How Long Shall We Have Mr. Ward?— Editorial Note

PIONEER men of the type of our cor respondent must hang on, and not allow themselves to be driven out of New Guinea by the gang of political morons who at present are in command of the Australian Government. Ward & Co. clearly are trying to discourage Europeans and private enterprise from re-entering New Guinea.

Australia is in for a bad time—worse than she yet has experienced—and so, also, is New Guinea. But, inevitably, the wheel comes full circle. In due course, the electors will revolt and the gentle men who are “governing” Australia to day will be emptied out onto their thick skulls; but that will not happen until the stupid masses who hold the majority of votes begin to suffer in their pockets and their bellies from the muddling and ineptitude of the Governments they have elected. At present, those masses, as a result of war conditions, are wallowing in unaccustomed money. They imagine their “good times” will last for ever. If there was an election to-morrow, the Labour Party would be returned again, with a large majority.

To have seen a person of Mr. Ward’s

history and viewpoint placed in charge of Pacific Territories is for Territorians one of the most fantastic things in the history of the Western Islands. Yet he is just one of—and is typical of—the gang. His treatment of the great majority of the war-broken European residents of the Territories is cruel, callous and cynical—but not at alj sur prising to those who know the Ward type of politician. Territorians will get neither assistance nor encouragement from him —nor from any man whose whole political outlook is coloured by bitter prejudices formed in the gutter.

But Territorians should not lose hope.

The wheel will Come full circle, and the Territories again will know peace and prosperity. With great courage, they have survived the Jap era. Now, with fortitude and patience, they must try to endure the Ward era. It should not last more than a year or two. Labour may be returned at the general election a year hence, but its majority will be so reduced that moderation may return to Islands administration, and the present arrogance, intolerance and cruelty will disappear.