N. Guinea Residents

Demand Defence

How Movement Commenced

Prom Our Own Correspondent WAU, May 30. mHE organisation formed by New Guinea A residents, to demand that some means of defence be devised, to be used in the event of a national emerg ency, is getting results. The organisation represents a rebellion against the head quarters of the Returned Soldiers’ Lea gue, (which is in Rabaul) and it is called the Morobe Voluntary Defence Advisory Committee. The chairman of the com mittee, who is, incidentally, also presi dent of the R.S. & S.I.L.A. in the Mo robe District, Mr. E. A. Feldt, was sum moned to Rabaul in May and discussed the situation and the aims of the com mittee with the Administrator (Sir Wal ter McNicoll).

It appears that rifle clubs in all main centres have been authorised; sites for ranges are to be selected forthwith; rifles are to be loaned by the Administration, and ammunition provided; and a regis ter of eligible men is already well in hand.

Details of comprehensive plans and or ganisation of action, in the event of ac tual aggression, have been received in Wau from the Administrator. This or ganisation is Territory-wide and deals not only with internal defence, but with the evacuation of. or placing in safe areas, of non-combatant Europeans and natives. The organisation is at present secret.

It seems a pity that the fact that the Administration has applied itself to such a scheme has been withheld for so long.

It would have been better had the com munity been informed that their welfare was not being entirely disregarded during the anxious days of the past six months.