South Pacific Commission

The eighth session of the South Pacific Commission, held at Nouméa, New Caledonia, from October 29 to November 9, 1951, was presided over by R. L. Lassalle-Séré (France). On November 7, 1951, the six participating countries (Australia, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States) signed an agreement extending the scope of the Commission to include Guam and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Other agenda items included consideration of the Commission's work program and budget for 1952. The program, consisting of 39 projects, included ten in the field of health. The Commission discussed the report of the conference of medical experts on filariasis and elephantiasis which was held in Tahiti from August 21 to September 1, 1951, to study current research and control programs for these diseases and to recommend measures for combatting them,2 and decided to appoint an expert to supervise the implementation of these recommendations. The Commission also reviewed the work done in the projects on tuberculosis, nutrition and leprosy. In the economic category, in which there were ten projects, the commission considered plans for a conference of fisheries experts in 1952 and grantsin-aid for the furtherance of work with economic plants. In the field of social development, where nineteen projects were considered, the Commission discussed the preparation of plans for a model vocational training institution; publication of a report on research in social anthropology and a report on a community development project being carried out in the Fiji Islands; continuation of a housing survey; and the work of the South Pacific Literature Bureau. It was decided to appoint E. M. Ojala (New Zealand) deputy chairman of the South Pacific Research Council.