Australia Promises Not To Withdraw

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 13

Australia Promises Not To Withdraw

(W ZJ> A -Reuler—copyngnt* PORT MORESBY, February 12. Native leaders in New Guinea have been reassured by the Minister fur Territories (Mr Paul Hasluck) that Australia is not leaving New Guinea.

A statement released in Port Moresby today by the Papua-New Guinea Admimatration nH Mr Hasluck told a gathering of leaders at Wewak at the week-end ••Australians are not leaving New Guinea - - any talk or it ts nonsense.” Mr Hasluck is at present touring the territory. 1 According to the statement 35 native leaders met Mr Hasluck at Wewak and told him there was talk of “other people" commg to the territory Mr Hasluck replied “Any talk of other people coming w rubbish Papuans New Guineans and Australians are in this country and

nobody eise is coming here ' Earlier, the native leaders told Mr Hasluck they wanted Australia to continue to administer New Guinea, the statement said Their spokesman. Simogun Peta told Mr Hasluck. ‘‘Members of the United Nations talk about the natives of Papua and New Guinea saying the natives must have self government But nobody has asked the natives of the territory what thev themselves want. "The native people want to be left alons by outsiders and want Australia to continue giving help and want Australians to remain in the territory."