Jesuits press for answers

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34132, 20 April 1976, Page 7

Jesuits press for answers

f (X.ZPa. Staff Crspdt i SYDNEY. ( omako is to have a meeting after Easter "•th a group from the Roman Catholic Jesuit order which is asking questions about Comalco’s treatment of Aboriginals at Weipa, in Northern Queensland. The Jesuits hold 500 shares m Comalco and 9000 in the parent company Confine Riotinto. and were able to ask questions at Comalco’s annual meeting in Melbourne recently. The questions asked were what previous and future compensation was being given to the Aboriginal, whose land is being mined for bauxite, and would the company renegotiate with the aboriginals in the light of current thinking on Aboriginal land rights. The matter follows recent criticism of the Queensland Government on its negotiations with Aboriginals for

mining further bauxite at| Aurukun, south of Weipa. Answering the Jesuits, the I Comalco chairman (Mr D. J. i Hibberd) said the company! had given the equivalent in! pounds of $300,000 to the; Aboriginals when mining j .rights were negotiated ini 1957. Comalco had undertaken, • and was undertaking, exten-! sive educational, social and; ■community programmes for .the Aboriginals. “Our advent and our pol-' ficies, we believe, have! resulted in the Weipa Aborig-i iinal community being far; better off in terms of in-' come, housing and employ-! went than any similar Abo- ; riginal community in Aus- j itralia.” said Mr Hibberd. He said the company had agreed to hold further talks: with the Jesuits after Easter.! The Rev. Mr Patrick Mui-1 Uns, speaking for the! .•Jesuits, said Mr Hibberd’s; answers were “incomplete” j but it appeared the company; would consider the questions! i raised. ; He said no royalties were; ■ being paid to the Aboriginals' ifor the mining venture.