Legislative Council

Sought for New Guinea

Action Required

From Our Own Correspondent RABAUL, August 30 Frequent comment is made that no action has been taken in regard to the appointment of a Legislative Council for this Territory.

As far back as 1926 an Act was passed by the Australian Senate for the establishment of a New Guinea Legislative Council, but owing to a dis solution of Parliament, the Act did not come before the House of Represen tatives.

It is felt that a Council, including nominated unofficial members, should be of assistance to the Administration and might, in many instances, consid erably strengthen the Administrator’s hands. An elected Council would cer tainly be more popular with many residents; but considered opinion is that this, at the present time, would be both impracticable and inadvisable.

A nominated Council representing the various interests planting, mining, commercial and missionary, would, if composed of men of sound views and with experience and knowledge of local conditions, be welcomed by the majority of residents. It is suggested, in order to partially meet those who demand an elected Council, that the Adminis trator should ask the various interests to submit names, from which he could make his selection.

In all probability, instances would arise where the Administration could not accept proposals of unofficial mem bers, but it should be noted that, in such instances, the views expressed by the unofficial members would be re corded in a manner which would make them available to Federal Members of Parliament. Further, there may be instances where the unanimous support by the unofficial members of Govern ment proposals would be an influential factor in overcoming opposition in Australia, It is hoped that a move will be made in the near future to pass the Act through the Federal Parliament and bring it into operation.