Surplus Goods

Plan to Give Territorians Priority in Buying

riIHERE is indignation and anger among X Territorians generally concerning the way in which the bureaucrats have been disposing of large quantities of goods and equipment, taken to the Territories by the Services, and now no longer required.

Practically all Europeans who were resident in the Territories before the in vasion lost their property, wholly or in part, through direct and indirect war damage. In no case does war damage compensation represent full compensa tion.

It was expected that, as a matter of bare justice, the Territorians would have been given the fullest opportunity to buy the goods being thrown on to the market, mostly at sacrifice prices. Actually, the Australian Government has shown com plete indifference regarding the wishes and interests of Territorians. No attempt was made to arrange the sales so that Territorians could participate.

Sales of goods which would greatly have assisted rehabilitation have been going on for the last three months, while the majority of Territorians have been kept in Australia, clamouring in vain for per mission to go back to Papua and New Guinea.

Those who have now returned have found that huge quantities of goods and equipment were disposed of before they arrived. The thing can be described as one of the w° r st scandals in the history of the Territories. But Canberra does not care. The Territorians have no votes. rE sale of 900 motor vehicles to a firm of Melbourne dealers, in re cent weeks, may be cited as typical of many incidents and much muddling.

The dealers agreed to pay 38/- per vehicle, on the ground at Lae, on con dition that they got the full 900. The selling authority cheerily said “OK.”

The dealers proceeded to dismember and pack the vehicles for shipment in the SS “River Murray.”

Then it was found there were not 900 vehicles available. The dealers de manded their full quota: and the embar rassed selling authorities thereupon allowed all the vehicles which thence forward were sent in for disposal to go into that contract—many of them worth hundreds of pounds, and suitable for the work of rehabilitation in the Territory.

But they all went in at 38/- each, for the Australian market.

Canberra finally awakened to what was happening, and a Major was sent hurriedly to put an end to this haphazard and disgraceful method of disposal. He stopped it.

NOW, the New Guinea Returned Sol diers’ organisation has taken a hand, and has insisted that, in all future disposal of such goods, the re turning residents of New Guinea shall have priority.

All remaining goods are being concen trated for sale in Lae and Rabaul — mainly Rabaul —and it has been urged upon the Australian Prime Minister that they shall be disposed of through the Production Control Board, primarily to the Administration and to Territorians.

It is understood that the Prime Minister favours the plan.

Colonel H. T. Allen, a former resident of New Guinea, who recently re linquished the command of the Pacific Islands Regiment, and returned to Aus tralia, met the Returned Soldiers’ Branch

before leaving Rabaul, and was given this letter:—

Rabaul, Mch. 17, 1946.

Col. H. T. Allen.

Vice-president, New Guinea Branch, Returned Soldiers’ League,

Rabaul. New Guinea.

Dear Sir,—I have to inform you that the Branch Executive would be nlensed if. during your forthcoming visit to Aus tralia. vou will make renresentations on behalf of the Branch on the various mat ters discussed at the recent General Meeting held in Rabaul.

In narticular, it is desired that all the benefits of the Repatriation Act be ex tended to cover the Territories of New Guinea and Panua: that the return of former returned soldier residents be ex pedited- and that the Question of the disnosal of surplus Commonwealth nro nertv he discussed with the relevant authority, with a view to safeguarding the interests of our members. (Signed) A. J. GASKIN.

President, NG Branch, RSSAILA.

Colonel Allen, realising the importance to Territorians of the matters placed in his hands, lost no time in dealing with them, and already has visited Melbourne and Canberra for discussions with the relevant authorities. He has been sym nathetically and helpfully received by the various Departments.

He is particularly interested in reserv ing the remaining surplus goods for the Territorians—in his view, mainland dealers and soeculators should be kept cut until the full needs of the Adminis tration and of returning Territorians are met.

It is confidently exnected that, as a result of agreement between the Aus tralian Denartments of the Army and External Territories, the Disposals Com mission. the Provisional Government, the Production Control Board, and the Returned Soldiers’ League, a proper plan for the control and sale of the surplus goods and equipment in New Guinea will be brought into operation very shortly.