Nutshell

In A Nutshell

• The first general election to the Congress of Micronesia, held in the US Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on January 19, attracted 28 candidates for the 12 seats in the House of Delegates (Upper House).

Campaigning was intense with four candidates in the Yap, Mar shalls, Marianas and Truk Districts for two seats in each, and six in Ponape and Palau Districts, for two seats in each. • The Australian Cabinet is expected soon to decide to go ahead with establishment of a university for P-NG, in Port Moresby. • A Commission of Inquiry into the administration of the Western Samoa Marine Department began in Apia in late January. The inquiry follows reports from the Auditor- General claiming irregularities in the department. • Indonesia in January officially withdrew from the UN, thus causing apprehension that it would not go ahead with its promise to the UN to give West New Guinea the right of self-determination by 1969. But Indonesia replied that its agreement was also made with the Netherlands, and that its withdrawal from UN made no difference. • Flags were flown at half mast in South Pacific territories, including French territories, in January, following news of the death in London of Sir Winston Churchill. • The Australian Army was interested in creating a “presence” in P-NG border areas, but there would be no stepping-up in patrols, said Brigadier A. L. MacDonald, OC of the P-NG Military Com mand, in Port Moresby on January 20. The P-NG Command has just been established. Previously P-NG has been a military district, with headquarters in Brisbane.

O Columbus Lines, of New York, have begun a regular monthly shipping service from Sydney to Tarawa, having taken over from the Karlander NG Line, Vessels on the service are Cap Delgado, Cap Frio and Cap Vilano.