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, New Hebrides, records
Collection includes court minute and evidence, handwritten notes and files relating to court cases, indexes and registers, copies of court orders rules and regulations, cash books and other papers.
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, British Residency Vila, miscellaneous records including papers relating to Jon Frum cult
New Hebrides British Service, British Residency Vila, secret and confidential correspondence
I. Lists, indexes, and registers of correspondence. 1943–1954. II. Secret and confidential correspondence files, MP series. 1907–1942 (1926–1941). III. Secret and confidential correspondence files. 1943–1953. (1936–1958). IV. Secret and confidential files, unnumbered. 1938–1964.
New Hebrides British Service Co-operatives office correspondence
I. General correspondence files, subject prefix series. 1964–1975. II. Correspondence files relating to Co-operatives from the Resident Commissioner's general correspondence series. 1953–1961. (1946–1961). III. Correspondence files relating to the Co-operative Movement from the Resident Commissioner's general correspondence series. 1962–1966. (1958–1973). IV. General correspondence files. 1963–1971.
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 land claim records
New Hebrides British Service, Office of the British District Agent Tanna, Southern District, records
Collection contains general correspondence files, court records, regulation and circulars.