NEW GUINEA DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 257, 17 August 1950, Page 5

NEW GUINEA DEFENCE

PRESENT MEASURES HOPELESSL.Y INADEQUATE (Rec. 10.45) BRISBANE, This Day. Defence and security measures in Papua and New Guinea, are hopelessly inadequate, according to three Liberal members of the Federal Parliament who reached Brisbane last night after touring New Guinea, Papua and Manus, and the Bougainville Islands. They are Mr M. McColm, of Queensland, Mr I. Timson, of Victoria, and Mr F. Osborne, of New South Wales. Mr McColm says that tons of valuable wartime equipment are lying rotting in New Guinea, and: Australia must repair existing airstrips which are covered with weeds and undergrowth. Mr Osborn believes far greater encouragement is needed for people already serving and working in the region. . » Mr Timson noted a great desire by Europeans already in the territory to serve in defence. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the External Territories Department, Mr J. Howse, who travelled with members, said effective and adequate defence measures would he taken as soon as possible, and that plans would be made to proceed with the clearing of Manus Island as a defence centre The recruitment of volunteers for the New Guinea volunteer rifle detachment would be undertaken more vigorously, and plans were well under way for seeking native volunteers to serve with the navy in northern waters. .