Public Questions in

New Guinea Many Queries But Short Council Meeting

Legislative Council of New Guinea held a very short meeting in Rabaul on March 3. Non-official members were anxious to bring forward various im portant matters for discussion, but were given no opportunity.

To show r the nature of the business planned by the non-official members, we publish hereunder a list of the questions directed to the Administrator. The questions were not answered.

Native Trade

Hon, A. N. McLennan asked: Has the Administration decided on any future policy in the matter of trading by and with the natives?

Has the Administration decided to re move any and what restrictions on such trade and if so from what date?

Asiatic And Native Clerks

Will the Administrator inform the Council whether he is in favour of em ploying locally born and suitable young Asiatics in the lower grades of the Public Service?

Will the Administration state whether it intends to take any and what action with respect to the following resolution carried unanimously at the January, 1935 session of this Council: “That the Legis lative Council is in favour of the em ployment of natives and of Asiatics born in the Territory in subordinate positions in the Public Service of the Territory.”

Protection Of White Women

Hon. J, C. Mullaly asked:— Will consideration be given by the Administration to the introduction at the earliest opportunity of legislation based on the “White Women’s Protection Ordinance” of Papua to deal with crimes and attempted crimes by natives against European women and children in the Territory of New Guinea, What are the powers of Europeans in the Territory to arrest natives who have committed or are suspected of having committed an offence against the laws of the Territory?

In cases where it is not reasonably practicable or convenient for a European to send or take a native offender to the nearest Magistrate or District Officer is it lawful for him to take such native offender or native suspected of being an offender against the laws of the Territory into custody until the nearest Police Of ficer can be communicated with?

If Europeans have power to arrest natives under such circumstances what powers have they to prevent any likeli hood of escape by the native?

If the answers to above were in the negative, asked Mr. Mullaly, would Hie Administrator direct the Law Depart ment to draft amendments to the criminal code to provide that any Euro pean resident may apprehend any native

whom he reasonably suspects of having committed any offence against the Law, and hold him until he can be handed over to,the police.

Collector Of Customs

Mr. Mullaly’s questions continued: When is it proposed to fill the position, which has now been vacant for over 12 months, of Chief Collector of Customs?

Will applications for the position be called for from persons both inside and outside the Public Service of the Terri tory?

Shipping Laws

Will the Administrator please inform the Council (i) to what overseas vessels have permits or licences under the Ship ping Bill 1936 been issued for the pur pose of discharging or loading cargo at other than main ports of the Territory and to whom do such vessels belong? (ii) Have any applications for such permits been refused and if so in respect of what vessels?

In view of the fact that mall boats operating under the terms of the sub

sidised mail contract make calls at the plantations known as Lindenhafen and Pondo in the New Britain District, and Alexishafen, Boram, and Fins

chafen on the mainland, in addition to main ports in those Districts, will the Administration make representation to the Commonwealth Government that the port of Lorengau in Manus District (which is the Government Headquarters of the District, a Wireless Centre, the headquarters of the shell industry of the Territory and an extensive agricul tural and mercantile centre) be included as formerly in the itinerary of the sub sidised mail steamers operating between Australia and the Territory? If not, why not?

Shell Poachers

What facilities are available to the Administrati®n for the apprehension of foreign shell poachers operating in Ter ritorial waters?

If inadequate for the purpose will the Administration request the Common wealth Government to furnish adequate facilities for the purpose?

Matters Of Policy

Will the Director of District Services and Native Affairs please outline the native policy of the Territory for the in formation of the Council and state in what manner such policy co-ordinates the

essential requirements of European agri cultural and industrial development?

Will the Director of Agriculture please outline the Agriculture Policy?

Will the Director of District Services and Native Affairs please inform the Council whether it is part of the Native Policy to endeavour to place native copra producers on terms of economic equality with European producers?

Hospitals

Will the Director of Public Health please inform the Council whether in his opinion the present establishment of the Public Health Department under the Public Service Ordinance provides for sufficient Medical Officers and Medical Assistants to meet public health require ments in all Districts of the Territory, with particular reference to Europeans?

Whether and to what extent and for what reason is there a present shortage in establishment of: Medical Officers, and Medical Assistants?

Whether the existing Hospital Build ings, appointments, and equipment at Namanula adequately meet the require ments of an up-to-date European Tropical Hospital with particular reference to: Accommodation and treatment of pati ents; accommodation and numerical strength of nursing staff; sanitation ar rangements; isolation in infectious cases?

Whether he is of the opinion that the present Hospital (European) at Nama nula should be replaced by a modern and more up-to-date hospital building.

Whether a more suitable and conveni ently situated site, than the present one could and should be obtained for the Rabaul European Hospital?

Native Crime

To what does the Administration attri bute the increase in crime and attempted crimes by natives against European women in the Territory?

Has the Administration taken any drastic action or does it propose doing so in an endeavour to reduce or elimin ate this growing menace?

Cocoa And Coffee

Will the Director of Agriculture intro duce legislation to provide for the inspec tion of all cocoa beans and coffee beans exported from this Territory?