ew s , ▁the ▁removal ▁of ▁the ▁permit ▁system ▁for ▁inter - is land ▁travel ▁and ▁the ▁recognition ▁of ▁Island ers ’ ▁right ▁to ▁rec ruit ▁their ▁own ▁boat ▁cre ws . ▁Three ▁men ▁were ▁ja iled ▁on ▁Sa ib ai ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 6 ▁by ▁the ▁authorities ▁after ▁strike ▁protest s ▁occurred ▁on ▁the ▁island . ▁ ▁The ▁strike ▁produced ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁significant ▁re forms ▁and ▁innov ations . ▁Un pop ular ▁local ▁Prote ctor ▁J ▁D ▁Mc Le an ▁was ▁removed ▁and ▁replaced ▁by ▁Corn el ius ▁O ’ Le ary ▁who ▁established ▁a ▁system ▁of ▁regular ▁consult ations ▁with ▁elected ▁Island er ▁council ▁represent atives . ▁The ▁new ▁Island ▁coun c ils ▁were ▁given ▁a ▁degree ▁of ▁aut onomy , ▁including ▁control ▁over ▁local ▁police ▁and ▁courts . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁August ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁O ’ Le ary ▁conven ed ▁the ▁first ▁Inter ▁Island er ▁Coun c ill ors ▁Conference ▁at ▁Mas ig . ▁Representatives ▁from ▁ 1 4 ▁Tor res ▁Stra it ▁communities ▁attended ▁the ▁conference . ▁Nam ab ai ▁At u , ▁Mare ko , ▁S oki ▁and ▁En osa ▁represented ▁Sa ib ai ▁at ▁the ▁conference . ▁After ▁length y ▁discuss ions , ▁un pop ular ▁byla ws ▁( including ▁the ▁evening ▁cur f ew s ) ▁were ▁cancel led ▁and ▁a ▁new ▁code ▁of ▁local ▁representation ▁was ▁agreed ▁upon . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁the ▁Queensland ▁Government ▁passed ▁the ▁Tor res ▁Stra it ▁Island