Deportation From New
p. 68 · Read in the full issue
Guinea
Terms of the Insurance Bond
THE Australian Minister for Territories has supplied Mr. E. J. Ward, M.P., with an explanation of the case of Mr. Roy Delbridge, who found himself unemployed in Wau, New Guinea, and who got back to Australia by having him self arrested as a destitute person and deported, at the Government’s expense.
He claimed that, as he had entered into a certain guarantee with the Yorkshire Insurance Co. the latter, in the circum stances, should have paid his passage to Australia, upon his application.
It is explained that persons may not enter New Guinea unless they are in possession of a return ticket, or can de posit £3O with the Administration, or supply a guarantee that, if left destitute, they will be maintained and transported to their home. Delbridge was sent to New Guinea by the Enterprise Company, and the latter deposited his return fare with the Administration. Subsequently, Delbridge arranged a guarantee with the Yorkshire Insurance Co., and the amount deposited by the Enterprise Company was refunded.
The Enterprise Company found Del bridge unsatisfactory, and he was dis missed. He immediately made application to the insurance company for his return fare. It was pointed out to him that the guarantee of the insurance company pro vides that payment was to be made only in the event of the Administrator order ing the removal of Delbridge from the Territory, or if he paid the fare of Del bridge to Australia because Delbridge was found to be a destitute person.
Delbridge sought other employment, and was unsuccessful. Eventually, he made a declaration that he was destitute.
Thereupon, he was formally arrested and sent back to Australia at the Admini stration’s expense; and the Yorkshire In surance Co. then paid £l7/4/- to the Ad ministration, in accordance with the terms of the guarantee, to cover cost of main tenance and transportation.
It is as well that the terms of the in surance guarantee, or bond —which is freely used in New Guinea —should be generally understood. It comes into oper ation only if police action and deporta tion become necessary, either because a person is an undesirable, or because he is destitute.