Ng Government

No Further Step Towards New Administration

FOUR more weeks have passed; but there is no more news of any ad ministrative changes in relation to Papua and New Guinea.

There also is no apparent change of heart on the part of the Canberra bureaucrats on the subject of the return to Papua and the New Guinea Morobe district of the people who were driven out by the invasion over three years ago.

On March 9, Mr. Ward (Minister for External Territories) announced that the Papua, and New Guinea Civil Adminis trations would not be restored; but that, instead, a Provisional Administrator would be appointed.

Mr. Ward informed Melbourne news papers on April 4 that he had received a number” of applications for the Ad ministratorship, including some from sol diers, and that they would be dealt with by “Full Cabinet.” This statement caused surprise—it was not known generally, if at all, that applications had been invited.

ALL former public servants of Papua and New Guinea have been circu larised with regard to their return to the area as members of the Provi sional Government. They are asked to signify if they wish to have their name entered as a candidate for the Provi sional Administration; or if they do not wish to have their name entered; or if they wish to be released from the Army to take up a civil position in the new Administration.

The report of Mr. Barry. KC, on the circumstances surrounding the removal of Civil Government from Papua on Febru ary 1. 1942. is in the Minister’s hands, but nothing has been published. Many people will be surprised if it ever is published.

There have been further reports of friction between Mr. Ward’s Department, which exercises a limited control of the Territories, and the Army, which has the full responsibility for administration— and seems reluctant to give it up.

Some day, no doubt, the situation will be cleared up. Meanwhile, the homeless people of the Territories must just wait in patience in Australia, or wherever they may be. They would be unwise to expect anything much to be done for their rehabilitation so long as the pre sent Australian Government remains in power—probably another 15 months.