Inquiry

The Amalgamation

Committee in New Guinea

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, June 1.

mHE Amalgamation Committee had J. a rather thin time in Rabaul on its first visit.

Not a soul ventured along to give his views, and so the three gentlemen went hiking and motoring—even ventured up the pumicey slopes of Vulcan to “have a look-see” at the crater, and whether it really was as dangerous as some people would have it appear.

They are due back from a tour of the outports—not including Wau and the goldfields which they will visit after leaving here on June 9 —on June 5, and probably then will have some good ad

vice given to them, from various sources.

But opinion seems to be more or less evenly divided as to whether combina tion is advisable or not. The question as to whether amalgamation will affect the mandate should have been settled by some of the wise-heads down south before the Committee ever left the hal lowed precincts of Canberra; that is a job for international jurists to decide, not hard-boiled islanders. The personnel seems a capable team.

After a tour of Papua, the Committee will return to Canberra, in July, and prepare its report for presentation to the Government.

Mrs. R. H. Rickard and her daughter visited Rabaul, New Guinea, as passen gers on the cruise ship “Katoomba” in May. Mr. Rickard was one of the pio neer Methodist missionaries in the Ter ritory 50 years ago.

Mr. H. J. S. Allen, Collector of Cus toms in Suva, Fiji, is at present on a world tour. He is accompanied by his wife and daughter.

The members of the Federal Committee on the proposal to amalgamate the two Territories of Papua and New Guinea. At present, they are taking evidence in the Territories, and they will return to Canberra in July. They are:— Top: Mr. F. W. Eggleston, a Melbourne barrister.

Middle: Hon. H. Leonard Murray, M.L.C., Official Secretary in Papua.

Lower: Hon. H. O. Townsend, M.L.C., Treasurer in the New Guinea Administration.