Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1950. SOUTH PACIFIC WELFARE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 71, Issue 36, 22 November 1950, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1950. SOUTH PACIFIC WELFARE

The welfare of the peoples of the South Pacific has been concerning the South Pacific Commission for some time, and it is interesting to note that the commission has budgeted next year to make provision for greater cultural and economic assistance. The people who will benefit most will be the Polynesians and Melanesians. The actual Budget approved by the Commission, which was set up two years ago by Britain, France, America, Holland, Australia and New Zealand is in the vicinity of £150,000. The Commission’s charter lists . its aims as: “Advising the various governments concerned on the development of economic and social rights and welfare of South Sea inhabitants^—without - regard for international boundaries—particularly concerning agriculture, communications,. transport, fisheries, forestry, labour, marketing, production, trade and .finance, public works, education, health and housing; to provide technical assistance and facilitate scientific, social and economic research.” Now it wants more specialisation and has allocated the bulk of this year’s expenditure to that. The latest move on technical assistance, discussed since the fourth session, was a resolution that the secretary-gene-ral explore by informal inquiries the possibilities from external sources for or through the Commission as agent, and whether as aid to the Commission’s ordinary or special work programme. The French delegation abstained from discussions on technical advice on the ground that member Governments had not come to an agreement on the part the Commission should play. The biggest item in next year’s expenditure will be economic development, expected to cost around £21,565. Health projects, including anti-tuberculosis campaigning and tropical diseases, will get £17,325. Under the headings of nutrition and infant welfare comes £3550 for a nutritionist, a biochemist, and information distribution. A tuberculosis research team will be appointed, similar to one already operating, to study individual and epidemic conditions and propaganda; cost is budgeted at £6600. Filariasis and elephantiasis will be discussed at a conference of experts in Suva within six months. Expenditure on these diseases is fixed at £750. Eye diseases rank high in priority with £2125 allocated for appointment of an ophthalmologist to classify existing afflictions and advise on diagnosjs and control. On leprosy £1675 will be spent to train local personnel and prepare a uniform system of diagnosis and control. Ihe services of a malaria expert are expected to cost £SOO. On the economic side, development of coral atolls is planned at a cost of £2BOO. Special gardens to cost £4OOO will be established at Suva to develop and experiment on plants suitable for tropical conditions. Provision has been made for a £6815 survey aimed at improving production oi cash crops such as tea, coffee, lice, cocoa and copra. Tropical pasture and animal improvement work will get £SOO, and all Governments will be approached for technical advice. All these things represent another stage .in? the advancement of the South Pacific peoples, whose general welfare greatly concerns the nations responsible for the Commission.