Local Natives Stared In Wond

Fourth South Pacific Conference Local Natives Stared In Wond

From AAP-Reuter RABAUL, April The khaki, red and blue uniforms of native army cadets, scorn police and girl guides dotted the sports ground at the Malagm Technical Training Centre, near Rabaul, today for the opening of t Fourth South Pacific Conference.

A S the Administrator of Papua A. and New Guinea, Brigadier D. M. Cleland, arrived to open the Conference officially an army cadets and police guard of honour presented arms with fine precision, , ._ Behind them, scouts and guides snapped to attention and a native honour presented arms with fine Anthem. .

On the fringes of the ground, under the shadow of volcanoes Matupl and Vulcan looming over Rabaul, thousands of local natives looked on in wonder.

Opening the Conference of 70 in digenous delegates of 16 South Pacific territories and the Kingdom of Tonga, Brigadier Cleland read

a personal message from Austrs' Ministers for External Affairs \ Territories, Messrs. R. G. Caseyv Paul Hasluck.

“On behalf of the Australian ( ernment we convey most coc greetings to the Fourth South Ps !

Conference and best wishes f successful meeting.

“The Australian Governmeh very appreciative of the fact the honour of acting as hog! such a distinguished gathering representatives of peoples of 3 Territories of the South P£f region has, on this occasion, p to an Australian territory”,, Ministers’ message said.

This is the first time Australia; been host nation to the Confem

nous Conferences have been held :e in Fiji and once in New idonia.

Prince, an editor, doctors, olteachers and University gradu in a variety of faculties, house ;s are amongst the 70 delegates nding the Conference, legates of Polynesian, Melanesi and Micronesian races of the :h Pacific are all from Pacific •itories within the sphere of lence of the South Pacific Com mon, of which the Conference is luxiliary.

In Tapa Cloth ir the opening ceremony, many ?ates wore ceremonial native s. The most impressive of the ?ates were members of the itian and Samoan delegations Prince Tu’ipelehake, of Tonga, me. Jacquemin, from Tahiti, i a toga-like garment of light ;i-coloured material stretching i her neck to her toes, veral of the American Samoan nation wore traditional tapa i lava-lavas. liking Chief Tuato’o, who pre ed the kava roots to Brigadier md and the Secretary General, T. R. Smith, also wore the ftains’ insignia of red painted ianas nuts and carried a fibre m “fue” resembling a fly whisk, indreds of Rab a u 1 natives r ded around the Conference i when the presentation was e, and gaped in wonder. Many ited with glee as they watched kava root presentation. A oan chief walked along both 5 of the room and then back ie centre, at each pause emitting trill cry. ter the opening ceremonies, the Terence split into two committees icial and Economic —and divided topics listed for discussion, ibjects to be discussed by the

Conference include the effect of customs and beliefs in relation to infant and maternal welfare, tour ism, broadcasting, recreation, train ing of local leaders for participation in seif-help schemes and the impact of the technical and industrial world on the life of the South Pacific islands.

The Conference, which will end on May 13, is being held at Mala guna Technical Training College built by native students and Euro pean trade instructors at a cost of

about £700,000. , The estimated value of the whole property is £2,000,000.

Samoan Woman Guides Committee

Attractive Miss Tiresa Hunter, of Western Samoa, was elected chair man of the social committee when it got down to work on April 30.

Miss Hunter, was chosen from five candidates, amongst them was Prince Tu’ipelehake, of Tonga, and High Chief Lietao, of Eastern Samoa.

Miss Hunter, who is 35, is a gradu ate of Victoria University, Wellmg

ton, New Zealand, and a lecturer at the Teachers’ Training College at Apia, Western Samoa.

Who Was Who at the

Conference

Delegates, alternates, advisers and ob servers were as follows: AMERICAN SAMOA: High Chief Leiato (delegate), High Chief Sotoa (delegate), Talking Chief Tuato’o (alternate), Talking Chief Saleapaga (alternate), Mulitauaopele (interpreter).

British Solomon Islands Pro

(Continued on page 150)

[?]ates begin to arrive, and their luggage is up ready to be moved to their quarters.

Above, top to bottom: A general view of the conference hall. Cook Islands delegates: Mrs.

Teopokoina Morgan, the Hon. Tuakeu Puana,

and the Hon Margaret Ariki. A leading Con ference personality, charming Frenchwoman Mme. Jeanne Jacquemin, of Papeete, vice chairman of the Information and Visitors Bureau of Tahiti.

TECTORATE: Mr, Silas Sitai, BEM (d gate), Mr, Salana G’aa, BEM (delegs Mr. V. J. Andersen, MBE (adviser).

Condominium Of New Hebkie]

Mr. John Kalsakau (delegate), Cl Thompson Tangarasi (delegate), Richard Angeloni, MBE (adviser), : Jacques Kerry (adviser to all French di gates).

COOK ISLANDS: Mrs. Teupokoina H gan (delegate), Mrs. Margaret Ta« (delegate), Mr. Taukeu Puna (alterns Mr. L. K. Pitt (adviser, Cook Islands Niue).

FIJI: The Hon. H. B. Gibson. ♦ (delegate), The Hon. Semesa Siki (delegate), The Hon. Dr. Sahu Khan (d gate).

French Polynesia: Mme. H. Jaci

min (delegate), M. E. Le Caill (delegs

Gilbert And Ellice Islands:

Tabunawati Takoa (delegate), Te Reo K. Uatioa (delegate), Henry Faati Naij (delegate), lupasi Kaisala (delegate),!

G. Bristow (adviser).

GUAM; Mr. Richard Taitano (delegs Mr. Vicente Bamba (delegate).

NAURU: Head Chief Hammer de Rot (delegate), Councillor Raymond Gad (alternate), Mr. G. A. Pittman (advise

Netherlands New Guinea:

Marcus Kaisiepo (delegate), Mr. H Meset (delegate), Mr. Eliezer Wettebd (alternate), Mr. Martinus Janam ternate), Mr. Dick Sarwon (alternate),} Pieter Merkelijn (adviser), Mr. C.f Stef els (interpreter-translator).

NEW CALEDONIA: Mr. Pierre Isama (delegate), Mr. Pierre Ketiwan (delega NIUE: Mr. Leslie Rex (delegate).

Papua And New Guinea: Mr.

Kai Ivasi (delegate), Miss Nancy i (delegate), Mr. Raymon (delegate), Mr,i A. Kassi (delegate), Brother Peter Hii (alternate). Mr. Tovin Tobaining (alf nate), Mr. Kondon-Arau’undo (alterns Miss Philo Gamauri (alternate). Mr; K. McCarthy, MBE (adviser), Mr. Ellil Elijah, MBE (adviser), Mrs. Lila Matt (adviser), Mr. Reuben Taureka (advis TONGA: HRH Prince Fatafehi Tu’ip; hake (delegate). Mahe ’Uli’uli Tupoul (delegate).

Trust Territory Of The I

PACIFIC ISLANDS: Mr. Napoleon D. F (delegate), Mr. Kasiano F. Joseph (d gate), Mr. Olympic T. Borja (delega!

Mr. Elias P. Sablan (alternate), Mr. Fr J. Mahony (adviser), Miss Myrtle Hs stad (adviser).

Wallis And Futuna Islands: I

Father Vittolio (delegate), Mr. So,*: Makape (dit Papilio) (delegate).

WESTERN SAMOA: Miss Tiresa Ham BA (delegate), Mr. F. Sosene (delegate-!

OBSERVERS: Rev. G. G. Carter, Ci mission on Overseas Missions and Ini Church Aid of the National Missioip Council of New Zealand; Dr. J. M. Crt shank. World Health Organisation; I fessor J. A. Barnes. Australian Natk University; Very Rev. James Dwyer, I Apostolic Delegation, Australia; Dr. j Coolidge, Bernice P. Bishop Museum j Pacific Science Board; Dean Knowles Ryerson, Pacific Science Association;!

A. Capell, National Missionary Council!

Australia.