New Guinea Laws.

Three Ordinances Under Review.

MATTERS affecting the New Guinea Administration are contained in three ordinances, which, we under stand, have been approved by the Ad ministrator and the Minister, and now only await the sanction of the Federal Cabinet.

The most important ordinance is one which alters the law governing the ad vance of money to settlers in the Ter ritory. Under the present ordinance, no person or firm may advance moneys without the sanction of the Minister if the total value of the properties in the Territory, on which such person or firm has already advanced money, exceeds £250,000. As pointed out in previous issues of this journal, this ordinance has been operating in a very embarras sing and harsh fashion, and, in the pre sent state of national economics, it was desirable that there should be some amendment. We understand that the amendment alters the scope of the financial accommodation, which may be given, so that the limit is extended to £500,000, and in calculating the amount involved, the Administration must take the total of the sums advanced by a particular firm or person and not the total value of the properties on which advances have been made.

The second ordinance deals with the medical services in the Territory and seeks to remove certain difficulties ani anomalies.

The remaining ordinance is one of very great importance to the interests which are seeking to develop the Mor obe goldfields. Under the present law, the proportion of Australian, British and other capital in any company in terested in the goldfields is fixed; and experience has shown that these pro portions create certain difficulties. The new ordinance alters the proportions in such manner as to give relief and en couragement to British interests which, it is understood, are prepared to invest further considerable sums in the de velopment of the goldfields.