SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27395, 7 July 1954, Page 3

SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION

SECRETARY VISITING NEW ZEALAND

“I expect to be seeing some people in Wellington,” said Sir Brian Freeston, Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission, when he was asked after his arrival at Harewood from Australia yesterday morning whether he would have discussions with the New Zealand Government. He said that he had not visited New Zealand for three years, when he was asked the purpose of his visit, “We get a great deal of very valuable support from the New Zealand Government.” said Sir Brian Freeston, discussing the work of the commission. “We are doing quite a lot of work in which Samoa is interested, but I do not think that there is anything that would particularly interest New Zealanders. “We have started on the business of trying to keep the rhinoceros beetle under control in Samoa. It is the worst pest of the coconuts. The beetle bores into the green leaves, and kills the trees.”

The depredations of the beetle extended to other islands in the Pacific as well, but Samoa suffered as much as any area, said Sir Brian Freeston. An entomologist was at work on the problem. At the Harewood airport to meet her father was Miss Stella Freeston, of Christchurch, who was formerly a student at Canterbury University College. Sir Brian Freeston left Christchurch by the steamer express last evening for Wellington.