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:
NHBS 2: Records of the Resident Commissioner, Port Vila.
Collection contains copies of despatches received by the British Resident Commissioner, New Hebrides, outward letters and prints of correspondence regarding the New Hebrides.
NHBS 5: Records.
NHBS 6: Records.
Collection includes correspondence files relating to proceedings of the Joint Court, Central District 1 Local Councils Estimates and court records.
NHBS 7: Records.
Includes general correspondence, touring notes and reports, Court records, etc.
NHBS 8: Records.
General correspondence files, personal files, plans, minutes of Luganville Town Advisory Council, court records, etc.
NHBS 9: Records.
NHBS 10: Records.
1. Office of the Resident Commissioner: Confidential personal files, alphabetical prefix series. 2. Confidential personal files, single number series. 1961–1971. 3. Western Pacific High Commission: Confidential personal files of officers serving in the New Hebrides. 1953–1972.
NHBS 13: Land records.
NHBS 16: Records.
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.