The South Pacific

What Future For The South Pacific Commision?

Well-informed opinion is that

“review conference” of the ath Pacific Commission will

e place soon—perhaps before

end of 1962. Its probable •poses will be to consider: I The accomplishments of the nmission since its establishment years ago. > Whether the six member na is (Britain, France, United States, herlands, Australia, New Zealand) ti to continue the organisation. > If it is to be continued, should •e be changes in its structure and authority. he Commission costs over £200,per annum, of which Australia s 30 per cent., Britain, France, New Zealand each 15 per cent., Netherlands and USA each 121 cent. ts activities are almost entirely the field of research. It main s a Research Council, with per cent officials in charge of three ions, respectively examining Ith, economic development and al development. It has produced enormous amount of printed terial, in English and French, ch is at the disposal of the six Tiber governments and of the ;ral organisations maintained by United Nations, t also organises, every three years, outh Pacific Conference of dele :s representing all the communities the various territories controlled the six member nations, ach member nation, in turn, has a nominating a chief executive :er, the Secretary-General. The was supplied by Australia; the md by Britain; the third by ted States; and the term of the rth (Mr. T. R. Smith) expires t year. wo reasons for the abolition of Commission that have been ex >sed are— > The Commission has no execu authority. It merely submits, member governments, recommen ons based on its research activi ; and there is little evidence that governments generally give effect such recommendations, or make real effort to “digest” the masses valuable data assembled by the earch Council.

I There has been a big change,

in the last ten or twelve years, in the way in which the six nations with administrative responsibilities in the South Pacific Islands visualise their task—the direct result of the post-war campaign against “colonial ism” carried on by the United States.

It appears that the future of the Commission really lies with Austra lia, which contributes over £60,000 a year towards the cost. It is argued that a country which gives from £l2 millions to £l5 millions per annum to Papua and New Guinea, and many more millions to the Colombo Plan, is not going to worry about the £60,000 per annum that keeps the Commission function ing.

"Alarming" Incidence of

Prostitution in Noumea

Prostitution amongst native women in Noumea was reaching alarming proportions according to the social committee of the Protestant Evange lique Church in Noumea. Even young girls of 13 and 14 are involved.

A Noumea correspondent points out that local newspapers have said the same thing. He says there is a great number of well-dressed women in Noumea who appear to do nothing at all, and apparently are kept, one way or another, by the unattached sailors and soldiers who are present in Noumea in large numbers.