Guinea

Miners From New

Special Steps For Their Protection

IN order to protect the Interests of the many gold-miners evacuated from New Guinea, the Evacuated Miners Association of New Guinea was formed early in February, with Mr. Norman White as chairman and Mr. E. A. de Lautour as hon. secretary. It was decided that the Association’s Sydney office be the office of Pacific Publications Pty. Ltd., Union House, 247 George Street, Sydney.

A deputation from the Association met the Australian Minister for Territories (Senator Fraser) and Mr. J. R. Halli gan, on February 19, when the follow ing letter was formally presented:— In order that they may take joint action on matters affecting their common interests, a

number of the gold-miners recently evacuated from the Morobe and other goldfields in New Guinea have formed an association, entitled as above, and I have been requested, by the inau fnn g ° f Association . to place before you the following requests, which are supported y formal resolutions of the Association. 1. It is urged that the Commonwealth Gov ernment, or the Administration—whichever is functioning in regard to such matters—proclaim a moratorium, or similar enactment, to apply to the recognised goldfields of New Guinea and to cover the period of the war and twelve months thereafter, so that we may be protected in our rights, titles, and interests in all min ing claims, leases, interests, tributes, machin ery, homestead leases, water rights, agricultural interests, etc. connected with the industries in which we were engaged, and all registered agreements associated therewith. We would point out that almost innumerable interests of the above description were recognised and in operation at the time that the evacuation was ordered, and that, unless some step of the nature of a moratorium is taken, our rights, titles, and interests may become forfeitable through such things as non-payment of rentals, non-fulfilment of manning, working, or other conditions associated with registered agreements, etc. In other words, our valuable interests on the New Guinea goldfields may be rendered null and void through conditions imposed by the evacuation, over which we have no control. 2. We also ask that the authority now in control in New Guinea should take steps—by hiding or burying, or by some other suitable means—to protect all gold and silver products of our industry; which products are believed to have been located in the Customhouse at Sala maua, the offices of Mandated Airlines at Wau and Salamaua, and in other parts of the Ter ritory, where they were awaiting shipment at the time of evacuation. 3. We especially would appeal to the Com monwealth Government to recognise that we, the independent gold-miners of New Guinea,’ have the right to ask for prior consideration when the time comes to permit civilians to return to the Territory, so that we may be given a proper opportunity to resume our occu pation there; and we also would point out that we are entitled to ask for Government assistance in obtaining transportation to the Territory. 4. We would point out that it is desirable that the New Guinea Administration, or what ever authority is now in control of the Terri tory, should, as soon as possible, clarify the position in regard to indentured native labour and the large sums, the property of the vari ous mine-fields employers, which are held by the Administration in the shape of deferred wages. Will the Administration accept respon sibility for returning the indentured natives to their employers when such a course is prac ticable or desirable: or will the Administration undertake to return the sums referred to (de ferred wages) to the employers when so requested?

We would point out that these matters are of vital concern to large numbers of gold miners who have been evacuated from New Guinea: and accordingly we should be grateful for your early consideration and decision.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours faithfully,

E. A. De Lautour

Hon. Sec., Evacuated Miners Association of New Guinea.

The Minister gave the deputation a very sympathetic hearing. He said that protection of their leases and other rights would be given them as from the time of evacuation. The other matters brought before him would have atten tion as soon as possible.

Leading Aircraftsman Charles Sollitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Sollitt, of Nausori, Fiji, who was serving in the Royal Aus tralian Air Force, was reported “missing after air operations”, in January. He was born in Fiji and was a member of the CSR Co. staff in Auckland, NZ; in the Air Force he was a radio operator.

Mr. T. O. Sexton, wireless operator in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, recently was seconded to the British Solomon Islands Service and took up duties in January.