New Administration In

Territories

Ward's Labour Laws Create Industrial Chaos

THE Papua-New Guinea Provisional Administration Act became law on October 30, by proclamation in the “Australian Commonwealth Gazette.”

The Civil Administration took over as from 3 p.m. on October 31.

Civil administration, as defined by that Act, is now in force in the Territory of Papua and all that part of the Man dated Territory of New Guinea which lies south of the Markham River. It is completely different from the civil administrations that were “suspended” on the invasion of the Territories in January-February, 1942.

The headquarters of the Provisional Government have been established at Port Moresby.

The new Administrator, Colonel J.

K. Murray, arrived in Port Moresby by air on October 24. There was no cere mony of any kind, and no official person

age of importance was there to greet him.

Army and ANGAU headquarters, under Major-General Morris, with all estab lishment details, records, etc., moved on to Lae, in New Guinea, some weeks ago.

As from the commencement of the Provisional Government, all native lab ourers in the Territories had to be paid a minimum of 15/- per month. The few employers who have been allowed to re turn to the Territories did hot object much to this increase of 50 to 100 per cent, in prevailing wages rates; but they have shown the greatest resentment at the action of the Minister, Mr. Ward, in summarily terminating all labour con tracts as on October 15. As a result of the extraordinary way in which this change-over from military to civil rule was carried out, nearly all native lab ourers have gone home to their villages, and industry and transport in the Terri tories are almost paralysed.