NEW GUINEA.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 9

NEW GUINEA.

AUSTRALIAN MANDATE. LEAGUE COMMISSION'S APPREHENSIONS. (gnttt rxESS association—it klxctiic tblSobajb—copnuosT.t (Received September Bth, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 7. The Mandates Commission's report to the League of Nations' Council says the Commission last year was disturbed b}' certain aspects of the administration of New Guinea. Neither the Administrator's report of 1927-28, nor the Australian High Commissioner, Sir Granville Ryrio's, verbal explanations to the Commission had allayed apprehensions which the Commission regarded had been confirmed from reliable information. The Commission last year stated that: "Being still of the impression that the state of the territory is not satisfactory, the Commission at present prefers not to submit any conclusions to the Council until further information has been received from Australia." Sir Granville Rjrie, replying to the above criticisms m a strong Note on July 31st, protested against the Commission accepting as confirmation of the unsatisfactory condition of the territory questions in the House of Representatives on September 29th, 1927, and at the Mission Conference held at Rabaul in 1927, especially as the far-reaching resolutions passed at the latter affecting the moral, social, and material welfare of the natives had been accepted almost completely by the New Guinea Advisory Council. The Administration was most strictly enforcing the law relating to recruitment, and was doing its utmost to check certain customs of the natives where they were repugnant to the principles of humanity. An Imperial survey of the Administration's work since 1921 showed that Australia had faithfully discharged her.mandatory obligations. The natives had been protected without hampering the progress of the country, and the .utmost endeavours were being made to promote their material and moral well-being. In spite of this Note, the Commission said it did not propose to alter its decision. It would not submit its conclusions until such time as further information had been received, but it would bear in mind the additional information which Sir Granville Ryrie's Note had furnished.—Australian Press Association, United Service. [The Bismarck Archipelago, those of the Solomon Islands formerly owned by Germany, and what was known as German New Guinea, are governed by Australia under a Mandate from the League of Nations dated December 17th, 1920. The Australian Government established its civil administration in the territory in 1921. The law of the Commonwealth, subject to local modifications as necessary, is applied to the territory. The military training of the natives, except for local police purposes, is prohibited, and no naval or military base or any fortifications may be established. Brigadier-General E. A. Wisdom is the Administrator. ]