Shape the

SRC's 21st Session ‘Last Chanc" to Shape the Pacific’s Future

From a Noumea Correspondent

\ great variety of matters

;cting the future of the South hfic were discussed by dete rs of the six member nations the 21st Session of the South

dfic Commission in Noumea

October.

IE First Session took place on May 11, 1948, following a long period of plans. Chairman of the night-long 21st “coming-of-age” ion was Australia’s Senior Com sioner, Mr. Dudley McCarthy, i received high praise for his k when the session ended on Dber 25. t. McCarthy made it clear in opening address ( PIM , Oct., p. that Australia was anxious for native people of the Pacific to ; a more active part in the work he Commission. The SPC had to i the people isolate and then find solutions to their own problems, n the coming decade is the last greatest chance to shape the ific future,” he said, e said he had been instructed die Commonwealth Government ay that Australia would not be id wanting, in purpose or in en ;iasm or in relation to plans rously and properly developed he Commission in the provision inance. It was Australia’s hope in the coming year the SPC Id develop its activities so that native people would take a rous part. iter on in the session, the Com lion agreed to assist in the con ng of sub-regional study groups 1961, which would include in nous people. The first would •ably meet in P-NG and discuss e Problems of Youth in Urban imunities”. le proposal was made by Aus a.

What It Did ie 21st session also: Discussed the recommendations the SPC Regional Education inar in Brisbane in November year, particularly relating to possibility of a further seminar 963, the possibility of establish a Pacific Education Research tre; the development of spe st training courses; the appoint it of a Language Teaching ;ialist.

(Continued on p. 137)

© Decided to convene a Women’s Interests Seminar in Western Samoa in 1961. • Decided that the Urbanisatipn Advisory Committee would hold its first meeting in 1961, possibly at Honolulu. • Decided to ask the SPC to con vene at Noumea a meeting of rep resentatives from all South Pacific areas to consider problems and further steps in the establishment of an inter-territorial triennial Pacific Games. The suggestion for the Games was made at the South Pacific Conference in Rabaul in 1959, and the session was told that the SPC had been in touch since with Administrations over the pro posal. • Discussed health problems at length and decided to convene a Health Education Conference in Noumea at an early date and to assist Territories in the organisa tion of training courses for auxiliary

personnel in health departments.

• Planned to set up a second boat-building course, after the style of the one which commenced on Malaita (BSIP) in August—this one to operate in Noumea. • Approved the continuation of the Rhinoceros beetle project and decided to give particular attention to the search for parasites and predators. It decided to send its entomologist next year to East

and also to seek outside nee on a large scale to com e pest throughout the whole Pacific anned to hold an agricultural on meeting in 1961, delegates ch might be accompanied by workers. ave attention to means by it could assist Administrations mote trade and industry in treas, and help obtain capital •edit for developmental pur-