Uniformity

Keynote of Administrators’

Recent Conference

THE Conference of Pacific Administra tors was held in Canberra just before we went to press in March and we were able only to indicate briefly the nature of its discussions and recommendations.

It is believed that, as a result of the Conference, there will be closer co-opera tion between Administrators and that an effort will be made by everyone concerned to co-ordinate more closely the laws and regulations under which the four Terri tories (Papua, New Guinea, Norfolk Island and Nauru) are governed by Australia.

The Minister-in-Charge of Island Terri tories (Major Marr), in his opening address to the Conference on March 12, made this interesting statement: “From our assumption of responsibility for the control of the first of these terri tories —Papua, in 1905 —the Australian ad ministration was extended in 1913 to Nor folk Island; in 1920, under mandates of the League of Nations, Australia was vested with the care and administration of New Guinea, and, in conjunction with the British and New Zealand Governments, of Nauru. Acquired at such different periods, ordinances were promulgated as required to meet the continuous develop ment in each territory.

“As, broadly, the principles of adminis tration are the same, I believe that a round table conference such as this will result in an interchange of views and illustration of methods which must prove of benefit to the Territories and to the Commonwealth.

“For instance, New Guinea and Papua, adjoining as they do, need uniformity in matters such as mining, education, native labour and many other things. Much has been seen in other parts of the trouble and expenditure caused through different stan dards and laws operating within a distance of a few miles and I have no doubt that all realise the necessity of preventing such an anomalous condition of affairs coming into being in our Territories. Health and the prevention of disease are common to all, and should offer an early field for the codifica tion of laws and ordinances.

“There are many vital matters affecting the services in relation to the conditions of the staffs, particularly those of employ ment and superannuation. There are so many points inviting attention that we must envisage in the future the practicabil ity of the establishment of an Australian Territorial Service upon the lines of the British Colonial Service. It will be appre ciated, therefore, if you, the Administra tors, bear that point in mind, not as an immediate measure but, as intimated be fore, a future aim.

“The Territories are a responsibility of the Commonwealth and each year a sub stantial amount appears on the Common wealth Estimates as a subsidy. As our national income has dropped so consider ably it may be taken for granted that the Territories in turn desire to assist Austra lia. By extensive development of their own resources to increase further their own incomes appears to be the only method by which this can be brought about.”

Captain W. Stewart, of Suva, Fiji, and master of several inter-island vessels, ar rived by the Aorangi on April 20, follow ing a cabled request that he should take a sailing vessel from Sydney to Suva. He received the message two hours before the Aorangi sailed.