SOUTH PACIFIC RACES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26120, 24 May 1950, Page 3

SOUTH PACIFIC RACES

CONFERENCE AT SUVA NEEDS OF ISLAND PEOPLES (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, April 25. “The chcsen spokesmen of 3,000,000 people.” is how the Governor of Fiji, Sir Brian Freeston, described the aelega t es to the first South Pacific Conference, which opened at Suva on luesday. All the major races of the South Pacific—Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian, European and Indian—were represented. The representatives, with their alternative representatives and advisers, numbered more than 80. It was the first time all the peoples of the South Pacific had met together under one roof, united by a community of interest, and animated by a common purpose, and it was on this note that Sir Brian Freeston welcomed the representatives before they settled down to an agenda Likely to occupy them for 10 days. The chairman said that of the various political units represented, all but one still had a dependent status. Rei erring to that exception, he said fie was gratified that her Majesty the Queen of Tonga had been pleased to send her two distinguished sons to take part in the proceedings. The remainder had come from communities which had not yet reached the stage of political development where they could stand on their own feet, and each was still subject to the tutelage and contro’, in varying degrees, of one of the six great Powers —Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America—which shared between them the ultimate responsibility for the South Pacific.

Three years ago. continued the chairman, those powers agreed to establish a South Pacific Commission, to promote, on an international basis, the economic and social welfare and advancement of the non-self-goveru-ing peoples in the South Pacific region. He explained that the commission represented the Governments of the South Pacific, and that the conference represented the peoples. The commission would rely for its information and advice upon governmental sources, but the conference had been devised as a means whereby the peoples of the South Pacific, through their chosen representatives, could make known to + he ' commission, directly an2 at first hand, their hopes, their wishes, their needs and aspirations in all matters affecting their social and economic welfare. Subject to two important limitations. the commission was. in fact, a Parliament of the South Pacific peoples. First, its functions were purely advisory. It could express opinions and offer advice, but could take no decisions. Also, politics were no concern either of the commission or the conference. The chairman read messages of goodwill received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Australian Minister of External Affairs. Mr P. G. Snender. and the New Zealand Minister of External Affairs, Mr F. W. Doidge. Health and Food Problems After the election of a general coms mittee, the conference received the ’‘report of the Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission, which dealt with health projects, economic development. social development, general activities and the structure and organisation of the commission. A statement was also made by the deputy chairman of the Research Council, dealing in- particular with the food problems of the South Pacific. Fiji is-represented at the conference by a Fijian and an Indian. Incidentally, the Fijian delegate is a commoner, and the alternate delegate is a i chief. The various native delegates , at the commencement instinctively gathered in their own separate groups, but unoer the cheerful influence of their Fijian hosts it should not be long before they begin to mix together. which is one of the confer- i ence aims. They will be taken to I the Makogai Leper Hospital, the Cen- I tral Medical School, where native i boys from the various island groups I are being trained in medicine, and to other places of interest. Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Voelcker, ■ formerly High Commissioner of West - | ern Samoa, is Commissioner for New i Zealand. Tamasese and Malietoa are i the delegates for Western Samoa, and | Prince Tunga. Premier of Tonga, and i Prince Tu'ipelehake represent Tonga. The delegates from the Cook Islands and Niue are Makea Nui Toremoana Ariki and Robert Rex.