Territories
pp. 7-8 · Read in the full issue
Basis Of Future Government In The
Minister Sidesteps Attempt to Get Some Real Information
IN March, in the Australian Parliament, Mr A. W. Fadden asked the Minis ter for Australia’s Pacific Territories (Mr. Ward) a series of questions, the obvious purpose of which was to ascer tain what ideas the Minister had (if any) relating to the future government of Papua and New Guinea.
In April, Parliament adjourned with out the questions having been answered.
But in mid-April Mr. Ward replied to
Mr Fadden’s questions through the post.
The answers were typically adroit and uninformative.
Questions and answers were read with interest by Territorians, and the com ments of the latter were bitter. Here, in parallel columns, are the questions, the Minister’s replies, and the replies as an average Territorian thinks they could have been;
Questions Asked by Mr.
A. W. Fadden on March 30: (1) Is it a fact that the loyalty, co-operation and assistance of the “fuzzy-wuzzies” of Papua and New Guinea have been eulogised by all Allied Army commanders and have won also the admiration and affection of all troops? (2) Is it a fact that the attitude of the “fuzzy-wuzzies” in this war is attributable largely to the work of Sir Hubert Murray, whose put standing services and poficy have been acclaimed by the Commonwealth Govern ment? (3) Is it a fact that upon Sir Hubert Murray’s death his policy was carried on until the outbreak of war with Japan by his nephew, Mr.
Leonard Murray, when he was ordered out of New Guinea by the Army authorities? ✓ (4) Can the Minister say why Mr. Leonard Murray and certain members of his staff have been largely ignored by him in favour of unfledged Sydney Uni versity personnel, Univer sity professors and former members of the British colonial staff largely in experienced in New Guinea conditions?
Answer given by Minister
War'd on April 11:
(1) The loyalty and co-opera tion of the native popu lation of Papua and New Guinea have been im portant contributing fac tors in the success of the Allied forces in these theatres of operations and have been fully recognised by the Commonwealth Government, the Allied Commanders, and by all members of the armed forces. (2) The favourable attitude of the natives to the cause of the Allied Nations is be lieved by the Government to be due, to a great ex tent, to the sympathetic administration of native affairs by past adminis trations, and the splendid work of the late Sir Hubert Murray is fully recognised by the Government. (3) When the Army assumed control of New Guinea and Papua, Mr. Leonard Mur ray, who succeeded his late uncle as Administrator, re turned to the mainland, and his services have been used by the Department of the Treasury in connection with the work of the War Damage Commission. Upon the assumption of the position of Administrator 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 of the abuses to which they have been subjected in the past, and against which the local administrations have strug gled in the past. The wel fare of the natives shall be a guiding principle with the present Government in its plans for the post-war
period.
(4) Future policy in regard to the Territories has been entrusted to a Committee of Cabinet which will ob tain the best advice avail able. All the data in the possession of the Depart ment of External Terri tories and the officers of that Department will be available to the Committee.
The Committee will also have at its disposal the valuable experience gained by the military authorities during the past two years.
Replies which might have
been made truthfully by
Minister : (1) It is a fact that the loyalty, co-operation and assistance of the “fuzzy wuzzies” of Papua and New Guinea have been of great assistance to the present Government in providing popular propaganda for home and overseas con sumption, particularly under any criticism of the Army’s administration of the Terri tories since February, 1942. (2) It is a fact that the atti tude of the “fuazy-wuzzies” at the commencement of the war with Japan was attributable largely to the work of Sir Hubert Murray, the civil administration, and the Australian settlers in the Territories, and after the advent of military control such attitude was entirely due to the same influences and to no other. (3) The policy of Sir Hubert Murray was carried on after his death until the outbreak of war by Mr.
Leonard Murray, so far as this was possible, after circumventing the inter ference of Canberra clerks and politicians. (4) Mr. Leonard Murray, mem bers of his staff and all experienced residents of the Territories have been ignored by the Minister in dealing with plans for the Territories, because it is feared that these per sons’ views would almost certainly be unanimously at variance with those of the aforesaid clerks and poli ticians of Canberra. In the Territories there is a splendid opportunity to ex periment with and popu larise many new ideas of politicians, without fear of political results, the Aus tralian residents there hav ing no votes in Federal elections and no say in their own government.
Furthermore, in the sonor ous phrase, “Thfe welfare of the natives shall be a guiding principle with the present Government in its plans for the post-war period,” there is nothing tangible which can be bind ing on the Government, while at the same time it will excuse—except perhaps with a few experienced native administrators —any unwise plans which, due to our unavoidable ignorance, react unfavourably on the Territories.
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(5) Is it a fact that the Honourable Camilla Wedg wood will, under the Minister’s policy, become responsible for post-war native education in New Guinea, and that the Government, at the Minis ter’s request, has ap pointed her a Colonel in the Australian Women’s Army Service for this pur pose?
(6) If so, will the Minister say whether it is the policy of the Government to exclude, in favour of his present advisers, the former ad ministrative staff of the New Guinea service, in cluding Mr. Leonard Murray, both in an advis ory capacity and from the post-war viewpoint of the New Guinea administration service?
(5) Lieut. - Colonel the Hon.
Camilla Wedgwood is not responsible for post-war native education in New Guinea. That is a Gov ernment responsibility, but any views which she or others may express will be fully considered by the Government. Appointments to any position in the Army are determined by the Department of the Army and no request was made by the Minister for External Territories for the appointment of the Hon. Camilla Wedgwood, or for her to be given any particular rank. (6) See answer to Question 4.
(5) Lieut. - Colonel the Hon.
Camilla Wedgwood is not responsible for post-war native education in New Guinea m so far as the Minister at present is aware of any such plan. In fact, the Minister has no knowledge of Lieut. Colonel Wedgwood, nor the object of her appointment in New Guinea. Such appointment , was made by the Depart ment of the Army, doubt less for reasons of security and the defence of the Commonwealth which, of course, is intended to be its sole function.
(6) It is always the policy of the Government to exclude from the ranks of its advisers those whom it has reason to believe will ten der advice contrary to the Government’s own inclina tions. From long experi ence the Government has found that it is best served by inviting and acting upon the advice tendered by its paid Public Servants and such other experts, profes sorial and otherwise, as are known to hold views similar to those of the Government.