Great Britain. High Commission for Western Pacific Islands
Dates
- Existence: 1877 - 1978
Biography
The Western Pacific High Commission (WPHC) was established in 1877 by the Western Pacific Order in Council with the aim of better carrying out the provisions of the Pacific Islanders' Protection Acts, 1872 and 1875, and to provide a civil court for the settlement of disputes between British subjects living in the islands. The jurisdiction of the WPHC included all islands in the Western Pacific not within the limits of the Colonies of Fiji, Queensland, New South Wales, or New Zealand, or within the jurisdictions of any formal European government.
In 1893 a further Order in Council defined the High Commissioner’s executive and legislative powers and extended their jurisdiction to include foreigners and, in most cases, indigenous residents of British settlements or protectorates within the limits of the Order. By 1907 the High Commissioner’s responsibilities included the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (Kiribati and Tuvalu), Tonga, Pitcairn, and the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) including the Banks and Torres Islands.
Initially the role of the WPHC was to control the more unruly and illegal activities of European traders and settlers, especially the traffic of indentured labour, over time however it came to manage most colonial administrative functions in the region including health, taxation, communications, land policy, and public works.
For the first 75 years of its existence, the WPHC was based in Suva, Fiji, where the posts of Western Pacific High Commissioner and Governor of Fiji were held conjointly. In 1952, the two roles were separated and in January 1953 the WPHC headquarters was moved from Suva to Honiara. Here the High Commissioner took over direct administration of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate in addition to their other duties.
The responsibilities of the WPHC declined as the island nations within its jurisdiction achieved independence and in July 1978 the Commission and post of Western Pacific High Commissioner was abolished.
Found in 124 Collections and/or Records:
High Commissioner's Court for the Western Pacific papers related to court proceedings
Collection contains records relating to the operation of the Western Pacific High Commissioner's Court. This includes papers relating to both civil, criminal and probate cases heard by the Court including minutes of proceedings, correspondence, warrants, notes on evidence and registers.
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence, MP series, registers and indexes
New Hebrides British Service, Bertram Ballard papers relating to the revision of the British Laws of the New Hebrides.
New Hebrides British Service Information Office records.
Collection contains general correspondence files, collated press cuttings relating to the New Hebrides, Radio Vila Territory news bulletins, and related materials.
New Hebrides British Service, Office of the British District Agent Tanna, Southern District, records
Collection contains general correspondence files, court records, regulation and circulars.
New Hebrides British Service Office of the Resident Commissioner general correspondence, 1943-1953
Collection contains registers and indexes of general correspondencc and general correspondence files covering the period 1943 – 1953.
The general correspondence files may include letters received, replies, related papers and publications along with comments, annotations, and instructions by administrators.
New Hebrides British Service, Office of the Resident Commissioner, general correspondence, 1953-1961
Collection contains registers and indexes of general correspondencc and general correspondence files created between 1953 and 1961. As earlier files which were still in use were incorporated into this correspondence run the contents of the files cover a much longer date period.
The general correspondence files may include letters received, replies, related papers and publications along with comments, annotations, and instructions by administrators.
NHBS 1/I Vol. 1: General correspondence files.
Collection comprises files of correspondence, or minute papers (MP) which include letters received, replies, related papers and publications along with comments, annotations, and instructions by administrators.
NHBS 1/I Vol. 2 : General correspondence files.
Collection comprises files of correspondence, or minute papers (MP) which include letters received, replies, related papers and publications along with comments, annotations, and instructions by administrators.
NHBS 1/I Vol. 3: General correspondence files and NHBS 1/II: Registers and indexes to general correspondence.
The first part of the inventory comprises the general correspondence files of the Office of the Resident Commissioner for the New Hebrides British Service. The second part includes the related registers and indexes to general correspondence for NHBS 1/I Volumes 1, 2 and 3.