Together" Was

"Let's All Stick

Main Theme

By Robert Langdon

The need and desirability for more “togetherness” among the three million people of the South Seas was the paramount theme of delegates from the 17 South Pacific territories at the Sixth South Pacific Conference.

ALMOST without exception, the delegates expressed a keen desire that their territories should get together much more than they do to pool their knowledge and resources and to co-operate in every field of common activity.

Most delegates also exhibited a strong belief in the value, or potential value, of the SPC as a cohesive body within their area.

Ratu K. K. T. Mara, of Fiji, who led a campaign for a greater voice for the Islanders in the SPC (see p. 21), suggested that the territories might eventually club together within the Commission to form a common marketing body.

The views of delegates were finally incorporated in a series of draft re solutions, and, where approved by the conference as a whole, became recommendations to the SPC. Many of the resolutions stressed the “togetherness” theme.

Women's Federation

For example, one resolution re commended that in all parts of the Commission’s programme emphasis should be placed on providing op portunities for the people of the South Pacific to widen their know ledge of developments in other ter ritories of the region.

It also recommended that the SPC should investigate the desirability of establishing a Federation of South Pacific Women’s Associations.

Other resolutions which emphasised solidarity covered such subjects as interterritorial exchange, the develop ment of new industries, and education.

The resolution on interterritorial exchange recommended that the SPC should: • Ascertain the forms of assistance which territorial administrations could offer each other, such as in providing training facilities and the secondment of qualified staff. • Examine the possibility of ar

ging for groups of leaders to visit ;r territories in the Pacific.

Support the convening of a con mce on telecommunications to ly the part which telecommunica is could play in promoting develop it of the territories, the adoption common standards and the iange of technical information. > Encourage the preservation and val of South Seas handicrafts and nine the possibility of holding an ibition of them, > Investigate the possibility of ling a South Pacific trade fair. > Be ready to respond to any lest from territorial administra s to examine obstacles to free cement between territories, such unnecessarily restrictive immigra or trading practices, the linguistic ier between French and English iking Islanders and transportation Dulties. i Examine the possibility of set up an Interterritorial Volunteer r ice from within the region to k together in other territories on munity and individual projects, he resolution on the development new industries stated that the ; erence considered there was scope regional and sub-regional co ation in this field, and it recom ded that the SPC should invite torial administrations and govern ts to take steps to achieve this, tie resolution suggested that there d be greater trade between the :h Seas countries, including re peal across-the-board tariff ar ements; the regional promotion le South Pacific communities for strial and tourist development; central marketing of selected [ary secondary products; and the ilishment of regional credit ces for development.

Education

i the question of education, the srence recommended that the should: Give priority to “measures that it be taken towards the establish of a Regional Institute of ration.”

Consult territorial administra on the possibility of securing 5 uniformity in the school year.

Investigate the possibilty of ing an accrediting association ig the educational institutions n the South Pacific territories to t in up-grading educational lards for the territories through establishment of academic and ing standards for admission to bership in the association.