Vigorous Protest by N
pp. 14-15 · Read in the full issue
N. Guinea RSSAILA Demands Apology for Bryson's Slander of NG Men
SUCH a storm of protest was received by* the New Guinea Branch of the RSS <fe AILA, from members over seas and in Australia, in respect of the derogatory statements made by Mr.
Bryson, MHR, during the debate on New Guinea Provisional Administration Bill, that a special general meeting of the Branch was held on Friday, August 3, under the chairmanship of the president, Mr. A. J. Gaskin, to consider what action should be taken to correct the false im pression given by the member in ques tion.
At this largely attended meeting the speakers did not pull their punches when expressing their opinions of the criticism of New Guinea residents made by Mr.
Bryson under parliamentary privilege.
The statements objected to, extracted from “Hansard,” were;— “When the Japanese attacked the islands to the north of Australia the • only fight that was put up there was that of our soldiers,” and “When the Japanese invaded New Guinea the white settlers left as quickly as they could.”
One speaker pointed out that Mr.
Bryson had apparently never heard of the NGVR,' a unit composed of local volunteers, all being either returned sol diers of the First World War or rejected as medically unfit for this war, and vhoi took the brunt of the Japanese invasion! at Rabaul in company with a small sec tion of Australian soldiers.
Of the 75 members of the NGVR who* went into action at Rabaul only about nine escaped death or capture.
On the mainland of New Guinea the; members of the NGVR, probably 150( strong, acted as the eyes and ears of: the Army located at Port Moresby, andf provided information as to the move-’ ment of the Japanese Fleet and invasion; forces Another speaker said that, far from;
getting out as quickly as possible, as suggested, the men over 45 years of age, then on the mainland, were compulsorily evacuated by the Army authorities, al though they wished to remain. The majority of these “old” men, on reach ing the mainland, immediately joined up in whatever services would have them.
Other speakers mentioned that over 100 decorations and awards had been re ceived by former New Guinea residents; and that of the 350 civilians at Rabaul at the time of the Japanese invasion only about 35 escaped.
A resolution, in the following terms, was carried unanimously:— This Branch of the RSS & AILA demands of Mr. Bryson, MHR, an un qualified withdrawal of the statement which cast a slur upon the white settlers of New Guinea, when, in the House of Representatives on July 19, 1945, he suggested that they had been guilty of cowardice.
Further, that a copy of this resolu tion be forwarded to the Prime Minis ter, the Federal President of the Leage, and the press.