Ward's Bureaucracy

No Time To Pull Punches

PTA Must Keep on Fighting or Succumb to Ward's Bureaucracy

1T is evident that residents of Papua and New Guinea, both those who have been graciously permitted to return and those in Australia, still have a big fight on their hands before conditions in the Territories return to pre-war stan dards. A certain measure of victory has come the way of the Pacific Territories Association in their efforts on behalf of Territories’ people in the last year. But nothing that Mr. Norman Nelson, vice president of the PTA, who presided in the absence of the president, Mr. E. A.

James, could tell members at the third annual general meeting of the Associa tion in Sydney on June 26, indicated other than that the path ahead would be beset with difficulties, as great as, if not greater, than, those already overcome.

The Australian Government, through External Territories Minister Ward is ob viously benfc on trying socialisation ex periments in the Australian Territories.

If Territorians do not fight with every thing they have, they will be permitted to live there only under the iron control of Mr. Ward’s bureaucrats.

The Third Annual Report was read by the secretary of the Association, as follows: —

General

SINCE our last annual meeting there have been several changes in the executive. Mr. G. Moore, treasurer, resigned to take up an appointment in Samoa; he was replaced by Mr. E. J.

O’Donnel who has since resigned to return to Papua, and Mr. P. Hynes has replaced him.

Your executive have had 50 executive council meetings during the year, and are glad to report that we have been successful in persuading the Government to amend the War Damage Regulations to cover all subsequent loss which means so much to all Territorians and without which most evacuees would not be able to return to their plantations and homes. ■ Since our last general meeting the Go vernment has transferred the handling of claims against the Army for goods im pressed, etc., from the care of Mr. H Alderman to the care of the War Damage Commission.

We feel certain that your claims will now receive more favourable considera tion.

The Government has decided to pay claims for the loss of small boats whether they were left above high water mark or otherwise. They have now also decided to pay rent for buildings used by the various Services or Government Depart ments, but have not as yet told us on what basis.

During the year the War Damage Com mission asked us to arrange for experts to give them an estimate of the value of coconut palms, rubber trees, cocoa trees and coffee trees. This was done, but we have not yet heard what value has been fixed by the Commission for assessment purposes.

Refrigerators

rE War Damage Regulations allow only £5O for each refrigerator.

As values in most cases are higher than this, we took the matter up with the Commission with a view to rectifying this anomaly, and we are now able to advise members that the revaluation of all refrigerators is now receiving the attention of the Commission staff on the basis of actual cost less set down rates of depreciation.

Pcb

Production Control Board has now JL tfeen operating in Papua for some time, and as it was your wish that the producers should be represented on this Board, we have been endeavouring to persuade the Government to make such appointment—in fact, we have asked for representation of Territorians on any Board or Committee that the Government may set up. The matter has been re peatedly taken up with our Minister, Mr.

Ward, without any result. We have now placed the matter before members of the Opposition.

It might be of interest to you to know that the Control Board is paying planters in Papua the following prices for their produce: Copra, £l9 per ton at the nearest port of shipping; rubber, 1/6 per lb., first grade; 1/5 second grade; and 1/3 third grade.

Refurn of Civil Administration

11TE regret to advise that although we ?T have continually pressed the Minis ter for information in this regard, he refuses to tell us anything or to even give any indication of when it might be expected. We have now taken the matter up with Mr. Menzies, Leader of the Oppo sition, with a view to getting the matter brought before the House. It is antici pated that the necessary measures to set up the proposed provisional administra

tion will come before the House in the near future, and in the meantime the Go vernment has allowed the return of wives of some planters to Papua.

New Guinea Planters OUR planter representative reports that the Government will permit the return of planters to certain districts in the former Mandated Territory. Several planters have returned to the Madang District, and we look forward to their number increasing in the near future.

San Francisco Conference

11TET regret to advise that we have been ff unable to get any information from the Government on the question of UNCIO. In the meantime we have pro tested against any change being made in the status of Papua without the people of Papua having some say in it. •

Native Labour Inquiry

AT the inquiry held into Indentured Labour on December 1 and 2, our president attended, and placed our views on this matter before the con ferertce. Nevertheless, it appears to us that the Government intends to abolish the contract system as soon as practicable.

We have at all times impressed upon the Government the necessity of retaining the present system until a more satisfactory one can be found.

Mining

DURING the year our mining represen tative visited the Territory and in spected certain mining properties and reported back to the individual owners.

He advised that at the present time there

does not seem to be much chance of starting production as there is not the necessary labour, supplies or equipment.

He also points out the difficulty of trans port. The War Damage Commission has advised us that water races are now in surable as “plant” and members and others are requested to communicate full details of their races to the Commission.

The following is the communication re ceived from the Commission: —

The Secretary, Pacific Territories Association, 54a Pitt Street,

Sydney.

Dear Sir, —

Mining Property—Water Races

!• 14 has n °w been established that a water race, held under a mininf tenement under the Mining- Ordinance, 1928-1940, Mandated Territory of New Guinea, is uot “fixed property” as defined in the National Security (War Damage to Property) Regulations, but in its entirety (in cluding earthworks) it comes within the definition of “plant.” 2 Owners of plant exceeding £l,OOO in value were required by the Regulations to declare and contribute on such plant at its full value, and those who have not done so or who have con tributed on water races as fixed property in full, or in part, should take the matter up with the Commission for adjustment. 3 - — T4ie value of the race is to be determined on the basis of estimated cost of replacement in January, 1942, less depreciation and obsolescence! 4. —Claims for compensation for “war damage” as now defined, including “depreciation in value as a direct result of its having been abandoned” will be assessed as prescribed in the Regulations.

Owners should submit plans and descriptions of the races, giving; (i) Location and course. (ii) Dimensions. (iii) Nature, dates and costs of construction (sectionalised as far as possible). (iv) If purchased, date of purchase and cost price. (v) Evidence of title. (vi) Owner’s value. (vii) Particulars of any known war damage. 5. —lt would be appreciated if you could bring the points of this advice under the notice of those interested and with whom you are in touch.

I am, etc.,

(Signed) R. A. Battersby,

„ Controller.

War Damage Commission, Sydney, June 15.

Gold Lost- During Evacuation

MEMBERS will be glad to hear that they can now lodge a claim for this under their war damage.

Taxation

WE have been advised that certain recent amendments to the Taxation Act will not affect Territorians when they return to the Territory. The £4O allowance mentioned in this amendment applies only to persons who go to the Territory for a period of less than six months, and are not residents.

The matter of taxation on Territorians who have been working in the Small Ships Section and American Red Cross was taken up with the Commonwealth Trea surer, and he advises that he will not give a general exemption, but each case will be considered on its merits.

Unrra

DURING the year your executive inter viewed the representatives of UNRRA and asked them if they were in terested in matters concerning Papua and New Guinea. Your executive was advised

th a t UKR RA was not interested in Papua or the Mandated Territory as the Com monwealth Government would be quite capable of handling rehabilitation in those Territories.

Expropriated Properties

VOUR planter representatives have been A m touch with the Custodian of Ex nothing 0 to‘report. Pro Pers > but h^e

Civil Internees

TOURING the year your executive has aa been in touch with the Government . , Cross regarding civilian wnf nn e f S> f Unfortuna tely. the Golernment of U what ?iVe any indi cation 01 wnat it intends doing, and anneal to

asu sa

sswasss to “• <see articie ° n

New Constitution

ANEW constitution was passed at the last quarterly meeting which makes firmp l^oBsl^ lo l or the Ass ociation to con after the return Of Civil ad ministration to one, or both, of the Ter

£t°£cs and during the. post-war years.

Under the new constitution the subscrip tions payable are £1 per annum for the first member of a family, and 10/- per annum for each subsequent member of the sa s n E fam L ly ’ and your executive has de cided to fix these subscriptions for the ensuing year, and all members are asked to brmg their subscriptions up to date at the earliest opportunity.

Social Rooms

YOUR executive has this matter well in hand and hopes to be able to find suitable accommodation. We realise .T a V- S j an d people should have some place m Sydney where they can meet one another now and, in the post-war years.

In conclusion, your executive desires to thank the various associated bodies, both in New South Wales and the other States for their assistance during the past year’

We also desire to thank Mrs. Meldrum and Mrs. Wetherall, of the women’s orga nisations, who have .regularly attended the execcutive meetings, offering their advice and assistance in all matters We would like to thank Messrs. Robert Gillespie for allowing us the use of their premises for executive meetings.

Finances

CASH balance carried over from the year ending June, 1944. was £245/10/6; receipts during the cur rent year were £349/14/-. Expenditure during the same period was £337/0/11, leaving a balance in hand of £258/3/7.

Office-Bearers, 1945

OFFICE bearers for 1945 were nomi nated as follows: President, E. A.

James: vice-president, R. A. Laws; treasurer, P. Hinds; auditor, R. Gillespie; commercial representative, New Guinea, N. Nelson; commercial representative, Papua, no nomination; plantation repre sentative, New’ Guinea, A. Lussiek; plan tation representative, Papua, G. Aumuller; mining representative, New Guinea, G.

Bellamy; mining representative, Papua, J. Hinks.

Discussion

DISCUSSION centred around the appa rent reluctance of the External Ter ritories Department to granting per mission to civilians for their return to Papua and liberated portions of the Man dated Territory.

There was much acid comment on the

high-hand attitude of that Territories De partment brain-child, the Production Control Board, which has condemned, for various but inadequate reasons, several small plantations as totally uneconomic, and refused to allow their owners to return to them; and has demanded, from other owners, an assurance that the owners are capable of paying for “rehabi litation” costs of plantations which have been allowed to lie idle during the eva

cuation period.

In connection with ’the Control Board, Mr. Nelson explained that as the PTA executive had been unable to get any in formation as to its functions*' and in terior' workings from the External Terri tories Minister direct, they had ap proached an Opposition member, Mr.

Percy Spender, who had asked Mr. Ward certain questions, and had received the following reply—forwarded to the execu tive by Mr. Spender;— Dear Mr. Spender,— I refer to your lettei of the 6th June, 1945, and to your earlier letter of the 30th April, 1945, in which you asked on behalf of the Secretary, the Pacific Territories Association, 54a Pitt Street, Sydney, for certain information concern ing the activities of the Australian New Guinea Production Control Board. I am now in a position to supply the desired information.

Particulars of the present staff of the Board are as follows: INDOOR STAFF at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Lae and Madang.—ln offices, warehouses, bulk stores, produce stores: total, 85.

FIELD STAFF. —On plantations as plantation inspectors, and in trade stores, throughout Papua, the mainland of New Guinea, Bougain ville, New Britain and Manus: total, 72.

Of the total field staff, 41 are engaged aa planting managers, 6 in Papua and 35 in New Guinea. Of these 3 are managing Government plantations in Papua, and the remaining 38 are managing private plantations pending the return of the owners.

The total cost per annum of the Board staff as above is as follows: In respect of indoor staff £33,960 In respect of field staff £31,524 £65,484 Less amount chargeable to plantations in respect of plantation managers mentioned above £17,352 £48,132 The Board has been established under National Security (External Territories) Regulations (Statutory Rules, 1943, No. 139) for the purpose of promoting and controlling the production of rubber, copra and other primary products in the Territories of Papua and New Guinea, and any industry therein, with a view to securing a maximum supply of the relevant products during the present war. This course was necessary following the suspension of civil administration in those Territories, the cessation of private in dustry and the urgent war need for the products in question. Whether it will be necessary or desirable for the Board to continue to function after the restoration of the civil administration is a matter which will be determined by the Government at the appropriate time.

The Board is a civil organisation, but in order to obtain the required staff, in the circumstances of the Territory up to the present, it has been found necessary mainly to employ Army per sonnel. As circumstances permit civilians will be appointed to the staff in place of the present Army personnel.

I am, etc.,

E. J. Ward,

Minister for External Territory.

Canberra, June 14, 1945.

Mr. Cyril Helton moved a motion that the executive brief counsel to ascertain whether it was legal to compulsorily eva cuate residents of Papua and New Guinea in 1942, and, if so, whether it was legal to now prevent their return. With the amendment that counsel should not be briefed until after the passing of the new Bill now before the House on the setting

up a provisional government in Papua and New Guinea south of the Markham River, the motion was put to the meeting and carried.