NEW GUINEA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 17

NEW GUINEA.

MANDATORY GOVERNMENT. LOCAL DISSATISFACTIONLetters received from correspondents of the Sydney Morning Herald in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea support the protest recently made in public meetings at Ilabaul against the present administration. One correspondent of that journal states:—“As you may know, there is a Bill before Parliament concerning the question of establishing a Legislative Council here. They want to foist upon us the same sort of Legislative Council that they have in Papua, and wc oppose it very strongly. Papua cannot be compared with this territory. On the one hand wo have a large European population, and a large and increasing Asiatic population. We have a surplus of Tevenuc over expenditure, and the revenue is increasing every year, mainly due to the energy of the planters. In Papua the white population is not great, and there arc no Asiatics. Business is nothing to be compared with that of the territory of New Guinea, and they receive a large annual subsidy (£60,000, I think) from the Commonwealth Government. If we are given a Legislative Council the same as Papua the position will just be the same as before. The same incompetent officials will be on the council, while there will be only one non-official member. As the planters provide about 90 per cent, of the revenue of the territory, surely i: is not unreasonable that they should ask for a voice in its administration. Equal representation on the council of official and non-official members is what wo want. Tlmi-e are men here wtih cou sidcrablc experience in native admiuist.utiou, finance, agriculture, and business generally who could render valuable assistance to-any administration. Compare them with those who will be on the council if the Papuan Bill is a-’opted With the exception of the Treasurer (another Commonwealth Public Service officer, by the way), not ons of them could assist the Administrator as the above men could. I want to make it quite clear that the Planters and Traders’ Association is out to assist the Administrator in every way, and if Parliament will only appoint to council a few of the right type of men this territory will be governed quite as well as any Crown colony.

Another correspondent writes:—The principle producer in this country is the planter, who contributes the bulk of the revenue of the Government.. He is heavily taxed, and has no \oice in the method or amount of levy (tax), which is extracted from all planters alike, whether they may be making profits or losses. All the revenue received is tlicu disbursed by the Administration at its own autocratic will, again without the forced contributors having any voice in the manner or amounts of expenditure. Briefly, the revenue is expended not as the contributors desire, but as desired by the non-contributors. In the present form of distribution of expenditure, the revenue is insufficient adequately to carry out required works of public and national importance so that if Australia and tlm local Administration rflicials and the commercial missions require that £IOO,OOO per annum (as at present) be spout on native welfare, those bodies should ml contribute their share towards that cost. Likewise, all those who participate should bear portion of the cost of their enjoyment of other expenditure in public directions. At present the Mandated Territory is in the hands of an Administrator, whoso administrative ability and experience can be questioned in all its pro vinces. There are many capable citizens now resident in the Territory, and they are devoting considerable time in endeavouring to urge the Federal Govern meat to grant a local Legislative Couuci 1 elected by the residents. One can hardly conceive that any enlightened body would find any reason for relay in such a matter. With efficient Administration New Guinea could be converted into a wonderful country, with its huge areas of undeveloped virgin land of excellent quality. The climate is quite .congenial for white residents, droughts, and adverse weather conditions are unknown, au.l there is economical native labour. What a country for enterprise and extensive development. At present Chinese and other similar slow-working artisans can command about £1 per day for their labour- In order to obtain mutual satisfaction, the Federal Cabinet should request the presence of two competent citizens' of Now Guinea to discuss, with Cabinet the drafting of a satisfactory bill for speedy enactment.