Vote 1, 'Slim' Dusty

In The Solomons It Was

Prom a Honiara correspondent The bus company put on a special service to the airfield and the road into Honiara was lined with people eagerly waiting for his car to pass by. If it were not for the absence of Union Jacks one might have thought it was a royal visit, but instead it was a visit by that hero of the Solomons, “Slim” Dusty, an Australian country and western singer.

Slim’s appearance in the Solomons was part of the Solomon Islands’ community centre appeal. Slim, who made no charge for his performances appeared before enthusiastic audiences at Honiara, Yandina and Auki.

If Slim had stood for the new BSIP Governing Council, without a shadow of a doubt he would have got in with a landslide vote. The excitement shown during his visit in the weekend he was here, com pletely overshadowed any feelings for the elections in Honiara on the following Tuesday.

Although the three candidates for Honiara held an occasional public meeting, there was little to show that an election was forthcoming. The three candidates were Peter Keni lorea, a teacher at King George VI school and originally from Malaita, Peter Salaka from the Shortlands and vice-president of the town council, and Peter Smith who has been in the Solomons some 24 years, and who retired from the post of Accountant- General last year.

Peter Kenilorea had the support of his school “old boys”, and much of the European community, but not of the Chinese community,, who feared that he would be too nationalist. He seemed the least vigorous of the candidates in campaigning.

Peter Salaka, who campaigned vigorously, had the support of the large community of workers from Malaita, and some Chinese and Europeans.

Peter Smith discounted the Euro pean voters and lost the support of the Chinese, who thought that he would not protect them from any nationalist move. With placards around the town saying “Vote for Salaka, your colour” or “vote for your own colour” it was clear that the day of the European repre sentative was over.

It was Peter Salaka who won overwhelmingly, 874 votes to Keni lorea, 327, and Smith, 308.

Two other well-known personalities

were elected: Mr. Mariano Kelesi (North East Malaita), a member of the old Legislative Council (he was first elected in 1961, and is a former President of Malaita Council) and Archdeacon Peter Thompson (North Central Malaita). Archdeacon Thompson was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1967 and has

held several positions within the Diocese of Melanesia.

Other results: South Guadalcanal, Mr. George Pugeya; Choiseul/Short lands, Mr. Remisio Joseph Eresi; North Malaita, Dr. Clement Ofai; West Guadalcanal, Mr. Alfred Maeke; East Guadalcanal, Mr. Leone Laku; Vella Lavella/Kolombangara, Mr. Gordon Siama; Makira, Mr.

Solomon Mamaloni; Eastern Outer Islands, Dr. David Dawea; Gela/ Savo/Russells, Father Edmund Kiva.

Results to come are from Santa Isabel, Central Malaita, South Malaita, New Georgia and South Central Malaita.

The date of the first meeting of the Governing Council has yet to be announced, but there will be interest in it, because for the first time elected members will outnumber official members, 17 to nine.

It’s a new South Pacific experiment in a system other than the West minster system (PIM, Feb,, p. 25, and June, p. 26).