CRITIC ABUSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 153, 30 June 1944, Page 5

CRITIC ABUSED

AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA

SYDNEY, June 29.

"The hostility of Mr. Robson and a few others has been evident ever since it became clear that the Australian Government was determined on a policy to give just treatment to all residents of the Australian territories, including natives," said the Minister for the External Territories, Mr. Ward, today.

He was replying.to comments made by the editor of the "Pacific Islands Monthly," Mr. R. W. Robson, who at the annual meeting of the Pacific Territories' Association in Sydney this week proposed that the control of New Guinea and Papua should be handed over either to Great Britain or the United States.

Mr. Ward said he was gratified that Mr. Robsqn's proposal—made "solely because he disagreed with domestic policy—was overwhelmingly rejected by the meeting. "Strong exception,, is being taken to the Government's proposal to abandon the indentured native ■ labour system as soon as possible and substitute more humane treatment of native labour," declared Mr. Ward. "This dogs not suit Mr. Robson or the financial interests he represents." The Minister added that the Commonwealth Government intended to carry out an extensive programme for the development of the external territories. It recognised that to leave New Guinea in its present primitive state would endanger the future safety of Australia.