N. Guinea Laws

Some Important Changes

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Feb. 17.

THE Legislative Council of New Guinea opened its second session on February 5, when all the members were present with the exception of the Government Secre tary Harold Page (furlough), and non official member A. N. McLennan (leave of absence). Director of Public Works Knox was appointed temporarily to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Page’s absence.

In all, 34 bills were placed on the busi ness paper for the session, and 32 bills were assented to. The bill relating to the Native Labor Ordinance was laid aside until the next session, and a bill to amend the Motor Traffic Ordinance 1928-33 was withdrawn.

The Customs Tariff Ordinance was amended to provide for the free export of copra when the assessed value is less than £5/15/-. This amendment was made retrospective to November 1, 1933.

The Judiciary Ordinance now provides that the Central Court shall be known as the Supreme Court; judges shall hold office until they attain the age of 65.

Other bills included legislation for de serted wives and children, legitimation of children, divorce, and an amendment to the Explosives Ordinance which enables an employer to have four approved em ployees’ names on a permit to use explo sives for the sum of £1.

Perhaps one of the most important ana far-reaching bills passed wasi that to grant relief to mortgagors and for like purposes. This provides that no fore closures or re-possession of lands, the sub ject of a mortgage, may be carried out

without the sanction of the Supreme Court, and this Court has, in the event of the mortgagor being able to show suffi cient cause as to hardship and inability to pay, the right to defer such payment until such time as it deems just. This protection applies only to agricultural lands and does not apply to mining tene ments or leases granted under the Mining Ordinance.

The idea, broadly, is to protect the in terests of the planting community, and more especially those who hold ex-enemy properties and are financed by the big commercial firms. By this bill it is hoped that the planter may have a greater in centive to “carry on” during these hard times.

Five resolutions were carried by the Council, which are of general import, as they have a bearing on the feeling exist ing in the Territory.

The resolutions were moved by Mr.

Mullaly, the senior non-official member, and related to the Council’s opposition to the idea of an amalgamation or federa tion of the Territory of New Guinea with the Territory of Papua.

The Council “was strongly opposed to any action by the Commonwealth Govern ment which may remove or interfere with the power of this Council to legislate in relation to matters affecting this Terri tory.”

The Council was also “opposed to the Public Health Department of the Terri tory being removed from the control of the Administration of this Territory or placed under the supervision of an officer of the Commonwealth Department of Health.”

Another resolution dealt with the mat ter of the Commonwealth Government re questing the British Government to insti tute enquiries “into the ramifications of the Unilever Combine and its subsidiary

and associated companies with the object of regulating, and if necessary, curtailing the profits of that company within reason able limits; that this action should be taken by the Commonwealth Government in view of the undue control exercised by Unilever Associated Companies over the marketing of the world’s vegetable oil products, which control has been instru mental in maintaining the price paid to producers of oil products below cost of production, thereby reducing numbers of Australian residents of this Territory, en gaged in the production of copra—princi pally resident returned soldier purchasers

of expropriated properties from the Com monwealth Government—to practical bank ruptcy.”

The last resolution dealt with shipping and read as follows: “That this Council protests against the placing of any unnecessary restrictions upon shipping facilities—foreign or other wise—now or in the future likely to be made available to this Territory, either overseas or inter-island as such restric tions would be inimical to the best in terests of the Territory and its future economic development.

“That it is the opinion of this Council that it is unnecessary and contrary to the interests of the Territory that the Com monwealth Government and/or this Terri tory in collaboration or otherwise with any other Territory should either directlv or indirectly subsidise any shipping ser vice or company operating for the purpose of carrying cargo and/or passengers to and from the Territory and Australia or any other country.”

On the last day of the session, a few moments before the Council adjourned, Mr. R. L. Clark, non-official member, de livered a somewhat scathing attack on the Administration policy in respect to native welfare, making reference to

maternity homes and twilight sleep for stone-age mothers and comparing these conditions with the unhygienic conditions prevailing in villages in close proximity to Rabaul. Reference was also made to the projected trip of the Director of District Services to attend an anthropological con ference to be held in London this year.

The institution of a Hansard staff at the sittings of this session was a new step, and a verbatim report of the pro ceedings is now available to those in terested.

It is anticipated that the next session will be held on August or September.