Labour Party Branch at Rabaul

Rabaul

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Oct. 24.

ERE was a well-representative meet ing of local residents held in Rabaul Masonic Hall on October 20 called by supporters and organisers of the recently-formed Australian Labour Party branch. Mr. T. McLaren, who has done much in the formation of ALP branches in the Morobe District, was in the chair.

Object of the meeting was to discuss various policies and also to determine the status of the provisional committee formed at the inaugural meeting on October 6. After discussion, it was de cided that the committee then appointed should continue to function until the ALP annual general meeting in January.

The committee consists of: Chairman.

Mr. T. McLaren; Secretary, Mr. V. A Florance; Treasurer. Mr. A. J. Gaskin; Committee, Hon. R. L. Clark and Mr.

T. Walsh.

It appeared to be the feeling of the meeting that much good could be done by the executive committee working in liaison with the Minister for Territories in Canberra. Supporters hope that the branches in New Guinea will be able to act in an advisory capacity on many questions of public interest, which have required attention and action for a long time.

Mr. Ivan Shoobridge, of the Crown Law Office, Rabaul, returned to New Guinea in October after leave spent in Sydney.

Mr. T. V. Lowney, Private Secretarv to the Administrator of Papua, returned to Port Moresby from Sydney last month, after a short period of leave.