Australia's Pitiful Record

in N. Guinea A Flea For an Economic Survey

IT is reported that the Wau branch of the Australian Labour Party is strongly urging that an economic survey be made of the Mandated Ter ritory of New Guinea.

If this energetic little body, with its headquarters on the Morobe goldfield, can induce the Commonwealth Govern ment to undertake a New Guinea stock taking, and scientifically line up for examination the enormous undeveloped wealth of New Guinea, it will have done Australia a great national service.

It is nothing short of a tragedy that Australia should have been in possession of this great, rich territory for more than twenty years, with the enormous funds, providentially supplied by the gold industry, available for development, and that it should have done so little with the Territory. A great gold indus try has been established —but that has been the result of enterprise by indi vidual miners and well-managed com panies—the Australian Government and the New Guinea administration can take little credit for that. Little else, worthy of mention, has been accom plished.

Yet the amiable Sir John Latham, on his way to Japan as Australian Minis ter, when entertained at afternoon tea at Government House. Rabaul, made a speech in which he warmly praised the admirable achievements of the Austra lian administration in New Guinea. One wonders what Sir John knows of the matter, anyway—and what the older European residents of New Guinea (who do know something about it) think of Australia’s record there. It is a pity Sir John does not have a chat with some of them, away from the atmosphere of Namanula.

THERE is now a “hush-hush” policy in relation to New Guinea. “Do not criticise Australia’s performances there.” one is told. “You will only strengthen the hands of our enemies, who are seeking justification of their plans to deprive us of our territories.”

This war has shown that it is not our British people who fear the truth, but thick-skulled bureaucrats and dithering politicians—spawn of our rotten political machine —who are given responsibility for our national activities. They will seize upon any excuse to hide their notorious inefficiency.

New Guinea is a case in point. New Guinea could be developed as a tropical

territory of great value, along lines indicated by Java and the Philippines.

Instead, for over 20 years, New Guinea has been nothing but a plaything for politicians.

We challenge anyone to study the New Guinea annual reports, and point to any period (apart from the brief adminis tratorship of General Tom Griffiths) when New Guinea was apparently being governed in accordance with a defined plan and a developmental policy. Yet the Territory has had the men (a well trained, capable corps of keen young Australians) and the money (available in the rich royalties of the gold industry).

It simply has lacked a creative force and an administrative touch in Can berra and Rabaul.