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Gilbertese

Reuben K. Uatioa, An Out

standing 43-year-old Gil bertese, has been chosen as Chief Elected Member in the GEIC’s newly-elected House of Repre sentatives, Uatioa, who was appointed GEIC information officer in 1955 and broadcasting officer in 1964, was awarded the MBE in the 1966 New Year’s Honours List.

The position of Chief Elected Member, a newly-created one, is the highest political post yet avail able to an Islander in the GEIC.

No specific duties are laid down for the Chief Elected Member in the GEIC’s new constitution, but the intention appears to be that he shall lead the elected members in both the House of Representatives and the new Governing Council.

Under the new constitution, which was proclaimed by the Queen on August 23 last year, the GEIC’s former wholly-nominated Advisory Council has been re placed by a mainly-elected House of Representatives, and the former Executive Council has been re placed by the Governing Council.

Advisory body

The Chief Elected Member is chosen by elected members of the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives has 23 elected members and seven official members. Nineteen of the elected members are from electoral districts in the Gilbert Group, and the other four from the Ellice Group.

The House of Representatives has no legislative authority, its function being to advise the Gov erning Council on legislation and other matters concerning the gov ernment of the colony.

The Governing Council consists of five official and five elected members under the presidency of the Resident Commissioner.

The elected members of the House of Representatives are: Mote Tiotake (Makin), Mareko loteba (Butaritari), Buren Ratieta (Marakei), Kabiriera Kararaua (Abaiang), Tuari Bokarawa

(Abaiang), Reuben Uatioa (Urban, which takes in Urban Tarawa and Ocean Island), loteba Kirieta (Tarawa Rural), Edward Martin (Urban), Tem Jacob (Maiana), Inatio Binoka (Aranuka and Kuria), Tekinene Tetabo (Abe mama), Kaitara Metai (Nonouti), Father Gilbert Lamusse (Tabit euea), Nation Bwenawa (Tabit euea), Otiuea Tanentoa (Bern), Babera Kirata (Onotoa), Akabo Ebarata (Nikunau), loteba Tamuera Uriam (Tamana), Tete bano Aram (Arorae), the Rev. losia Taomia (Southern Ellice), Melitiana Kais a m i (Southern Ellice), Founuku Tipelu (Northern Ellice), Sione Tui Kleiss (Northern Ellice).

Official members

The seven official members of the House of Representatives are: The Assistant Resident Com missioner, Mr. D. G. Cudmore, and the Attorney-General, Mr.

C. P. North-Coombes (both ex officio); the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. E. P. Hamblett; the Senior Assistant Secretary, Finance, Mr.

M. D. Allen; the Commissioner of Works, Mr. D. S. Short; the Assistant Secretary, Personnel, Mr.

J. B. McCaig; and the Marine Superintendent, Captain G. W.

Sharp, Messrs. Cudmore, North- Coombes, Allen and Short, and Dr. Hamblett are the official mem bers of the Governing Council.

The elected members of the Governing Council, in addition to Reuben Uatioa, are: Buren Ratieta (Northern Gilberts), Edward Martin (Central Gilberts), lateba Uriam (Southern Gilberts) and losia Taomia (Ellice Islands).

Alternate representatives have been chosen to replace these four elected members on the Governing Council in the case of illness, absence from the colony or in capacity.

Allowances

The new House of Representa tives met for the first time on December 8. The Resident Com missioner, Mr. V. J. Andersen, delivered the opening address (PIM, Jan., p. 34).

It was then proposed that a select committee should be ap pointed to consider and make recommendations for the payment of allowances to the elected members of the House. This pro posal was adopted.