§ 81. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the South Pacific Commission which met in Canberra last year considered the question of the formation of a Pacific Territories Federation as the next step toward governmental responsibility and, in view of the growing urge for something more than they now possess, if he will request 32W the South Pacific Commission to consider taking the initiative by calling a conference of all the islands to consider this matter rather than wait for a challenge to come from some or all of these islands.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe purpose of the Inter-governmental Conference which met at Canberra in 1957 was to review the work of the South Pacific Commission, not to consider the political future of the South Pacific territories. The South Pacific Commission is a consultative and advisory body concerned with the economic and social development of the non-selfgoverning South Pacific territories, and would not be an appropriate body to initiate talks on federation.