Problems Of Territories

Evacuees

Annual Meeting of the Pacific Territories Association

jyjUCH satisfaction with the good work done by the Executive, but profound dissatisfaction with the treatment of Papua and New Guinea evacuees by an indifferent and unsympathetic Australian Gov ernment, were the key-notes of the discussion at the annual meeting of the members of the Pacific Territories Association held in Sydney on June 9. There were over 100 members present, and the president (Mr.

E. A. James) was in the chair.

A STATEMENT of finance showed that, during the year, nearly £5OO had been received in subscriptions and donations. Two-thirds of this had been spent on legal advice, publicity, costs of meetings, secretary and office, and over £lOO remained on hand. The president warned that, as the Association probably would be compelled to engage legal assistance in their fight for members’ rights, funds would be very necessary in the future.

Mr. A. S. Pitch said that his company (Steamships Trading Co.) would donate £2O to the funds, he personally would donate £lO, and his fellow-director, Mr.

Crisp, would give £5. Mr. S. R. Young, treasurer of the New Guinea Evacuated Miners’ Association, said that his mem bers were in favour of donating all their remaining funds (about £200) to the Pacific Territories' Association, to assist in the good work that was being done.

Other evidence of appreciation of the Association’s good work came at the end of the meeting, when evacuees from the Solomon Islands sought—and were gladly granted—permission to join the Associa tion. It was emphasised that the Association is not confined to evacuees from the Australian territories; its con stitution allowed it to include people from other territories, and to make re presentations on their behalf.

The Years Work

THE president, on behalf of the Exe cutive, submitted the following re port;— During the year, the Executive met on 54 occasions. A considerable amount of time was taken up during the year in deputations to Ministers and others re garding the affairs of the Association.

Among those were:— Conference with the War Damage Commission regarding all aspects of the Regulations as they affect evacuees.

Minister for the Army, Mr. Forde, when the Association’s proposals re garding the return of civilian planters to the Territory of Papua were sub mitted (on 13th July, 1942).

Minister for External Territories, regarding all matters affecting evacuees.

Mr. A. Padden, regarding War Dam age and Industries Control Order No. 4.

Mr. P. C. Spender re payment of military accounts, and particularly as regards the attitude of Mr. H. G.

Alderman.

Mr. H. G. Alderman regarding his decisions in respect to non-payment of rents, basis of arriving at valua tions, and generally.

Numerous delegations consisting of members of the Executive had interviews with Mr. J. R. Halligan (Assistant Secre tary, Department of External Territories) and Executive officers of the War Damage Commission.

The main matters dealt with during the year were:—War Damage Insurance; In dustries Control Order No. 4; return of planters; payment of accounts owing by military authorities; income tax; mortgage bank; civilian prisoners of war and their dependants; post-war reconstruction.

The Executive desire to express thanks to the following firms who have donated various sums to the funds;—Bank of NSW, £lO/10/-; Sandy Creek Gold Sluic ing Co., £10; Koranga Gold Sluicing Co., £5/5/-; Gold & Power, Ltd., £5; Koitaki Para Rubber Estates, Ltd., £lO/10/-; Anglo-Papuan Plantations, Ltd., £2/2/-; Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., £5O.

War Damage Insurance—During

the year many aspects of the War Dam age Insurance Regulations received the attention of the Executive, and in some cases a certain amount of finality has been reached; but it is apparent that the only way in which the Pacific Territories’ residents can be fully and adequately compensated for their losses, will be by the amending of the Regulations to cover the peculiar circumstances of the Terri tories. The main losses, which are not covered by the Regulation, will be “Con sequential,” and in this regard it is not within the scope of the War Damage Commission to make any adjustments in respect to any damage unless as defined in the Regulations. Your Executive are, therefore, pressing the Federal Govern ment to have the necessary amendments made in the Regulations.

The Assessor Panels, on which represen tatives with local knowledge are sitting, are now assessing many of the claims submitted and, from reports received, finality is being reached in quite a num ber of cases, and it is considered that this will assist members, in that they will know what amount they will be due to receive when payments are made, and be credited with interest. Another im portant matter is the deferment of con tributions in cases where the payment of same would entail hardship; and in this regard your Executive are now in com munication with the Chairman of the War Damage Commission, and hope to have a satisfactory reply at an early date.

Industries Control Order No.

4 And Return Of Planters.—As You

are aware, the Federal Govermnent has now issued the necessary Regulations to allow of the planters returning to Papua to manage their estates under the control of a Board to be known as the Australian New Guinea Production Control Board.

The basis of the scheme, now imple

mented, was contained in a memorandum submitted by the Executive to the Minister for the Army (Mr. Forde) on July 13, 1942.

As is only natural, there are a number of matters in the Regulations which are not in conformity with the Association’s recommendations or the opinions of owners, but these, it is hoped, will be straightened out in due course. On this matter a special report, prepared by the planting representatives on the Executive, will be submitted.

Payment Of Military Accounts.

—The clearing up of accounts owing by the military authorities, in respect of rents, goods and chattels regularly im pressed and goods taken by the military authorities, in Australian New Guinea, was placed in the hands of Mr. H. G.

Alderman by the Federal Government.

Apparently, Mr. Alderman has complete power to arrive at his own methods of valuation, and also to define goods for which he will authorise payment; and, in this matter, the Executive has raised ob jections to many of his proposals, particularly in respect to his decision that no rentals will be paid in respect of properties occupied by the military forces.

His method of arriving at the valuation of chattels is not- in accord with any known business practice and is at total variance with the method adopted by the War Damage Commission. Furthermore, Mr. Alderman refuses to consider any claims for looting of certain types of chattels by the members of the forces.

Against these various decisions by Mr.

Alderman we have appealed to the Prime Minister, who has replied that Mr. Alder man’s actions have the approval of the Federal Government. The Executive and other members met Mr. Alderman in Sydney, and he gave a resume of his reasons for valuations, etc. This was not agreed to by the members present .and your Executive are, therefore, obtaining legal opinion on a number of the points.

INCOME TAX.—Your Executive sub mitted to the Federal Treasurer a request that special consideration be given to the position of evacuees in respect to pay ment of income tax. Unfortunately, the Government decided that they could not do anything in regard to evacuees as a body, but each individual case will be treated on its merits, and when it is proved that payment of taxation would cause distress, the Commissioner may allow a reduction in the amount pay able.

Post-War Reconstruction.—At

the request of the Minister for External Territories, your Executive, after consult ing all members, submitted proposals regarding post-war reconstruction in the Territories.

The report of the Executive was for mally approved. The meeting, on the motion of Mr. R, W. Robson, accorded the president, the Executive and the secre tary a very hearty vote of thanks in appreciation of the enormous amount of gratuitous work carried out on behalf of members during the year.

Return Of Planters To

Papua

THE conditions under which planters are being allowed to return to their plantations in Papua, to produce rubber and copra, under the Australian New Guinea Production Control Board, came in for much discussion.

Two reports were submitted by the Papuan and New Guinea planter mem bers of the Executive (Messrs. T. L.

Sefton and E. V. O’Brien).

Mr. Sefton’S Report

I submit a summary of the position regarding the return of planters to Papua, and of the results of interviews, to date,

with the Chairman, the Finance and the Stores and Supply members of the Aus tralian New Guinea Production Control Board, who are respectively—Brigadier D M. Cleland (chairman), Mr. W. Kirkhope (finance), and Mr. E. J. Frame (com merce) .

Provision is made for a member to be appointed to the Board to represent agriculture, but that position has not yet been filled. The Board might for a time perhaps, operate without such an ap pointee and use its powers under the Regulations to co-opt technical or special advisers to the Board from amongst the planters of the Territory. But that is surmise only. Under the Regulations the Board can also delegate its powers and functions to any person or persons in any locality.

Persons wishing to re-enter the Terri tory as lessee of any land, or an employee of a lessee, for the purpose of producing rubber, copra, or any other primary pro ducts, must first make application for permission to return to the Territory to the Secretary, Department of External Territories, setting out his full name, length of former residence in Papua, age. properties in which interested and capacity in which he will be emploved.

All produce must be sold to the Board at a price to be fixed by the Minister.

Any person thus selling who is dissatisfied with such a price fixed by the Minister, may request the Board to refer the price for determination by an arbitrator, ap pointed by the Governor-General.

Native labourers in Papua will be em ployed in accordance with the provisions of the Native Labour Ordinance 1941 of Papua, and those in the Territory of NG made under the provisions of Native Labour Ordinance of that Territory.

We are told that the estates will be handed back to the owner under the pro visions of the Regulation as on July 1, 1943; and owners or their representatives are invited to return prior to that date, to enable them to look over the properties and prepare to take delivery.

The trip to Papua will be first to Townsville by rail, thence to Port Moresbv by ship or air, where all persons will report to the Board. A residence in Konidobu has been set aside to accom modate returning planters while they are in Port Moresby, and will also be used by them more or less as a residential club when they visit Port Moresby on business.

Approval has been given for 16 civilian planters or their representatives to return to the Territory, and for a further 57 planters, overseers or managers to be granted leave without pay from the Army to enable them to work as civilians under their former employers.

We are told that prices to be paid for produce have not yet been definitely fixed, and that when they are announced they may be tentative only, and may be reviewed after a period of 2 or 3 months’ operation by the Board, when it may be found that a higher price can be paid, especially if shipping is better organised and freight costs reduced.

A tentative suggestion from the De partment was a price of 1/5 per pound on the estate for rubber and of between £l5 and £l6 per ton on the estate for copra; but those prices were suggestions only. Arguments were used by producers for higher prices, and it may be that those contentions will carry weight when a definite price is really fixed. All prices paid will be for produce at the usual picking-up point by land or coastal trans port.

It is understood that the Board will virtually act as bankers, and at direction from the owners will transfer surplus proceeds for produce to the owners’ ac counts in Australia, after first deducting any moneys owing to the Board for stores

or services rendered, and for natives' wages accrued each month.

The Board’s attention has been drawn to the fact that the flat rate they pro pose to charge for recruiting, signing on and repatriation of native labourers to and from estates anywhere in the Terri tory is rather unfair to an owner who usually recruited his labour at very little cost.

Statements of the owner’s accounts with the Board will be issued monthly, as in ordinary commercial practice, though there may be a delay in the first month, and until the Board’s office staff is properly organised.

Regarding the price to be paid to owners for the produce acquired by the Army between April 25, 1942, and July 1, 1943, I hope to have something definite this week, after a visit to Canberra. A tentative suggestion from the Department for rubber was 6d. per lb., after deduct ing costs of production, but that is inconsistent with the proposed price to be paid from July 1, under the Board.

No clarification could be drawn from the Department regarding the working of the estates under Industries Control Order No. 4, suspended about November 1, 1942. With regard to copra produced by the Army between April 25, 1942, and July 1, 1943, it appeared that records of production from ANGAU were incom plete, and that cargoes of copra had been landed at various places on the Australian coast, requiring transhipment to its des tination in coastal ships, and total cost of freights was then not available. This position is being inquired into.

The finance member of the Board states that, with regard to men “on leave without pay” from the Army, the legal position is that they have no claim against the Army if injured or killed while on such leave.

The Board, under the Regulations, may take possession of any land in the Terri tory on which operations are not being carried on by the lessee, or are not, in the opinion of the Board, being carried on satisfactorily, and may carry on operations on that land for the produc tion of any primary produce. In such case, compensation would be paid to the owner as fixed by the Minister. Owners would have the right to appeal to an arbitrator, as in other cases.

Regarding the prices to be charged by the Board for stores and supplies, while a price for various items could not be stated, we were told that it was not the wish nor function of the Government to make profits out of us in that direction, and we were given to understand that prices would cover landed cost, handling, distribution and other legitimate percen tages on landed costs.

Mr. O’Brien’S Report

After reviewing the conditions under which owners and their agents and em ployees may return to Papua, I would say that if the same conditions were applied to the Territory of New Guinea at the appropriate time, the following points would have to be clarified:— (1) With reference to paragraph 6 (IV): “Plantation supplies must be obtained from the Board at the price fixed by the Board.” The percentage to be charged on the landed cost of such supplies should be stated, also, and whether the invoices for same will be available at all times for scrutiny by the owners or their agents. (2) Re paragraph 12: The fixing of prices are most important. When the Copra Pool was operating in TNG, the several companies acting as receivers for the Pool were allowed 17/6 per ton to cover storage and handling charges on copra received into their stores. An addi tional 2/6 per ton was reckoned as being

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ample to cover administrative costs.

Freights ranged from 7 6 per ton to £3 per ton, according to the distance from the port of concentration, lack of com petition and the isolation of the property, etc. For instance, freight charges ruling on the mainland of the TNG by sea, up to January, 1942, were as follows: Alexishafen and inter mediate plantations to Madang 7/6 per ton.

Bogia and intermediate plantations (includnig Kar Kar) to Madang (70 miles) 15/- per ton.

Sepik River and Aitape

Districts to Madang (200 miles) £1 per ton.

Manon (Ninigo Group) to Rabaul (isolated and approx. 450 miles) £3 per ton.

The freight rate on copra from Port Moresby to Sydney has recently been increased from 25/- to 50/- per ton and 35 per cent, surcharge, making a new rate of £3/7/6 per ton. In view of this, I am of the opinion that the maximum freight to be fixed by the Board of Con trol for concentrating plantation produce in Papua at the port of shipment should not exceed £2 per ton. (Mr. Fitch inter

jected that the new rate to Sydney was 60/-, not 50/- per ton.) (3) Re paragraph 14: It is imperative that the owners or their agents should have the same rights, in engaging and terminating the services of their em ployees, as they enjoyed in normal times, as by reason of their expert knowledge of the production of rubber and copra they are the best judges of the capacity of their employees.

Discussion

Mr. Fitch said that many matters had to be cleared up as between the planters and those who administer the Regu lations, before the operation of the plantations became practicable. For in stance, the planters might go back and put their driers and equipment in order, and produce copra; but there was no guarantee as to when their copra would be picked up and when they would be paid for it. Under private ownership, stores were delivered as close to the plan tations as possible—transport was a very important item of cost. Could they de pend upon that under Government control? Or would stores be dumped somewhere in the district, and the planter have to bear the cost of going and pick ing them up? The Board should pay for the copra when the planter reported that the copra was ready for shipment— otherwise there inevitably would be con fusion and loss. (Applause.) The chairman: That is a very important point. We can only hope that these matters will be understood and ap preciated by the Board. When the Board was first suggested, I was in favour of it, because I thought it would be better than purely military control—l thought it would comprise at least some nominees of the owners.

A member: Is it proposed to make any allowance or advance to owners, to en able them to put their plantations into order again, and finance their operations until such time as they are getting some payment for their produce?

Mr. Sefton: That matter was brought up when we saw Brigadier Cleland and Mr. Halligan. They said that it was to be presumed that the Board would have to carry the lag—that is, the cost of getting the plantations into order and waiting for payments. It is a matter that I hope to discuss further in Canberra this week. (Later: Mr. Sefton visited Canberra on June 11 but received no further infor mation.) Mr. Roy Staker: Why does the Commonwealth Government, in this matter, not adopt the principle put into operation by the British Government in its purchase of Australian wool —that is, give a definite guarantee of prompt pay ment of certain rates for all rubber and copra produced during the war period, and for a year afterwards. Then planters would know what they were doing, Mr. Fitch said he had made that very suggestion, based on the Australian wool guarantee, to the Minister for the Terri tories in a letter only a few days ago.

Mr. Jewell said they might assume, for the present, that all supplies required for the plantations would be delivered by coastal vessel, and that such vessels would bring back all plantation produce.

Mr. Fitch: One can take nothing for granted when dealing with Governments and Boards. Anyway, a good many plan tations are not on the coast; they are in land.

The chairman said there was serious confusion regarding the power of the Board to control plantation staffs, both European and native. It seemed that owners would not have the right to en gage or dismiss their white employees; and, according to one reading of the

Regulations, the Board seemed to have the same power over native labourers.

Mr. Fitch: I can see an endless amount of trouble in this section of the Regu lations. It will be impossible to run plantations properly if owners are not to have control over their staffs. All this is due to the fact that these Canberra officials drew up the Regulations without any consultation with practical and ex perienced men. These points should be cleared up before the planters consent to return. (Applause.)

Missing Gold

A MEMBER asked why the authorities had permitted the removal of gold from New Guinea in large quan tities, while the small parcels of gold had been held back, and had now apparently disappeared. The gold accumulated by Bulolo and New Guinea Goldfields up to the time of evacuation had been brought out; but gold parcels belonging to the “small men,” transport of which had been refused at the time of the evacuation, had been lost.

The secretary: No one seems to know what has happened to those gold parcels —there are all sorts of stories —but it seems to have disappeared. I suppose it will have to be claimed for under insur ance.

Voices: No—they are saying now that gold lost like that is not direct war dam age, and cannot be claimed for.

Mr. Bellamy; The whole position is a scandal —the little men were not allowed to bring their gold out, but the big fellows were—and so the little fellows are the losers.

Mr. Hinks: I do not think that that gold is an insurable loss, according to present regulations.

Mr. Young: While I was at Wau, dur ing the evacuation, I saw Perriman and Sedgers and a policeman taking the gold from the passengers going in the planes, and locking it up in Mandated Airlines safe —they were cutting down the weight, they said. What became of those parcels?

Voices: Were receipts given for the gold.

Mr. Young: I do not think so.

The Executive was asked to inquire further concerning the missing gold parcels, and to urge that this was a loss that should be recovered as insurable war damage.

Flea For Rabaul Prisoners

THE president reported that the follow ing letter had been sent to the Prime Minister of Australia: — “We beg to bring to your attention the urgent need for the immediate formu lation of a general policy of assistance and rehabilitation for the New Guinea

civilian prisoners in Japanese hands— r and their families.

“The circumstances surrounding the capture of these men are perhaps un known to you, and we feel sure you will agree that assistance to them is as deserving and urgent as that required for the men of the services.

“In December, 1941, all white women and children in New Guinea were com pulsorily evacuated to Australia; but no provision was made for the removal of civilian men (as was done in Papua) although we believe opportunities did occur, immediately before the Japanese occupation; but they were not taken ad vantage of by the Administration—and the civilians were left with the soldiers to do such duties required of them in the sudden state of emergency.

“When the invasion of Rabaul took place on 22nd January, they were officially told ‘they could either surrender or “go bush.” ’

“The male community consisted of members of the Defence Forces, members of the Civil Service, and men engaged in industrial occupations. All these men (soldiers and civilians) were in exactly the same position on the arrival of the Japanese forces. Some of these men surrendered, some escaped to Australia; but a number of them fell into enemy hands and became ‘prisoners of war’ and as such a national responsibility.

“We would, therefore, submit, as a very just claim, that these civilians, and their wives and families, should be placed in all respects on the same basis of relief as soldiers of the AlF—to be considered on these points:— “(1) Medical care and attention after repatration—and pension if dis abled or injured in 'any way as direct result of the treatment re ceived as prisoners—or from long suffering as fugitives in the bush —on soldiers’ terms, “(2) That they be eligible to share in plans for rehabilitation and land settlement—as applied to the mem bers of the forces.

“(3) That a minimum allotment and separation allowance to wives and children be granted—irrespective of the wife’s earning capacity.

“(4) Their children to receive educa tional benefits and share oppor tunities in post-war reconstruction plans equal to those of soldiers’ children.

“We, therefore, respectfully ask that under the circumstances the same con sideration and policy of relief be accorded to these men, and their depen dants, as is being given to the members of the fighting forces who have become prisoners of war.”

The only reply was that the matter was

receiving consideration.

About Mr. Alderman

THE meeting, with much asperity and at considerable length, discussed the activities of Mr. H. G. Alderman (the Adelaide barrister who has been given plenary powers by the Common wealth Government in connection with the “settlement” of claims against the Army in Papua and New Guinea)—and especially his attitude towards claimants generally.

The attitude of Mr. Alderman was in dicated in the following extracts from a letter which he wrote on March 6, 1943: RENT. —I shall not authorise any payments for rent of premises in or near Port Moresby. I shall advise the Government—and I believe that that advice will be accepted—that no compen sation should be made for the occupation of your premises from sth February, 1942, until such times as the areas ceases to be evacuated.

If the Commonwealth undertakes, as it will, to restore your premises to the same condition as they were in when the forces first occupied them (excluding the effect of such war damage as is covered by the War Damage Commission) you will not suffer any “loss or damage” by reason of the occupation. On the contrary, your pre mises will be in a better condition because, if they suffered from nothing worse than lack of

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Fijian Decorated for Bravery

IT was announced in Suva, on May 25, that the King has awarded the British Empire Medal to Private Ramelusi Dri Ma, of the Fiji Labour Corps, for conspicuous bravery and de votion to duty.

Last December while he was employed as a winchman, lifting cargo from a barge to a ship, a mobile repair van got out of control and swayed wildly, with the rolling of the ship.

Disregarding his own safety, Ramelusi remained at his winch, ducking as the vehicle swayed overhead, gradually lower ing it until it was level with the hatch combings and then into the hold, where it could be secured. If he had left the winch the loading gear could not have borne the strain for very long, and serious loss of life and damage would have re sulted if the van had crashed into either the ship or the barge.

The Rev. Ernest Clarke, of the Methodist Overseas Mission, Papua, is at present doing deputation work in the Wimmera district in Victoria.

Dr. Frederick James Williams has been registered as a medical practitioner in the Colony of Fiji.

Sister Dorothea Tomkins, of the New Guinea Anglican Mission, has undertaken temporary service at the Yarrabah Mission, and will be in charge of the hospital until her return to New Guinea.

use, they would deteriorate substantially. You could not let them privately. In another evacuated area, owners have offered free occu pation of their premises in exchange for a similar undertaking. The undertaking will apply to tanks, stoves and other fixtures which are ordinarily regarded as being part of the land or building.

FURNITURE.—Most of the places in, or near, Port Moresby are empty of the chattels which belonged there, some having been stolen. Some have been used. An owner, left without his strict legal rights would, probably, not be able to establish a claim, because he could seldom trace his goods. Stolen goods will not be paid for. To do so, would establish a far-reaching principle which is unsound. I have, therefore, notionally divided the contents of each building into three categories or classes; —(a) Chattels which can be shown (by receipt or otherwise) to have been taken officially, if somewhat irregularly; (b) chattels which are more likely to have been the object of theft or vandalism; (ci chattels which are likely to have been used officially, but without due form.

For chattels in category (a) we shall, of course, pay. For goods in class (b) I shall not authorise payment. In this category are cloth ing, jewellery and personal effects, picture books, brassware and other vases and ornaments, light shades, curtains, blinds, decorations, wireless sets, pianos, musical instruments and tools. Also included in this category are poultry, foodstuffs, benzine and consumable goods in houses. I shall treat all those as being stolen until it is reason ably proved that they are within class (a).

I am, for the present, willing to assume that all the furniture and other effects (including any refrigerator) belonging to you in or near Port Moresby are in category (c). On that assumption I offer you £225 for all your chattels in this class and in full settlement of all claims you may have arising out of their use by the Commonwealth.

Your rights as regards chattels in class (b) are not affected. You can still claim against the Commonwealth if it should ever appear that the chattels are within class (a) or against any person who has wrongfully converted them.

The amount of the offer is based on a valua tion of the goods as second-hand goods at the time when they were taken over—if they were taken over. The considerable depreciation in their value caused by the evacuation and the bombing is an indirect consequence of war. I cannot compensate for that. I am merely act ing on behalf of the Commonwealth as a buyer of goods.

MOTOR CAR.—I intend to have further valua tions made of all motor vehicles used by the forces in Moresby. They will be made by an independent Brisbane expert.

In reply to an inquiry, Mr. Alderman had stated that all his decisions were

reported to the War Damage Commission,

and, once he had adjudicated upon a claim and the claimant had accepted his decision, the claimant could make no further claim upon the War Damage Commission. His decisions were based upon the utilitarian value of the article

or service, from the Army viewpoint.

Thus, a silver mug was valued merely as a drinking vessel, and not as a silver mug.

The chairman said that the Executive

sent to the Prime Minister a protest against the extraordinary and dictatorial powers given to Mr. Alderman, against the character of his decisions, against his attitude towards claimants generally, and against the absence of any channel of appeal. After repeated letters and tele grams, the Association had only that day received a curt intimation that all the actions of Mr. Alderman had the full approval of the Commonwealth Govern ment.

This was greeted with a chorus of angry interjections, such as “What a Hitler!” and “Give all the facts to the press.”

The chairman said that, as it appar ently was useless to appeal Mr. Alderman, or to the Australian Government, the Executive had now placed all the facts in the hands of learned counsel to ascer tain whether, under the Constitution, they could claim the fundamental rights of citizens. It would be wise to await that opinion, before appealing to the news papers.

Mr. Robson said that the muddling of the present Australian Government had so angered all classes in Australia that a change of Government, in a few months’ time, appeared certain. Prob ably, a new Government would give bare justice to evacuees—or at least give some reasonable consideration to their repre sentations.

Office-Bearers

The whole of the office-bearers were re-elected for the ensuing year, without an election. They are as follows: — President: Mr. E. A. James.

Vice-President: N. C. Nelson.

Treasurer: E. J. O’Donnell.

Executive: Miners: J. Hinks (Papua), H. Taylour (New Guinea).

Planters; T. L. Sefton, (Papua), E. B. O’Brien (New Guinea).

Commercial; F. J. Mackenzie (New Guinea), H. R. Clay (Papua).

Auditor: A. Lussick.