Servants

Papuan Public

Recent Promise By Minister

Letter to the Editor IREAD with interest your article in the June PIM, under the title “The future of aNuaU,” wnerem a mem ber of tne Papuan Public service, witn a line war record, asks • . . . are the ngnts of officers who, like myself, volun teered for military service , . . being preserved . . . ", The Minister for External Territories promised the Secretary and myself, at an interview, that tne rights of ALL members 01 the Papuan civil adminis tration would be protected; ana that after ALL those members who returned to Papua had been placed in their correct positions according to their ability, ex perience and service, then members of ANGAL, by virtue of whatever exper ence they nad had in Papua, would be allowed to join the Papuan Government in the ordinary manner—just as we all joined, at the bottom, working upwards according to ability and service.

Definite assurances were given that no leap-frogging by members of ANGAU, would be countenanced. The Minister was most emphatic on this.

In reply to further enquiries, the Minister said that the time had not yet arrived to consult members of the Civil Administration. Up to date, consul tations had been of a military nature.

However, when the time did arrive to discuss civil control, senior members of the .Papuan Administration would not be ignored. \At the moment, however, no indication of a likely date of return to Papua could be given.

Early in this war, when many mem bers of the Papuan Administration volunteered for active service with the Forces, my Association took up many matters with the Lieut-Governor and, later, with the present Administrator — the Hon. H. L. Murray, CBE. The main concern was to preserve full rights, status, seniority, etc., to all those who were dealing with the enemy.

Our several requests were very sym pathetically received and dealt with.

When finalised, my Council and myself considered that everything possible had been done in the interests of those volunteers. Certain assurances were readily given, and I hope I still have sufficient faith in the British Crown to believe that those promises made by the Administrator—some of them in Council —will not be reversed by Canberra. That would be a monstrous action.

A Circular has been issued containing most of the foregoing information — with some other facts—and is available to all members.

Looking at your enquirer’s letter generally, I agree that many oppor tunists are created in every walk of life.

It appears to me, however, it would be ridiculous to allow military service— including ANGAU —to count with a view to jockeying into good positions in a civil administration or vice versa. Other wise, men from the last war—or maybe even the Boer War —must be allowed to count their military service for the same purpose. And it is not forgotten by many that several members of the Pap uan Government had fine records of service in the last war, whilst they were in contact with the enemy of those days.

I am, etc.,

A. W. Marshall,

President, Public Service PO Box 3365, Association of Papua.

Sydney