Autonomy date set
(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright * PORT MORESBY, Sept. 20. The House of Assembly tonight approved December 1 of next year as the target date for self-government in Papua-New Guinea. After a 10-hour debate, the national coalition Government succeeded by 53 votes to 34, in its motion setting the date. This was well short of the 75 per cent majority the Chief Minister (Mr Michael Sonare) had said he wanted when he first proposed the date in June. The House defined “selfgovernment” as leaving Australia with final powers only in defence and external affairs, “which it should exercise in the fullest consultation with the Government of Papua-New Guinea.” In his speech closing the debate, Mr Sonare said that he understood, and respected, the fears some people had about self-government, but the Government believed that these fears were wrongly based on rumours and not on a real understanding of the issues involved.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33027, 21 September 1972, Page 15
Word Count
151Autonomy date set Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33027, 21 September 1972, Page 15
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