the South Pacific Commission was established in 1948-49, was that the recommenda tions of these Conferences, after being vetted bv the Commission should go forward to the sfx interested Governments (Britain Australia, France, United States’

Zealand, Netherlands), to be dered and if thought suitable ecome part of their Islands nistration policies, would be interesting if an al survey were submitted at Third Conference, showing has happened to the omendations made at the First Second Conferences. That the people interested could s the real and practical value ese Conferences, svever, apart from the debates recommendations, the Con ces are good for the Islanders. is the only opportunity led the people of 14 South ic Territories of coming tier and, in a fortnight of association, getting to know other. They all speak different e languages; but practically he delegates are literate in : English or French.