Conference

Rabaul, 1959

Plans For Spc

SUITABLE accommodation must be found for at least 200 people —mostly men—who will as semble at Malaguna, in Rabaul, in April or May, next year, to attend or service the Fourth South Pacific Conference.

The first and the third Con ferences were in Suva; and the second in Noumea.

In each case, they called for some thing approaching a maximum effort in local organisation—and there were considerably more facilities for handling an as semblage in Suva and Noumea than there are in Rabaul.

There now is less than a year to go. The effort of transporting delegates from all over the South Pacific, and from some parts of the North Pacific; of housing them adequately in Rabaul for from two to three weeks; and of returning them thereafter to their homes, is considerable.

In a transportation sense, Rabaul —like Noumea, in New Caledonia —is “out on the end of a limb”

Special air transport will be called for—the present services would not be capable of handling a quarter of the Conference personnel.

The Agenda

The following is the approved agenda for the Conference Problems resulting: from the Impact of participation in economic develonment. with reference to native land tenure and the growing of permanent crops; The extension of tourism in the Pacific region and the economic and social im plications for the people; Study of the role and function of custom and beliefs in relation to infant and maternal welfare; Broadcasting in the life of Pacific peoples; T he .. trainlnff of ,OCaI leaders for par ticipation in aided self-help projects; The place of recreation, including sport and youth activities, in the community; The impact of the modern technical and industrial world on the life and culture of South Pacific peoples.