Papua

New Laws In

Encouragement of Mining

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, July 23.

THE annual meeting of the Legislative Council was opened on July 5. His Excellency. Sir Hubert Murray, K.C.M.G., presided. All official members were present, together with the three non-official mem bers, the Hons. J. G. Nelsson, A. Jewell and A. H. Bunting. The Council sat at inter vals until July 18, when the session con cluded and the Council adjourned in definitely.

His Excellency, at the request of the Governor-General of Australia, invested the Hon. H. W. Champion with the decora tion of C.B.E. “All in the Territory,” re marked Sir Hubert Murray, “fully realise that no decoration has been more deserved throughout the Empire than this one.”

Amendment To Mining Law

The most important measures brought before the Council this session were a Bill to amend the Mining Law (providing for the granting of prospecting concessions over large areas) and a Petroleum Bill.

Both Bills were passed in all stages with out amendment, and assented to after lengthy discussions.

It has been reported that a large British concern is anxious to prospect an extended area in Papua, but first requires certain concessions. These concessions, it is under stood, are covered by the provisions of the Bill.

Petroleum Bill

The Petroleum Bill provides for the con trol of searches for petroleum and helium on any land in the Territory. It is an adaptation of an ordinance prepared by the Commonwealth for the Territory of New Guinea. The Bill provides that any petroleum found in Papua is the property of the King.

A Tariff Bill to simplify classification and

a Bill to amend the Sago Ordinance were passed. The latter is to regulate the cut ting and removal of sago, including kuru kuru grass and other native products, from Crown Lands.

A Bill to amend the White Woman’s Protection Ordinance was also passed. The amendment provides that when a person is indicted of a serious offence against a white woman he may be convicted of cer tain lesser offences established by the evi dence.

Native Labour

Lengthy discussion took place in regard to native labour in the Territory and the question of the desertion of indentured labourers. The question of native labourers being permitted to remain away from their villages for six years instead of four was again referred to by the Commissioner for Native Affairs (Mr. H. J. T. O’Malley).

He informed the Council that he considered four years was quite long enough for natives to remain away from their villages under contract.

£20,000 Loan

Discussions also followed, on the sugges tion of Mr. Nelsson, that the Government should apply for a loan from the Federal Government to undertake necessary public works. “We have tried for many years,” stated Mr. Nelsson, “to do what no other country has ever done, that is, to pay for public works and the development of the country’s resources out of revenue.”

Members of the Council, while agreeing with the wisdom of Mr. Nelsson’s sugges tion, were divided in their opinion as to the advisability of burdening the depleted revenue still further by the cost of loans.

Mr. Nelsson suggested a loan of £20,000 which would cost the Territory about £1,000 a year.

He also drew attention to the unfinished road to the Sogeri district. He stated that this work should have a claim on the Gov ernment’s consideration, as a very large amount of money has been spent there by the settlers on developmental work. Rub ber, coffee and other products which bring in a large amount of revenue to the Terri tory have been planted extensively in the district.

The question of government officers own ing property in the Territory was also raised by Mr. Nelsson. He suggested that any ban to such ownership be lifted or made more elastic.