LIBRARY Iouth PACIFIC COMMISSION
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HTOGBSSS RBPOM? OR BESOIPGROHS , OP gBB SECOro SOOTg PACIFIC OCRTOHEKCB - • HOOMEA 15 ~ 27 APRIL 1955 LIBRARY iOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION HODMEA S&3H PACIFIC craoirssioH 1955 Ill, IBB SOTTTS PACIFIC COMMISSION The South Eacifio Conmission is an advisoiy and consultative body set up by tha six ejovexnmonts responsible for the administration of island territories in the South Pacific region. Its purpose is to re- ccffimend to ihe member goveimneats means for promoting the well-being of the peoples of those territories. It is concerned with social, economic and he^th matters. Its headquarters are at Noumea, New Caledonia. The Conmission was established by an agreement between the Gov- ernments of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, signed at Canberra on the 6th February, 1947, and finally ratified on the 29th July, 1948. Until the 7th November, 1951, the area of the Commission's activities comprised territories lying generally south of the equator from and including Neth- erlands New Guinea in tha west to tha French Establishments in Oceania ' and ELtcaim in the east. On 7th November, 1951, an additional agreement was signed at Connission headquarters in Noumea on behalf of the six par- ticipating Governments, extending the scope of the Conmission to include Guam and tha Truot Territory of the Pacific. Islands under Umted States administratioa. J "f ' T ' The Conmission consists of twelve Commissioners, two from each government, and from 1948 until 1953 met twice a year. It new normally holds one session each year. There are two auxiliary bodies, the Research Council and the South fecifio Conference, The Research Council, which assembles once a year, held its first , meeting in May 1949, Members are appointed by the Commission, and are sel- ected for thair special knowledge of tha questions vrith which tha Commission is concerned, and the problems of the territories in these fields. The chief function of the Research Council is to advise the Commission what in- , vestigatiohs are necessaiy. Arran^ents to cany out those which are ap- proved are the responsibility of the Secretary-General and other principal officers, ; The South Pacific Conference, which meets at intervals not exceed- ing three years, consists of delegates from tha local inhabitants of the ^ territories, who may be accompanied by advisers, Tha first Conference was • held in Siwa in April 1950. The second Cmference was held at Commisaion headquarters in April 1953, and >ras attended by delegates from seventeen territories and the Kingdom of Tonga, Iv. " • The Commission's staff includes six principal officers: Secretary-General, Sir Brian Preeston, K.C.M.G., O.B.E.; Ifepsity Chairman of the Research Council, Dr. B.M. Ojala; Deputy Secretaiy-General, Mr. John Ryan; Executive Officer for Health, Dr. E. Maasal; Executive Officer for Eoonomio Development, Dr. A.H.J, Kroon; Executive Officer for Social Development, Mr. H.E. Mauds, O.B.S, The Iteputy Chairman and the three Executive Officers are ex officio members of the Eesearoh Coun- cil, Ths principal officers are supported by a small technical and admin- istrative staff. , - I Further particulars of the Commission's activities may he obtained /from the Secretary-General, Noumea, New Caledonia. I " - V. THE SOaiH PACmC COHISRENCE Relevant Artjcles in ths-ACTeeaent establishing ths South Eacdfio Commisaidn ARTICTJ! IX IE SO0TH PACIFIC CONPERENCE • - -- 27» In order to Msooiate with the work of the Comaission representa- tives of the local inhabitants of, and of official and non-official insti- tutions directly conoemed with, the territories within the scope of "the Conmiission there shall be established a South Pacific Conference «ith advis- • ory powers as a body auriJiaiy to the Commission, AHTICIB X SESSIOHS OF THE COIJFEfiENCB 28. A session of the South Pacific Conference shall be convoted within two years after this Agreement comes into force, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding three years. 29. Each session of the Conference shall be held in one of the terri- tories within the scope cf the Commission at a place designated by the Com- mission with due regard to the principle of rotation. 30. Ihe Chairman of each session of the Conference shall be one of the Commissioners of the Government in whose territory the session is held. 31. The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the administrative arrangements of the Conference, 32. The Commission shall adopt rtiles of procedure of thr Conferences and approve the agenda for each session of the Conference, The Secretary- General shall prepare-the mcessary doounsnts for consideration by the Commission,- 33. The Conference may make reocjraaendations to the Commisaion on "pro- cedural questions affecting its sessions. It may also recommend to the' Commission the incluaion "of ^ecific itema on the agenda for the Coiferance. J vl. ^ , ARTICLE XI COKPOSITION OP m CONPEHEHCE 54- Delegates to the Conference shall he appointed far each terri- toiy which is within the scope of the Commission and which is designated for this purpose hy the Commission. The masimum number of delegates for each territory shall he determined by the Commission. In general, tha representation shall be at least two delegates for each designated terri- toiy. 35. Delegates shall be selected in such a manner aa to ensure the greatest possible measure of representation of the local inhabitants of the territory. 36. Delegates shall be appointed for each designated territory in aocol?dance with its constitutional proeadure. 37. The delegations for each designated territoiy may include alter- nate delegates dnd as many advisers as tha appointing authority considers - necessary, ARncm XII FUNCTIONS OP TOE CONFERENCE 38. The Conference n&y discuss such matters of common interest as fall within the competence of the Commission, and may make reooamendations tp the Ccmmission on any such matters, S.F.C. Publications relating to the South Raclfic Conference Report of the Secretary-General of the South Pacifio Commission on tha . First South Pacifio Conference, 25th April - 5th May, 1950. Printed for the South Pacific Commission by R.E. Owen, Government Printer, Vfellington, New Zealand, 1950. , Ingress Report on Resolutions of the First South Pacific Conference, Nasinu, Fiji, 25th April - 5th May, 1950. The South Pacifio Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia, January, 1952, vii. = . Progyeas Report m Eesolutiona of the First South Pacific Conference, Naainu, Fiji, 25th April - 5th Hay, 1950, Supplementary Report No. 1. - The South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia, Fohruary, 1953. Duplicated, Progress Reports on Resolutions of the First South Pacific Conference - Revised and Additional Information concerning Developnents in 1952. Document SP.Con.2/l4, 15th April, 1953. Duplicated. Second South Pacific Conference, Report of the Secretary-General, South Pacific Commission, Noum&, New Caledonia, 1953. viii. COITOBnS. ' - " . , " . PafTsa - Eesolutions 1-3 5 Action taken on resolutions of the - , , First Conference 1-3 ; ECONOMIC DEVELOEMEtW ' / . ^ Hesolutions 4-13: Conserving and improving resources . • ^"4-35 - J: Resolutions 14-16 : Population in relation to resources— " 35-37 • ' Resolutions ' 17-24 "J Marketing prohlems - ' 38-49 HEAI/TH Resolutions 25-31 : Health education of the people ' -50^-62 Resolutions 32-39 : Diet and its improvement 62-75 SOCIAL DEVELOPIIHW Resolutions 40-45 : Role of women and women's organizations in the community 77-88 Resolutions 4^52 : TOiat a child should have heen tau^t ly the time it l^ves school 88-105 - Resolutions 53-57 : Proposals for the Third Conference 106-110 ^ Si^utions 58-61 : General Resolutions UO-113' ii.- NOTE The information in this Progress Report relates to -the South Pacific Commission and to the territories in the South Pacific region. In-some cases several territories are dealt with in one statement, -viz: Aus-fcralian Territories • - Nauru Papua £ind New Guinea South Pacific Health Service - British Solomon Islands Cook Islands Fiji Gilbert and EUice Islands Niue Tonga Western Samoa Western Pacific High Commission - British Solomon Islands Gilbert and EUice Islands New Hebrides (Condominim) In the case of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (under United States adminis-fcra-tion) the informa-fcion regarding Saipan and Tinian was received separately from the information regarding the whole territoiy. PROGHESS KBPORT ON RESOLOTIOMS OF THE SECOND SOUTH PACIFIO CCTFBRENCB , ; ' , For thB reriod ending 3l3t Deeemter, 1953 . / . ACTION TAKEN OH RESOLUTIONS OF THB FIRST COHFBRENCE BESOLUnON 1; The Conference has studied with great interest the progress reports on the resolutions of the First South Pacific Conference, and the oral statements made ly the principal and technical officera of the Com- mission, It desires to record its warm appreciation of the efforts made by the Commission and its Research Council during the past three years to give effect to the wishes and intention of the First South Pacifio Conference, and it considers that the action taken and tha results achieved demonstrate conclusively the sin- cerity of the six member Governments who established the Commission with a view to, pronoting the social and " economic welfare of the area. South Pacific Commission. At its Eleventh Session immediately following the Conference in April, 1953, the Commission unanimously recorded the foUovdngs The Commission is waunly appreciative of this resolution, which will encourage