Fortunes Vary For Rival Cult Leaders In Election

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 11

Fortunes Vary For Rival Cult Leaders In Election

(N.Z.P.A.-Rtuter— Copyright) PORT MORESBY. March 19. Five European eandidates were leading their native opponents in “open” electorates when vote-counting ended early today in Papua * New Guinea’s first general election—but results so far have proved inconclusive. Thirty-three Europeans are standing against natives in 22 seats in the election, in which 297 candidates are standing for 53 seats in “open” and “special” electorates. Electoral officials are reluctant to predict any trends in voting by native people so far, except to say there has been no “straight down card” or "donkey” vote. The chief territory electoral officer. Dr. R. R. Bryant, said voting had shown that the

native people of the territory had definite ideas on voting and in most cases knew for whom they wished to vote.

When counting ended at 2 a.m. today, results had been received in Port Moresby’s central tally room from al) but three electorates.

Communications difficulties blacked out New Guinea’s Rai Coast electorate where the socalled “King of New Guinea,** Yali, who is a former post-war marching rule cult leader, is said to have the best chance of any native cult leader of being elected to the new House of Assembly. Another former cult leader, Paliau Maloat, had a considerable lead on his opponents in the Manus Island electorate off New Guinea's north coast

The present cult leader, Francis Hagai, is lighting a losing battle against strong opposition from Anton Kearei, a load council

member, of Buka Island. Hagai is joint leader of the

anti-administration cult on Buka Island, known as Hahali's welfare society. New Guinea would not be ready for its independence for 50 years, two New Guinea native officers said in Sydney yesterday. They were Mr Boe Mea, a 2ft-year-old clerical assistant from the Department of the Treasury, Port Moresby; and Mr Ernest Wesley, assistant in the Port Moresby Department of Posts and Telegraphs. They are helping staff a Papua-New Guinea exhibit at the Royal Easter Show. Most New Guinea indigenous people did not want to see the Australian administration of their country leave the territory too soon, they said. They realised New Guinea could become another Congo if it got its independence too soon.