Welfare Research In The Pacific

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 6

Welfare Research In The Pacific

In recommending medical and nutritional research in the Pacific the public health and nutrition division of the Pacific Science Congress no doubt looked towards the South Pacific Commission; and the commission, again no doubt, will welcome the suggestions and study how to incorporate them in its plans to advance native welfare. The commission is the obvious body to deal with these recommendations, of course; for through its research council the governments of Britain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, France, and Holland can pool their resources and knowledge. As the council’s task was recently defined, it is chiefly to conduct research into native agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, health, literacy, labour conditions, and other social and economic questions. All the suggestions made to the Science Congress come well within the scope of this programme. The research proposed involves cooperation throughout the territories of the members of the commission; but there can be no co-operation if there is no independent enterprise. Every member has its own primary contribution to make. New Zealand took the initiative with Australia in establishing the commission, but will need to do more than in the past. So far, New Zealand’s opportunity to develop constructive researches in the island territories has been poorly used and even denied. The latest report on the Territory of Western Samoa shows that the Government has never troubled to staff the Samoan administration in such a way as to make possible the researches that can be carried out only in the territory. If New Zealand wants her island territories to share in the benefits of the commission’s programme, research in those territories must be a responsibility intelligently taken up and vigorously carried on.