Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 23. 23rd September 1973

South Pacific Fono

South Pacific Fono

"Fono" is a word common to many languages in the South Pacific area. It means a gathering, a forum, a sharing of ideas. A fono was held on the Union Hall last Saturday, aimed to give an introduction to the South Pacific area. Professor McCreary gave a general introduction and papers were presented by Professor Watters on National Resources and Economic Development. Dr Pollock on Sociological Aspects of Smallness. Dr Barrington and Francis Saemala on Educational Development and Rod Alley and Epeli Rabuka on Political Development.

Professor McCreary noted that the University seemed reluctant to allow an inter-disciplinary course on the Pacific area and expressed hope that a short non- credit course could be soon introduced. This seems to be based on the idea that an organised course is the best way of teaching a subject. But perhaps a seminar programme, with say three or four daylong seminars a year would be a better method of inspiring interest in the South Pacific, with the possibility of reaching people outside the university.

Professor McCreary showed a willingness to debate the basic premises of the study of the South Pacific — the value of such a study, the problems of treating the area as a unit and the dangers of a western academic form of neo-colonisation. These points were further developed in the discussion that followed. Professor Watters took up many of the economic issues raised by Professor McCreary and emphasised the narrow economic basis of the islands and the dangers of enclave development. Watters spoke of the palagi, elite islanders who have accepted Western values and structures — often those who are in governing positions in the islands. The intrusion of Western ideas has been extended by the previous colonial and present UN and South Pacific commission practices of sending 'experts' to the Islands who often on an incomplete understanding of athe culture and human aspects of the Islands, make unfortunate recommendations. While he stressed that he was not presuming to advise Islanders on what was good for them. Professor Watters suggested that the greatest hope lay in cooperative local enterprises and local initiative instead of Western patterns of development.

In the afternoon a National Film Unit production "Atoll People" on the Tokelaus was shown. The film related some of the points already raised to the specific situation and illustrated the precarious economic balance of the islands. It also, though in a paternalistic way, drew attention to New Zealand's responsibilities for the Islanders.

Dr Pollock's paper on "The Sociology of Smallness" stressed the dangers of approaching Island problems using Western cultural values, and the need to avoid Western ethno-centrism. She put a convincing case for the integration of Islanders with their environment prior to Western influence and the adverse effects of this recent development. The paper was probably a little too generalised — as was pointed out in one question afterwards, there are significant sociological differences in the Islands themselves, between palagi and villagers for example, that were not noted.

Francis Saemala and Dr Barrington then presented views on the educational development of the South Pacific, both noting its role in stressing Western values and creating what Professor Watters had earlier called "the revolution of rising expectations". Francis Saemala approached the problem from the point of view of an Islander going through the system, and not liking what he saw. He suggested that education in the South Pacific should foster:
1)orientation to restore dignity through the teaching of local history and crafts etc;
2)the reduction of independence on European ideas; 3) a readiness to adapt to, and to modify to island conditions, the forces of technology.

In two anonymous case studies of countries experiencing problems in education, Dr Barrington described the extent and number of these problems as well as the difficulties of changing plans in view of public acceptance of Western values.

From the specifics of these education examples the seminar was widened somewhat to an overview of political development in the South Pacific by Rod Alley and Epeli Rabuka. Both emphasised the basic question of politics in the Islands — what do people actually want and how can politics serve these to the best extent. Epeli defined political development as evolving a political structure which included the best of Western models and respect for indigenous cultures. He suggested that much of the present political structures did not fulfill these functions.

The day-long seminar proved the value of utilising different disciplines in approaching a problem, creating an overall aspect through a mosaic method. All speakers were prepared to debate the basic premise of their analysis, and emphasised the wide differences existing in the South Pacific that make generalisations difficult. Islands with connections with NZ received most attention, although there was disappointingly little comment about French colonies in the area. In his closing remarks Professor McCreary proposed that a similar seminar be held next year, with more opportunities for Islanders to speak. If they do, and the fono becomes less generalised, it will provide some worthwhile insights into an area of great significance to New Zealand.