Australian Territories

"PIM" Editor Not Allowed to Visit Australian Territories

Letter to the Editor ALL sorts of strange things have been happening in the Territories of New Guinea and Papua—matters which should be of interest to the “Pacific Islands Monthly” and its readers. There fore, Mr. Editor, why do you not pay us a visit? You would find plenty to write about, and many of us here would like to have a chat with you. We can talk well enough, and we have a lot of things to talk about, believe me—but when it comes to writing, we are not so ~ood. That is your job, anyway. We thought the “PIM” editor or his repre sentative would have been along this way as soon as the war was over. Don’t depend on half-baked reports—come and see for yourself.

I am, etc.,

“Fed-Up Planter.”

P. Moresby, 20/12/45.

Editorial Note.—Thanks for the invi tation; but the plain fact is that the Editor of the “PIM” is regarded by the gentlemen in authority in Australia as a dangerous person, and he is not allowed to visit the Australian Territories. Per mission to go was sought soon after Japan surrendered, and was refused. The application was renewed a few weeks ago.

Mr. Eddie Ward himself replied that he could see no good and sufficient rea son why Mr. Robson should visit his domains at the present time, and he, therefore, refused to issue a travel per mit. He added, graciously, that if Mr.

Robson would renew his application in

six months’ time, the matter would again be considered.

Therefore, it is unlikely that the “PIM” representative will visit the Territories in 1946; but we shall visit the Territories many, many times after Minister Ward, and the quaint Socialistic structure he has erected in the Territories, have been consigned to the limbo of forgotten poli ticians.