More Evidence

Vol. 1.—No. 3.

October, 1930.

THE need for combined action by Pacific Islands interests against Government and official indifference and interference becomes ever more apparent.

In previous issues we have refer red to the dwindling of Australia’s valuable trade with New Caledonia, and the failure of the Federal Gov ernment even to recognise that that situation urgently demands atten tion. We have referred, also, to the action of the Federal authorities in imposing a duty on mining machin ery and aeroplanes entering New Guinea goldfields—surely the year’s most priceless example of blind stu pidity.

Now, as is described in another column, we have the imposition of the sales tax (2½ per cent.) on Norfolk Island bananas. The primary pro ducts of Australia are exempt from this tax, but it has been placed on Norfolk Island produce because that Territory “is not an integral part of the Commonwealth’’! There are a dozen reasons, based on both principle and self-interest, why our Norfolk Island trade should be encouraged in stead of attacked through this per nicious sales tax. But one should be sufficient namely, that our annual trade with Norfolk Island is worth a very large sum, and that the Nor folk Islanders would be glad to break away from selfish and indifferent Australia and form commercial rela tions elsewhere.

During the month there has been bitter complaint from the great gold companies, which are preparing to spend millions in the exploitation of New Guinea gold and, incidentally, the development of the vast, rich ter ritory. Those people are expected to invest huge sum& in the new industry —yet the Federal authorities, so far, have failed to give them any secur ity of title to the lands which they are to exploit. The prevailing eco nomic crisis is of that peculiar character that it is in the highest degree desirable that Australia should produce gold. The New Guinea com panies are steadily approaching the point when they will win enormous quantities of gold for Australia’s benefit. Yet Australia imposes a duty on their machinery, declines to give them a secure title and generally dis plays utter indifference to the whole subject.

Customs officials are imposing sales and primage taxes on the containers of Islands produce—sacks, boxes, etc. Instead of trying to assist and stimulate our oversea traffic, they are expending much energy and time in a frantic pursuit of twopences, made by putting ridiculous values on bags and boxes, and taxing them accord ingly. Meanwhile, our eager and efficient trade competitors are taking away the Pacific Islands trade from under our nose.

Is it any wonder that oversea critics say that this nation has been made drunk by loan-money and acci dental prosperity, and therefore is as silly as any drunk man ever could be?