Problems

Papuan And New Guinea

Territories Association Discusses Plans of Future Government and Reconstruction

AT the moment, when Australians were eagerly reading details of the first big-scale military move against the Japanese in New Guinea—the attack by Australian land troops and American paratroops and warships against the Japanese at Lae, on September 4—the Territories evacuees resident in Sydney were attending the quarterly general meeting of the Pacific Territories Associa tion, and hearing a report of recent activi ties and future plans.

Mr. E. A. James (president) presided over a large attendance, on the evening of September 7, and the Executive sub mitted the following report;—

Claims Against Government

After very exhaustive examination of the whole position, the Association’s legal advisers are of the opinion that, at this juncture, no legal action is possible in regard to the majority of claims against the Defence Services for chattels, unless the actual acquisition of every item by the authorities can be proved and also the value of each article at the time of acquisition.

As will be obvious, while perhaps we may know beyond doubt that certain chattels were taken and used by the Forces, legal proof of such acquisition is impossible—and Mr. Alderman has made it quite clear that he intends strictly to stand on his legal rights in settlement of these claims. That being so, our legal advisers suggest that Mr Alderman’s offers for chattels might be accepted, the acceptance, however, being m such form as to protect owners’ pos sible rights in in the future. That aspect is now being examined and, meantime we suggest, where nossible, members, if not satisfied with the offers made, still refrain from accepting such offers until further advised by the Association.

Where definite proof of acquisition is held, owners are in a different position, and, by reason of a recent decision of thp High Court, the amount of compen sation—and the basis of fixing it—is much improved, we are advised.

As regards the first class of claimants— and the vast majority—we urge claimants very strongly to expedite the completion of all forms and other information re quired by the War Damage Commission as fully as possible. Meantime, the As sociation is striving to get the Federal Government to realise that Mr. Aider man’s attitude—though strictly legal nerhaps—is unjust, petty and cruel, hav ing regard to the work Territorial resi dents have done in developing the Aus tralian Territories and the tragic setback they have received through no fault of their own. while their country was used as a defensive area for the protection of the Australian mainland.

War Damage Insurance

Here. on the one hand, we have achieved marked success, while in another direction we have been sadly disappointed.

Our efforts to secure deferment of con tributions in cases where owners or their representatives could not find the neces sary monev. have failed, although at our last meeting we informed you we felt sure it would be fixed in the near future.

We wei;e over-optimistic. We are still in communication with the Federal Gov

ernment on this matter and, meantime, ask for particulars of any resident who has been unable to pay War Damage In surance contributions owing to financial difficulties. Pass this request on to your friends and remember this information is required urgently in order that the As sociation may do everything possible to protect the interests of such residents.

Considerable benefits may accrue to members as a result of the War Damage Commission agreeing to assess values of property in all claims, irrespective of whether war damage has or has not beer proved. For this action by the War Damage Commission we record our ap preciation, and we very strongly urge members to put in completed claims to the Commission and fully answer all questions raised by them in endeavour ing to assess claims.

You will see that, as matters stand at present, it is invaluable to owners that they have recorded by an independent tribunal, the values of their various as sets in the Territory as at 1/1/42. No matter what action is open to owners after the war in order to obtain “just compensation’', the whole question will be tremendously simplified by having the values fixed now.

In acceding to our request in this mat ter the War Damage Commission has undertaken a big job, which was not part of its functions; and, in dealing with the Commission, therefore, we ask members to bear this in mind and do everything possible to assist the early assessment of their claims.

Plantation Control

Civilian owners of plantations in Papua took over their properties on Ist July, 1943, under the control of ANG Production Control Board, and so far we believe mat ters are running as well as could be ex pected under the circumstances.

No person has yet been appointed to the position of Agricultural Member of the Board, nor has the Government agreed to our repeated request for the appointment to the Board of at least one person directly representing owners.

Mr. T. Nevitt has been po-opted to the Board as expert adviser, but we are still pressing for an owner’s representative as a full member of the Board.

The Association has another very satis factory achievement to report, in that after negotiations with the Shipping Con trol Board and Department of External Territories, the freight on copra from New Guinea ports to Australia has been reduced by 15/- plus 35% per ton, i.e., £l/0/3, the rate now being 35/- plus 35%.

This reduction which we have secured means an immediate benefit to those copra producers now working under the NG Production Control Board, and to other plantations as they come into opera tion.

The Association has now set up a Plantations Sub-committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. I. C. Campbell, which sub-committee is closely watching the position and preparing for the later enlargment of the area over which the Production Control Board may have authority.

Prisoners Of War

The Executive is negotiating with the Federal Government on the question of

the treatment of dependants of prisoners of war in New Guinea and on the ques tion of the possible exchange of those prisoners of war captured in New Guinea.

Mining Industry

It is proposed to set up a mining sub committee immediately to thoroughly in vestigate the position of this industry and prepare for resumption of work in the Territories.

Civil Administration

The Executive considers the time is now fast approaching when the reintroduction of some form of civil administration in part of the Territories is possible and in tends taking action in an endeavor to

assist in bringing about this change of administration as soon as practicable.

Reconstruction And

Rehabilitation

One of the objects of this Association —and in our opinion one of its main objects— is post-war reconstruction of the Territories and the rehabilitation of for mer residents. Your Executive feels very strongly that this objective is not one for the future, but one requiring the most careful attention now.

The Commonwealth Government has set up a committee to go into this ques tion, the personnel of the committee being Prof. G. W. Paton, Melbourne Univer sity (Chairman) and representatives of

the Departments of External Territories, Post-War Reconstruction, External Af fairs, Treasury and Army.

As you will see, it is purely a Govern ment departmental committee, with no representative of territorial residents, which seems a pity, as we have pointed out to the Government.

We put it to you bluntly, and very strongly, that your Executive do not believe the best will be done for the Ter ritories and their inhabitants—both Euro pean and native—if the planning is left only to the politicians and professors of Australia, and unless the residents of the Territories are sufficiently strong to en sure their opinions being heeded, we are likely to go back after the war to con ditions no better—if as good—as those of pre-war days.

The various Territories comprising New Guinea, Papua, New Britain, Solomons, etc., are gone forever, we believe, and will become one territory only—Australian New Guinea, as it probably will be known.

The residents of all those countries must join forces and co-operate now if they are to do their duty to the Territories and each other. In addition to this Associa tion, there are a number of other'organi sations of residents of the Territories and we believe it to be essential that all these bodies show a united front in express ing views on post-war territorial plans.

Let us be unanimous in our aims, and let us place our opinions before the Gov ernment with the active support of every resident of the Territories.

Naturally, we want as many members of this Association as possible—we think every resident should ioin for his or her own protection—but. of course, we do not presume to suggest that the various other bodies should not take action on any matter they deem fit.

What we do ask is that if any organisa tion proposes to take official action af fecting any section or residents of the Territories as a whole, that they first make other bodies acquainted with their proposals—through this Association if you wish.

Co-Operation

THE various matters dealt with in the report provided subjects for a two hours’ discussion.

In replv to inquiries, the chairman said that most of the claims for the return of money deposited with the New Guinea Administration had been dealt with—he thought that, where the papers were in order, everything had been paid.

The chairman submitted an amendment of the constitution which would allow such bodies as the New Guinea Women’s Clubs (there were five of them, two in Svdney and one each in Melbourne. Ade laide and Brisbane) to affiliate with the Association, so as to help the Association in its work of protecting evacuees’ in terests, and assisting their rehabilitation in the Territories. The smaller bodies had been formed with a definite object— mostly patriotic in character—and. while the Association did not wish to interfere in any wav with their activities and free dom. it did want the co-operation and goodwill of all Territories people.

The alteration of the constitution was unanimously agreed to.

A motion was passed, asking the exe cutive to again urge upon the Common wealth authority the unfairness of setting up a Committee of professors and De nartmental heads, to plan new adminis trative machinery and means of re establishing the evacuees in the Territory, while the opinions of the Association and its members were completely ignored.