To Restore Murray
p. 15 · Read in the full issue
Administration
Aim of New Papuan Association
rE recently-formed Papuan Associa tion of Brisbane, although small in numerical force, has been extra ordinarily active. Chief object of the Association is the immediate restoration of Murray Administration in Papua.
Australian newspapers, somewhat oddly, have been disposed to give the Associa tion some good publicity—even in Syd ney, where the previous three years’ struggle to bring Territorians’ problems under public notice was given remark ably little attention by newspapers.
A well-written, interesting and infor mative booklet has been compiled by A.
L. Ethell, G. R. Richardson and A.
Richardson on behalf of the Association, and sent to influential Australian bodies.
It is issued “for the purpose of dispelling some of the misapprehensions gaining credence in this country; and in the hope of promoting a better understanding of Papua, her problems and her peoples.”
In a letter to External Territories Min ister Ward (published in a Brisbane paper) the Association, through its chair man, Mr. G. Richardson, asked for an assurance that “trades unions and some similar bodies will not be allowed to meddle in the affairs of the Territory when civil administration is resumed.”
Suspicion Of Loot
MR. WARD was also informed that information had been received which indicated that hundreds of soldiers’ parcels from Darwin and New Guinea were at the Brisbane Customs House.
These presumably contained loot from these places and the Association asked that evacuees be permitted to examine these parcels and see if they could identify any personal belongings.
It is doubtful if this letter will have any more success with Mr. Ward than have had a few thousand other letters from evacuees, but at least the Associa tion is managing to ventilate its griev ances.
In the present era of Australian poli tics, nothing is to be gained by kid-glove tactics. The more extraordinary one’s claims, and the louder one’s voice, the easier it is to achieve public notice —and, through public notice, results.