NEW GUINEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 October 1926, Page 6

NEW GUINEA

A MANDATE DISCUSSION 4J34<fi/jE. <ji\ WAMOWS QUESTION* fcfA'Sitp RESENTED by AUSTRALIA 'By Eleotrio Telegraph—Oopyricht) (Australian & N.Z. CaDl3 Association.) (Received 14th Oct. G. 15 a.in.) ■MELBOURNE, This Day. The Canberra Conference between the Empire Parliamentary delegation and Commonwealth politicians lengthily discussed the question of the New Guinea mandate. Sir William Glasgow, Minister for Home and Territories, explained that the Government\s policy in regard to New Guinea was generally improving the natives’ conditions of living, prevent ing their being exploited and ill-treated, securing their land to them, abolishing inter-tribal lighting, and participation of natives to an increasing extent in the administration of the Territory. Regarding the last-named lie declared it wouldlie many years before the natives could be trusted with the responsibility of participation in administration, but by the gradual increase of their authority the Government hoped eventually to create a body of responsible native officials who could be entrusted with the actual administration of the Territory. Senator Pearce, dealing with the questionnaire recently propounded by Ihe League of Nations regarding the New Guinea mandate', described it as most i'tii|uiStt‘orial in character. It asked questions which under the mandate were purely within the Commonwealth Government’s competence to deal with and regarding which the League was not entitled to question the Commonwealth. He declared the questionnaire Was the outcome of inspired propaganda against the Australian administration of New Guinea. Inquiries had demonstrated that the accusations made had no fopndationi He added that he regarded the matter as a potential cause of friction in the League of Nations. In the. general discussion which followed Australia’s attitude in ailing ihe subject was supported.