Papua Legislative Council

Mr. Tom Nevitt Appointed Non-official Member

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, June 22.

BY a notice in the Commonwealth Gazette of June 5 it is notified that the Governor-General has accepted the resignation of Mr. G. W. Guttridge as non-official member of the Legislative Council of Papua, to take effect as from February 9, 1935.

Notice was also given that the Gover nor-General had approved of the appoint ment of Mr. Tom Nevitt to be a non official member of the Legislative Council of Papua as from July 1. Everyone in Papua will heartily congratulate the Government and Mr. Nevitt on his ap pointment to the Council.

Mr. Nevitt has had a very long ex perience of commercial and planting life in the Territory, and during all stages of the country’s development he has, shown considerable commercial and finan cial ability. An expert on agriculture and possessing a sound knowledge of mining, Mr. Nevitt’s advice to the Gov ernment on all matters relating to the general welfare of the Territory should carry some weight.

Council’S Annual Session

The annual session of the Legislative Council of Papua will be held in July after the arrival of the Macdhui from Samarai on July 10. The first meeting will probably be held on July 15.

The list of bills to be brought forward is quite formal and needs little comment, except an unusual one to amend the Marriage Ordinance. The existing Or dinance provides that no marriage is valid unless celebrated between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. This provision is to be repealed.