Effect of Remarkable Demonstration by Territories

MR. WARD APPEARS IN HIS TRUE COLOURS Effect of Remarkable Demonstration by Territories Public Servants

THE revolt of the Papua-New Guinea public servants against intolerable conditions imposed by the Aus tralian Department of External Terri tories, at Canberra, early this month, may not achieve much in the way of reform; but it at least brought the re sponsible Australian Minister, Mr. Eddie Ward, out into the open, so that he dis closed himself clearly for what he is—a nasty, snarling demagogue, whose out look and policy in administering Aus tralia’s Territories are hopelessly coloured by the gutter politics on which he was suckled.

The New Guinea and Papua Public Service Associations held a meeting in Port Moresby; and, after some frank speaking, the following radiogram was sent to the Department in Canberra: “Our Associations view with the greatest alarm the failure of the Minister for External Territories, Mr.

Ward, to honour promises and obligations contained in his letter of November 9, 1944. Certain appointments made are considered to be unfair and contrary to the principles of the ALP. Morale of the Service is being undermined.

Officers are so incensed at unfair ap pointments that stop-work meetings have been suggested. The Appeals Board promised by the Minister is an immediate necessity.”

Speakers on behalf of the public ser vants made a number of points. They said that junior officers of the pre-war Services have been appointed by Can berra to high positions over senior officers on the grounds that the present Administration is purely provisional.

They claim that all that officers have striven for during many years of tropical service has been swept away by Canberra overnight. Officers alleged that they were tricked into returning to the Terri tories by a circular promising them better jobs, but that they were now for gotten.

THE fact that old and tried senior officers of the Territories’ service associated themselves with this criticism shows how deep is the sense of injustice under which they now are labouring. Such a thing has never hap pened before, in the history of the Terri ties.

It would not have happened, now, had Canberra given any indication at all that the growing volume of protests and complaints was receiving any con sideration.

One very significant fact emerged. The officials, in their public protest, specifically excluded the new Administrator, Colonel J. K. Murray, from any share of the blame—they felt that Colonel Murray had done everything possible on their behalf, and was as much the victim of Canberra as they were. But they did include in their attack the permanent head of the Department at Canberra, Mr. J. R. Halligan.

THE reaction of Minister Ward was typical. He sent the following radiogram; “I am in receipt of your wire, and have also read contents to-day’s anti-Labour Press. Would like you furnish specific instances where any promises made by me have not or are not to be honoured, also what particular appointments are considered to be unfair. All complaints will be promptly investigated.”

Except for the reference to the “anti- Labour Press,” that was a reasonably proper reply. But then the politician took control of the Minister, and Mr.

Ward, in a statement to the same “anti- Labour Press,” let himself go in this fashion: “One of my greatest difficulties has been the apparent disapproval of the policy of the Commonwealth Govern ment by a minority of the former mem bers of the old Civil Service, who were anxious to have the pre-war set-up restored and were always singing the praises of the private commercial in terests which previously had a strangle hold on the Territories.

“This noisy minority, in my opinion, is out to embarrass the Government under all circumstances if it can do so. The fact that a section of the anti-Labour newspapers was able to quote much more fully the views of this minority than contained in the message received either by myself or the Prime Minister is cer tainly evidence of the closest liaison with anti-Labour interests.

“I have nothing but the very highest praise for the splendid co-operation of the great bulk of those members of the former Civil Service who have returned to duty in the Territories.”

MR. WARD, in thus giving expression to his bad temper, supplies a com plete explanation of what is wrong with the Territories to-day.

Mr. Ward deliberately uses the term “minority” of public servants. That, of course, is the typical politician’s wriggle.

This is not a demonstration by a minority.

It represents the views of the great majority of the public servants —and that majority includes practically all the experienced men of the two former public services—the only men whose opinion in such matters is worth having.

Naturally, those men are opposed to the policies which Mr. Ward is trying to apply to the Territories. All around them, they see the destruction of private enterprise and of native morale, as the result of the fantastic plans put into operation by the King’s Cross economist; and they are resentful of the harm that is being done to the Territories which they love, and which have been their home for so long.

The Minister’s snarling reference to “a noisy minority always singing the praises of the private commercial interests which previously had a stranglehold on the Territories” lets in a whole flood of light upon recent events.

We had long suspected that there was a struggle going on behind the scenes between this Socialist Minister, who is trying to keep individualism and private enterprise out of the Territories, and the responsible and experienced senior officials, who know that there is no future for these countries, unless private enter prise is admitted and encouraged.

THESE Territories public servants will gain nothing from their protest.

They must have known that, before they protested. The Minister flatly denies that he has failed to honour any of his promises. He asks for details of particular cases; but the public servants realise that, under the present set-up in Canberra, any man who sticks up his head to voice a grievance, will only get the official axe well sunk into his neck.

The present confusion, discontent and

hideous administrative expense will con tinue during the regime of Mr. Ward— that is certain. Our only hope is that Mr. Ward’s regime may end suddenly with the Australian general election in six months’ time.

Meanwhile, every Territorian is under a debt of gratitude to those senior

rfHE New Guinea Women’s Club of Sydney, re-opened on Thursday, February 7, after its Christmas recess.

All Territorians are invited to attend the Thursday morning get-together meetings at the Feminist Club Rooms, 77 King Street, Sydney.

officers. Knowing the type of people with whom they were dealing, the officers knew that, in making their pro test, they were possibly signing the death-warrant of their own careers. But their demonstration has succeeded, as nothing else could have done, in letting Australia see what really is happening in the Territories—a mad-headed Socia listic policy being resisted, as far as possible, by experienced officials, who have some sense of public duty.