Territories Talk-talk

By "Tolala"

GOLDFIELDS folk will remember s.

Richardson, who did such a good job with the “Morobe News” at Wau and later at Lae. He’s got his Bowler Hat and returned to where he can smell printer’s ink again and hear the click of the lino. He has taken over the “Picton Post,” NSW, from an old co worker of earlier days on the “Lithgow Clarion.” * * * AUSTRALIAN officialdom never seems to realise that white folk have really made their homes in New Guinea, and that they are as much domiciled there as an Australian cocky is domiciled at Woop Woop.

Servicemen who enlisted in this last war, gave their home addresses in certain parts of New Britain, New Ireland, Bou gainville or Morobe, and they are en titled to be discharged there. And what of the men appointed in the field, after the Japs’ arrival? Is it right that they should be discharged in Sydney or Mel bourne? Every man who enlisted, or was appointed, in New Guinea is entitled to be repatriated to his home—now. * * * JOHNNY TWITTER, in a letter from Moresby the other day, tells me there is a shortage of bread there, amongst other things. (Plenty of staff, but no staff of life!) The Army bakery closed down at the end of February. It was known that this would happen, weeks beforehand—but nothing was teed up to meet the emergencv. * * * SKIPPER BERTIE HALL had a real birthday the other day his 67th He’s still full of beans, and says that he’s headed for China waters once again.

I said waters! * * * LATEST jungle wireless to corroborate the fantastic reports circulated some yesrs ago, when a “cargo” movement was rife in New Ireland, and the “in snired ones” used to say that all planta tion properties would revert to the natives.

Present policy indicates that the only agricultural development receiving official encouragement and assistance is that of the native inhabitant.

Incidentally, war damage compensation on real property should not be paid in cash to the owner (who, in many cases is still the Custodian of Expropriated Property); instead, a credit should be established for the estate in question, in order to bring it back to its original con dition.

Rehabilitation of the country is as important as compensation to the in dividual—always providing, of course, the interested parties are allowed to resume their domicile in the country. * * *' “117’ e ’ d never have all this blurry ? i trouble about New Guinea,” said Big Bill the other day, as he sipped his lime juice and water, “if we had a representative in the Australian Parlia ment to air our grievances and safeguard our interests.”

And I told him he had certainly got something there. “But what about taxa tion?” said I. “ ‘No representation with out taxation.’ ”

“No, you’re wrong,” said he. “ ‘No taxation without representation’ but taxation is what’s been happening up there for years. Even if it does mean an income tax to raise a member’s salary and expenses, it would nay us. Take one

instance the ‘Montevideo Maru’ busi ness; would that have been shelved the way it has if we’d had a member of our own to track down the ‘responsible parties.’ ”

“Of course,” I agreed, “without a member we have to rely on individual agitation in the press—which we can’t always get.” * * * MET one of the old pioneers from the TNG the other day, and he was as hostile as the average man from up that way.

“Last war,” he said, “there was none of this so-and-so business between the civil and military authorities. In TNG,” he explained, “we had a military admin istration for nearly seven years—Septem ber, ’l4 to May, ’21 —and yet civilians, carried on with trading and the develop ment of their plantation businesses.”

According to his opinion, the Mandate came to an abrupt end with the con quest of the Territory bv the Japs in ’42, and it was no longer a Mandated Terri tory when the Allied troops re-conquered it in ’45.

So, where are we? Manus and the PIR further complicate the “mandate” status Seems to be a nut for Dr. Evatt to crack. * * * SEEN around about the Big City re cently: Jack Allen, from AWA and Gilalum plantation: also W. R. B.

Thomas, of the same organisation. Jack Mullaly, of the PIR, a Lieut.-Colonel, is also hereabout on a few days’ leave, looking up old friends: and the Harry Murrays (Witu and Kavieng) are both to be seen at stated intervals. Others are: Ted Fulton, Hugh Moccatta, Nip Burke, Ken Douglas and Ted Jenyns.