Mrer-Governments Apparently Recommend

[?]Some [?]ifications—

The Mixture-As-Bffore For Spc

Those v/ho expected a clash of international temperament, or mplete reorganisation or even disintegration of the South Pacific immission at the meeting at member-Government level in Canberra, ;t concluded, must be disappointed. Members of the conference ;t. conducted their affairs in an atmosphere of cordiality; decided to rry on much as before; in the same place; and on the same budget.

AT is what one might infer tom the press-release issued if ter the Conference, anyway, tver, we understand that a re of proceedings will not be i until June, and it therefore 1 be as well to await this nent (and its 46 recommenda !) before jumping to con ms. t conference was not a meet of the South Pacific Gom an. but of the Governments UK, Holland, France, Aus and New Zealand) which irt it and supply the funds. was organised by the Depart of External Affairs Canberra, ilosed to the press. A release made of Mr. Casey’s speech he opened the conference on 30. Another at the end of Jdings on May 8. The latter lent, having been vetted by ientatives of each delegation, endered as suitably innocuous, ch documents generally are.

Tom information received it appear that the Review fence has: Re-affirmed the support of all Governments for the South fic Commission, and its con ation at about its present level ctivity; Clarified the fact that the mission will not guide or even 'tly influence the policies of Governments in their respec territories, but will be a useful Mary to them, by promoting '-change of experience; by ning horizons of thought for isentafives of people who are graphically isolated; and also applying technical assistance 'lected fields where assistance rt available in other ways; Directed that the work of the mission in future be carried t a more down-to-earth and ’teal level. last item is of most ance. How this new policy 5 implemented is discussed in pss release in only the most i terms. However, it has uggested that this might be )y the Research Council of Emission fosterin''" a stronger with the Territories for work is to be done. 16 past, considerable numbers

of Islands officials have attended Research Council meetings—with out entirely satisfactory results.

In future the Research Council will probably be smaller but the various territories will be en couraged to ask for technical assistance in their particular needs and be invited to bear the cost of Commission work undertaken on their behalf.

Previously, the Council has expended a lot of its energies in making regional surveys, the results of which were not always fully availed of by the several Pacific territories.

If a territory asks the Com mission to do a specific job for it, and helps pay for the cost, that may be the most practical method of generating interest on both sides. Or so it is thought. • The Canberra Conference recommended that the Com mission’s internal organisation should be examined by a man agement expert who will also report on salaries and related staff matters. • It was decided that for the next three years, the SPC could get along on its present budget— of about £Stg. 2oo,ooo per annum.

Native Leaders Next Meet

At Port Moresby

Whatever might have been their differences of opinion in other directions, representatives who attended the conference seemed to be as one in the opinion that the South Pacific Conferences are successful and of great practical benefit to the people concerned.

These conferences are held every three years and attended by leaders of the native peoples.

Mr. Casey indicated during the Review Conference that Port Moresby will be ready to be host at the next one in 1959.

Representatives also praised the w^ k ,- 0f SPC Literature Bureau which is doing something to provide the newly literate people of the South Pacific with books in simple English.

IN an article in PIM of June, 1956, a special correspondent asserted that the South Pacific Commission was drifting into

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ility and bureaucracy and i these points: fhe Governments concerned d approach the South Pacific nission with imagination and osity. [’hey should look critically at representatives on the SPC. [•hey should get rid of hide l officials and ex-officials who inly for files and regulations, know nothing of people and dreams and ambitions. ■here is no place in the Com ion, either, for academic sts or narrow-minded, pinch men without vision who are by fancied slights, he Commissioners who should st, and added to from among like, are those who have I themselves in the territories ho have retained both energy nagination. Such men have I, and will continue to earn, jspect and affection of he Pacific peoples. r hen the list of Com ners has been overhauled, w Commission should in turn critically at the permanent Any deadwood of careerism indow-dressing should be cut and new life thus infused now far from lively body.

Fstralian Support

governmental review confer ias now been held. We will ow for some time whether it reduced the shake-up our ondent thought necessary, ever, it is as well to realise s at present constituted, the as limitations. Its architects td it as an advisory body. ?h they may have regarded i its strength, it is also its ss. The SPC has no power ■ the different Islands admin ns to accept its conclusions, ;hough member governments support the organisation 100 t., individual administrations, of authority in their own ?roup, have shown consider ate resistance to the idea Commission. ates to the conference the work of Mr. W. D. (he was described by the “pivot of the con ’). Mr. Forsyth was, of the first Secretary-General Commission before taking up appointment. He has now i to External Affairs De it. s he who shaped the SPC is organising ability was acclaimed. Mr. Forsyth, ir, believes in the SPC. If Jd, he might prove the at the SPC needs.

SPC is regarded as Aus baby”, and Australia cer ays more for its upkeep than

any of the other member govern ments.

In the ultimate analysis, therefore, whether the SPC continues to live and to grow probably depends upon Australian support. And already there have been suggestions that although some sections of the Australian Government are behind the SPC, other sections of the same administration fail to support it in the way that they should.