John Ryan, of the SRC

Although over 100 delegates, from a score of Pacific countries, had to be transported, organised, housed, feted and instructed in Suva for the Third Sooth Pacific Conference, the arrangements ran practically without a hitch.

The Conference

people gave most of the credit for this to the hardwork ing Deputy Secre tary - General, Mr.

John Ryan, and his equally hardworking assistant, Mr.

Collins.

Mr. Ryan arrived in Suva a couple of weeks before the Conference began; within a few days, he and Mr.

Collins went to earth at Nasinu,

right on the job; half way through, Mr. Collins was carried off to hospital, with pneumonia; and about May 3 Mr. Ryan came back again into public circulation, looking a little wan, and thinner—but with consciousness of a job very well done.

There have been rumours that John Ryan is not happy in Noumea and probably will return to the Australian Public Service. Most SPC people cannot imagine the Pentagon without Mr. Ryan—he has been a very efficient back stop there to the three Secretary-Generals who have held office since the Commission was set up.

ft A son was born to Mr. and Mrs.

Harold Kerswill at Namanula Hos pital, Rabaul, New Guinea, on May 13 (Mothers’ Day). The Kerswills formerly lived in the .New Hebrides and BSIP.