Federal Authority

Problems Of The

Evacuation

Some Headaches for the Federal Authority

rE diversity and character of the problems created by the civil evacuation of the Territories of Papua and New Guinea are indicated by the following list. They are matters submitted by Mr. C. W. Kirke, of Wau, to the public meeting in Sydney of Ter ritories’ evacuees, and he suggested that they form the subject of inquiry by the newly-formed Pacific Territories Asso ciation.

Definition of looting in relation to war damage, and causes of looting.

How are we to assess depreciation, in relation to wartime damage, of such things as goods, plant, mining plant, race construction, plantations, plantation buildings, residences, and so on?

What action is the Government prepared to take to assist us in replacing vital documents lost, such as bonds, insurance policies—and what is to be done in regard to the records lost in Rabaul of marriages, births and deaths, of land registrations, and so on?

What does the Government propose to do in relation to public officials who were removed from the Territories—too old to enter the military forces there, but who have not yet reached the retiring stage, and who are capable of giving many more years of experienced service?

Should not compensation payments made in respect of crops be made quarterly instead of annually?

What are to be the conditions of re patriation after the Territories are clear of the enemy—and how are vital goods, such as horses, plant, etc., to be replaced?

Is it possible to get from the Federal authority a clear ruling regarding the position of employers of indentured labour, whose arrangements and con tracts were summarily ended by the evacuation? What about guarantee money? What is happening to it? Are these broken contracts to be taken into consideration when employers try to re establish their labour lines?

What form of protection is being given to the holders of the various ten ures—planting, mining, trading stations, etc.—while the holders are compulsorily absent from the Territories?