Amalgamation

Committee's Report Will Deal With Numerous Difficulties

THE report of the Federal Committee on Territories Amalgamation (Messrs P. W. Eggleston, Leonard Murray and H. O. Townsend) was prepared by the Committee in Melbourne, after its re turn to Australia in July, and is now in the hands of the Territories Minister in Canberra.

It is not known when the nature of the report will be published.

It is known that the report sets forth, and examines in detail, a multiplicity of difficulties which have been presented as standing in the way of amalgamation, and attempts to reconcile those objections with the known desire of a majority of Australian Ministers to introduce some measure of co-ordination of Territories Administration.

A most important contribution to the Committee’s data was a lengthy, printed memorandum by Sir Hubert Murray. He examined the amalgamation idea in the light of his own extensive experience in Papua, and he presented the opinions of several eminent British Colonial Admini strators who had discussed similar prob lems. Sir Hubert’s conclusions were:— 1. I am entirely opposed to any form of amalgamation, combination, co-or dination, or federation; and to any scheme of a combined Service. I rest my opposition principally upon grounds of finance and administration. 2. I consider that both territories are doing well, and I think that it is wise to leave well alone. 3. If, contrary to my advice, it is de cided that we must have some form of amalgamation or combination I am quite willing to help in any way. And I suggest that the first step should be the appointment of a Board of Advice.

If the scope and purpose of Australian interests in the Pacific were to be similar, in the future, to what they have been in the past, Sir Hubert’s conclusions would be inescapable. But it is likely that the Australian Government, when consider ing the Committee’s report, will deal also with the following possibilities, probabili ties and certainties:— 1. There must be a more definite policy of encouraging European settlement and new industries in New Guinea, involving considerations of finance, native labour, public works, transport, subsidies, etc. 2. Papua and (within the limits of the Mandate) New Guinea must now be re garded as a vital part of the Australian defence organisation. 3. It is essential that the Australian de fence organisation be extended to the Solomons and New Hebrides, and this may involve the acceptance by Australia of ad ministrative responsibilities relating there to. 4. It may not be considered desirable to create another new and separate admini strative service for the Northern Terri tory, which now is receiving increasing attention from Canberra.

It is probable that the appointment of a co-ordinating authority (or, as Sir Hubert calls it, an Advisory Board) will be the first step taken.

Mr. A. Fry, of Wau, New Guinea, ar rived in Sydney from the Mandated Territory by the “Bulolo” on August 11.