SPC "In a Coma of Formality"

The condition of the SPC was kindly, hut trenchantly dealt with by “The Fiji Times,” in an article on February 19, of which the follow ing are extracts: WHILE the Conferences have been showing life and growth the Commission has been lapsing further into a coma of formality.

The writing of minutes and concern with the forms of admini stration have absorbed time and energy which should have been devoted to the lively purposes for

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the Commission was created. of the trouble comes from >sition of the Commission’s larters. Lovely surroundings pleasant climate and ready wartime buildings are not lea is off the main lines of nication and so is largely touch with the territories hich the Commission is con- I Commission’s headquarters ecome increasingly an Ivory and that is no atmosphere ch to guide the work of a mcerned with improving and ag the day-to-day lives of and women in diverse ies. communication costs, too, sd with the extremely high living in New Caledonia, elped to inflate the Corn ’s budget, absorbing money could be used to greater ige on work in the Terri early transfer of the Corn ’s headquarters should be i the agenda for the pro nquiry. to be hoped that the irnments making the survey not shrink from self i. of them have no reason to med of the men they have to represent them on the

Commission. Others may well ask if they have always selected dele gates with the vision and imagina tion which alone can create stirring, stimulating leadership, or whether they have fallen back on men of small minds to speak in their name.

If vision and imagination are needed in the Commissioners, they are even more essential in the senior staff who initiate and direct the Commission’s work.

Part of the coming enquiry may well be directed at the method of selecting executive officers. It may usefully be asked whether it has always produced the right type of officer.

The reasons for the loss of some able officers who undoubtedly were of the type required might well be studied, also.

Our hopes will be realised only if the enquiry is to be searching, thorough and honest, and con ducted by people with imagination, knowledge and sympathy, able to realise the needs of the South Pacific territories and eager to see those needs met. t Sharp earthquake tremors were felt at Labasa, Buca Bay, Taveuni and Rabi, Fiji, on January 3. The seismograph at Laucala Bay, near Suva, recorded a slight disturbance at 12.45 p.m. and 2.20 p.m., the latter record closely coinciding with the time of the tremors felt in Vanua Levu. Labasa residents also felt tremors. No damage was done

at any place, but at Buca Bay, palms showered down coconuts and the contents of buildings rattled. fl The Governor of Fiji (Sir Ronald Garvey), with Lady Garvey, flew to Auckland at the end of February, to meet their young daughter Grania, who had arrived from Eng land. They all returned to Suva by air on February 28.