All Quiet In The Bsip

By a Special Correspondent in Honiara

The Solomons’ first step along the path of self-governrq —the establishment of an Executive Council and a Legislat Council—has so far met with remarkably little response here.

r[ERE have been no arguments— or very little —about the com position of Legco, and very little comment about anything at all. One can only hope that as soon as the Council gets to work, and some words and actions tumble out, there will be greater interest stirred up in these important developments.

The details of the new Legislative body were officially announced in October—ll official members, 10 un official, including six Melanesians, and all of the unofficial to be nom inated. The Executive Council com prises eight, including four un officials. (PIM, Nov., p. 22).

The Executive Council held its inaugural meeting on November 17 and the first meeting of the Legco was to be on December 7, and was expected to last more than a week.

Should Be Elected

No Press statement was made after the Executive Council meeting but it is understood that the un official members were very satisfied with the way things went and were confident the Council would be of some real benefit to the Protectorate in the future.

A member of the Legco is Mr.

E. V. Lawson, Honiara businessman, who despite his appointment, still supports his opinion, expressed in August (PIM, Aug., p. 21), that some Legco members should be elected and that it is a mistake to have a fully nominated Council.

However, he thinks some time in the next five years would be more

suitable, and these elections cq be begun first on a small sc with possibly the election of European members by Europes The Melanesians could thus lei how it was done.

Sir John Gutch, the High Cc missioner for the Western Paci answered some of this criticism the Council composition in Octq when he made a broadcast ab the new Constitution.

He said he realised not everyb agreed with all of the Constitut and that some people felt it was! soon for the BSIP to have a Leg lative Council. Still others felt i the Constitution did not go I enough that unofficial memb should be elected, or that th should not be an official majorij Sir John said differences! opinion were inevitable, but! wished to emphasise that the C( stitution was only a first stepl “As soon as the Protectorate 1 shown that it is ready for it —a I think you will agree there is mi to learn—then a further si forward will certainly be taken, a I have little doubt that it will ts the form of the introduction of soi degree of elected membership. H soon the next step can be taken V depend on performance.”

The establishment of the Leg was one of Sir John’s enthusiast and he wanted it done before I retirement this January.

Time will probably show that c spite the present lack of real pub interest in the new moves, they we in fact made at the correct time

POPULAR. Motor cycles are an increasingly popular form of transport in Western Samo The number of cycles and scooters registered in Apia—106—is more than the number plates available. Here, from left to right, on their machines are: A. Fruean, P. Siaos J. Betham, E. Lauati and R. Ott.

Photo: Samoal