For The Bill

The Australian Minister for Territories says that the bill is the first necessary step in a general reorganisation of Terri tories’ affairs.

The bill will establish in New Guinea the same conditions as now obtain in other parts of the British Empire. Oversea ships in other Islands Territories cannot trade between other than the main customs ports.

The N.D.L. ships are not shut out of New Guinea. There is nothing to prevent the N.D.L. interests putting on another vessel to trade within New Guinea as at present—only it must not run to Hong Kong, but must connect with the Hong Kong steamer, in the manner that is fol lowed now by the inter-island vessels of the big Australian trading firms, which connect with the Australian steamers.

The maintenance of efficient inter-island services is essential for the development of the Territory—and those services, which connote the establishment of suitable wharves and stores, cannot be profitably continued under the kind of competition introduced by the N.D.L. line.

The Administrator will protect planters and traders by fixing inter-island fares and freights—and, if necessary, give a license to oversea ships to trade between the small ports.