Nutshell

In A Nutshell

Self-Government

Aim For Bsip

AT the inaugural meeting of the first elected BSIP Legislative Council in June, the eight elected members announced they had formed themselves into a political party to be known as the Democratic Party.

Main aims of the party are self determination for the BSIP within the Commonwealth, free education for all, improved industrial relations and improved machinery for dispute settlements, unification of all peoples of the Solomons, and greater partici pation by women in Protectorate affairs.

First president of the party is a Melanesian, Mariano Kelese, MLC, an excellent speaker and clear thinker who is regarded as Prime Minister material. Party secretary is Honiara businessman E. V. Lawson, MLC, an Australian.

First meeting of the new 21member Council (11 official members, 10 unofficial—two of whom are nomi nated) caused great public interest.

Star attraction was the BSIP’s first woman Council member, Miss Lily Ogatina, who spoke clearly and cleverly and frequently received applause. • The Russian oceanographic re search ship Vitjaz put into Fanning Island, 1,100 miles south of Hono lulu, in mid-June with a sick scientist. Mr. P. F. D. Palmer, manager of the Burns Philp copra plantation on Fanning, radioed for assistance from the United States Coastguard in Hawaii. The Vitjaz was on her way from the South Pacific after visiting Manuae, Cook Islands, for the solar eclipse on May 31. Earlier, she paid a visit to Apia. • A three-man survey team from the New Zealand Lands and Survey Department was due to leave Wellington for Niue on June 22 for three months with the Department of Island Territories. The team will continue making control and title surveys, which were begun last year.

It will also establish a system of land registration and survey records.

• A Rarotonga report in 1 June said Civil Aviation auth( ties were shortly expected to I DCS aircraft from operating tween Samoa and the Cook lands, thus cancelling Polynes: Airlines’ present weekly service the Cooks. It is proposed that new service using Electras oper direct from NZ. • A new law setting a mi mum wage of 49 cents an ho came into effect in Americ Samoa on June 12 for employi of the Government and privi industry. In addition, time and half will be paid for any hoi worked in excess of 48 hoi weekly. The law will affect abc 600 Government employees a at least 200 employees in privi businesses.

C Printed copies of the Woi Bank’s economic report on Papi New Guinea ( PIM, Jan., p. 4 left New York by ship for Ai tralia in late May, and the should now be available from t Director of Publications, Cover ment Printing Office, Canben The report is cloth-covered, co tains 240,000 words and 5i pages, and has 10 maps and eig charts. Copies are 55/- each, pi 1/8 postage in Australia and 3, overseas.

One of the largest sums to be rai at this year's Red Cross appeal Rabaul, NG, was £201 by the chile of the Court Street School. Here Pe McKee presents the cheque to Raba Red Cross Association president J Mills while headmaster Alan Wool[?] looks on.—Photo: M. R. Hayes.