Against The Bill

As a result of competiticn provided by the N.D.L. interests New Guinea planters have secured advantages equal to £2 or £3 per ton on their copra.

The German ships provided New Guinea planters with direct shipment to one of the profitable European copra markets.

They gave a better price in itself and, by

picking up copra at the plantations, they saved the planter the freight represented by inter-island shipment.

The removal of this competition will compel the planter to take whatever prices the big Australian firms may fix in con sultation, and also will not give the planter the same chance to buy his household goods in a cheap market. Peculiar condi tions which exist in New Guinea make it absolutely imperative that there shall be freedom of trade and competition.

The Administrator may have the right to fix fares and freights; but the Adminis trator can do nothing, if competition is removed, to save the planter from possible exploitation by the big firms.

The Legislative Council, in 1934, by a unanimous vote of both official and non official members asked the Commonwealth Government to refrain from interference with New Guinea shipping. Yet the official members on this occasion, without adequate explanation, voted to interfere grievously with shipping.

The introduction of the bill without warning is directly contrary to assurances previously given by the Government.

The bill is opposed in New Guinea by both the Planters’ Association and the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

There is a strong feeling in Papua against “bills drafted by a unknown per son in a Government office in Canberra and sent up here to be passed by an obedient majority.”

The commentators in Papua also say that “if this power is to be exercised by the Minister, then the Legislative Council might as well be abolished.”

Rev. M. Prater, a Presbyterian mis sionary in the New Hebrides, and Mrs.

Prater were spending furlough at Cowes, Victoria, early in March. They will re turn to the mission field by the Morinda from Sydney on April 2. Their son. Dr.

A. S. Prater, is also a missionary in the Condominium, being stationed at Vila.