SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION

originally, an organization of representatives of the governments of Australia, France, New Zealand, Great Britain, and the United States, set up to advise those five governments on economic, social, and health matters affecting the island territories in the South Pacific administered by them. Today its membership includes countries that were formerly dependencies, and its work consists mostly of research on economic, biological, medical, educational, and social problems. The commission was formed in 1947 at Canberra, Australia. Its headquarters are in Nouma, New Caledonia. Each member country appoints two delegates to the South Pacific Conference, which meets annually.