Stop Press!

page 4, reference is made to questions V-J asked in the Australian Parliament about the future government of Papua and New Guinea, and not answered. We learn, after going to press, that on April 11, Mr. Ward replied by post to Mr. Fadden’s questions. The following extract from Mr. Ward’s letter will interest Territorians: UPON the assumption of the position of Administrator of Papua by Mr.

Leonard Murray there was no change in policy; but investigation by the present Government has established the need for protecting the natives against many abuses to which they have been subjected in the past, and against which the local administrations have struggled in the past. The welfare of the natives shall be a guiding principle with the present Government in its plans for the post-war period.

“Future policy in regard to the Terri tories has been entrusted to a Committee of Cabinet which will obtain the best advice available. All the data in the possession of the Department of External Territories and the officers of that De partment will be available to the Com mittee. The Committee will also have at its disposal the valuable experience gained by the military authorities during the past two years.

“Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. Camilla Wedg wood is not responsible for post-war native education in New Guinea. That is a Government responsibility: but any views which she or others may express will be fully considered.”

By way of contrast, here are a few lines from a well-known Territorian, now doing a war job in the NG jungle : “I heard a slice of hot-air on the radio to-day regarding ‘the protection of the natives from exploitation after the war.’

This place is full of ‘experts’ who spend a whole month ‘examining’ the natives and their conditions and then report to and ‘guide’ the Government’s post-war policy. These high-ranking ‘officers’ (an insult to the rank held by such fine soldiers as Blue Allan and Normie Neal) will attempt to shape the course of our and the natives’ lives here after the war.

“It would be amusing, if it were not so serious. What the hell can these people know about these things when everything is provided for them? They don’t walk a yard, carry an ounce, or have one prob lem of the country to solve regarding their own comfort or transport. They are akin to the ‘round-trippers’ of peace time, who rushed into print the day after the ‘Macdhui’ got back to Sydney.

“The joke is that the least worried about ‘Post-war sets ups’ is the native himself, who has furnished repeated evidence of his pleasure in the return of the ‘Masta’ who allegedly had been ex ploiting him all those pre-war years.”