Territorians Returning

"Ormiston" Carries Large Number to Papua and New Guinea

WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1946, may be written down as a red-letter day in the history of the Australian Terri tories of Papua and New Guinea. On that day, the Australian coastal liner “Ormiston” sailed from Sydnev for Port Moresby, Samarai, Lae and Rabaul, carry ing 160 passengers—the majority of them Territorians returning to what is left of their homes after four years of war.

It was not only the largest party of Territorians to return. The fact that they were allowed to return at all marked, to a degree, the -abandonment of the Canberra policy, under which hundreds of unhappy people have been kept idle in Australia, for many unnecessary months, while various Government in strumentalities made their own leisurely arrangements regarding the future dis position and administration of the Terri tories.

The sailing of the “Ormiston” was sur rounded by confusion that was almost incredible—yet typical of the conditions that have ruled in the Territories since they were re-occupied by the Army.

The “Ormiston” is officially a trans port, and under the control of the Ser vices. Inter-departmental squabbling in February and March deprived the Terri

toiies of shipping services. Finally, the position became so urgent that the Aus tralian Government, over the heads of the reluctant Services, insisted that the “Ormiston” be made available for pas sengers and cargo. • T’ke Departments and instrumentalities interested in and sharing control of the ‘‘Ormiston” were: Australian Army, Aus tralian Navy, the Shipping Control Board, the owners of the ship (AUSN Co.), Department of External Territories Papua-New Guinea Administration, and Burns Philp & Co., Ltd. (as being re sponsible for much of the cargo goino- to the Territories).

Among the lot of them, they staged as pretty an official dog-fight as the Sydney waterfront ever has seen.

Passengers and cargo were bound for Port Moresby, Samarai, Lae and Rabaul. The various controllers announced that the ship would go to Port Moresby and Rabaul only. As she was actually to pass through China Strait, within a couple of miles of Samarai, the Samarai interests protested angrily—and officialdom reluc tantly agreed to stop the ship at Samarai.

Many passengers and much cargo wanted to go to Lae. The Army, etc., shook its head Lae was out of the question. They would be booked to Port Moresby. But—demanded Lae people how are we to get from Port Moresby to Lae? Army, etc., apparently didn’t know —and didn’t care.

So the angry Territorians turned back to their last, hope—External Territories Minister Ward. They explained their predicament and officialdom’s ridiculous stand.

For once, their plea bore good fruit.

“Eddie” went into action in good fighting style, only three or four days before the ship was to sail. There were some very lively interchanges—and then it was an nounced that the “Ormiston” would go to Lae.

But, by then, most of the New Guinea mainland passengers had been booked to Port Moresby, and thev sailed as Port Moresby passengers. It was expected that ship’s staff and passengers would be struggling with disembarkation problems all the way to Papua.

The following is a list of the passengers:— Mr. D. S. Askew, Fileba Plantation, Kavieng.

Mr. F. H. Beighton, W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., Rabaul.

Mr. D. Colley, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., Rabaul.

(Continued on Page 53)

Mr. E. Culnane, Nantenchik Plantation, N. Ireland.

Mr. L. T. Clift, Neinduk Estate, Bainings, N. Britain.

Mr. T. G. Henderson, P.C.8., Rabaul.

Mr. A. N. Lussick, Maramakas, N. Ireland.

Mr. R. S. McKay, Choiseul Islands.

Mr. H. J. Murray, Kaviegn.

Mr. F. A. Rhoades, Soraken, Bougainville.

Mr. R. A. Robinson, Kulon.

Mrs. E. R. Austen, “Seaera,” Samarai.

Mrs. M. J. Ashbrook and one child, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. C. L. Anthony, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. J. C. V. Anderson, N. Guinea.

Master P. L. Armstrong, Rona Falls, P.

Moresby.

Mr. C. G. Buscombe, Dept, of External Territories, P. Moresby.

Mr. J. G. Braugh, District Office, Wau.

Mrs. M. S. Bock, Fort Moresby.

Mrs. A. M. and Miss M. E. Beer. Lae.

Miss J. A. Banks, P. Moresby Hospital.

Mr. E. Burchett, Public Health Dept., P.

Moresby.

Mr. F. H. G. Baskett, Kwato, Samarai.

Mr. H. Beavis and three children, Kwato, Samarai.

Mrs. G. E. Bunting and one child, Samarai.

Mr. G. A. Brinkley, P. Moresby.

Mr. S. V. Bayley, Dept, of Health, P.

Moresby. Mr. G. H. Briggs, Administration, P.

Moresby. , Miss P. E. Bailey, Control Board, P.

Moresby.

Mr. F. J. Bannigan, Lae, N. Guinea.

Mr. K. W. T. Bridge, District Services, P.

Moresby.

Mr. S. Blencowe, Koitaki Para Rubber Estate, P. Moresby.

Mr. F. N. Boisen, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Miss E. Crabtree, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mrs. K. L. Crawley and two children, Ad ministration, Sogeri, Parma.

Mr. G. R. K. Clarke, Madang, N. Guinea.

Mr. D. Campbell, Burns Philp, Ltd., Samarai.

Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Cowley and one child, Administration, P. Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Champion, Administra tion, P. Moresby.

Mr. G. M. Cadden, Port Moresby.

Mr. G. G. Clark, Bank of NSW, P.

Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. A. A. S. Cotman, Robinson River, Abau, Papua.

Mr. M. J. Clark, Lands Dept.. P. Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Champion and one child, P. Moresby.

Mr. A. J. Clarke, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. A. Coleman, Samarai.

Mr. R. F. Collins, Catholic Mission, Alixs shafen. Madang.

Mr. D. Colley, Burns Philp, Ltd., Rabaul, Mrs. J. Caldwell and one child. Adminis tration. Bogia, via Madang.

Mr. W. Conolly, John Stubbs and Sons, P. Moresby.

Mr. Clymo, P. Moresby.

Mrs. M. Dobbin, P. Glasgow, Papua.

Mrs. J. Downs and one child, Adminis tration, Lae.

Mr. C. W. Dihm, c/o Steamships Trading Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. E. J. Dyer, Dedele Estate, Abau, Papua.

Mr. L. O. Douglas, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. W. M. English, Administration, Lae.

Mrs. P. H. Fisher, Public Health Dept., Kikori, Papua.

Mr. J. R. W. Fraser, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mrs. A. Forst, Bank of NSW, Lae.

Mrs. A. G. Fleming, Lae.

Mrs. L. A. P. Ferries and three children, Public Works Dept., Lae.

Mrs. M. P. Froggatt, Administration, p.

Moresby.

Mr. M. B. Foley, Production Control Board, P. Moresby.

Mrs. M. Grahamslaw, P. Moresby.

Mr. B. Gordon, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mrs. A. L. and Miss N. M. Hall, Adminis tration, P. Moresby.

Mr. H. E. Hamilton, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. A. J. Hoile, Lae.

Mrs. B. M. Haydon, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. K. R. Hamilton, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd.. P. Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Healy and one child, P. Moresby.

Mr. J. W. Hodgekiss, District Services, P.

Moresby.

Mr. J. A. Hartwell, Rona Falls, P.

Moresby.

Mr. C. F. Haigh, Rigo, via P. Moresby.

Mr. Hutchinson, P. Moresby.

Mr. E. W. Jenyns, Lae.

Rev. F. J. L. King, P. Moresby.

Mr. H. F. Klower, Papua.

Mrs. W. M. King, Rona Falls. P. Moresby.

Mr. L. H. Knightley, Sunshine Develop ment Co., Bulolo.

Mr. E. E. Kriewaldt, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. J. A. Kelley, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mrs. E. H. Long, Dept, of Public Health, Lae.

Mrs. E. B. Lea, Power House, P. Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Lockrey and two children, Steamships Trading Co., Ltd.,

P. Moresby.

Mrs. B. Larum, P. Moresby.

Mrs. E. G. Lawson, Leaera, Samarai, Papua.

Mr. C. Lilley, Bank of NSW, Lae.

Miss J. N. Morehouse, Production Control Board, P. Moresby.

Mrs. R. M. Murphy and one child, Public Works Dept., P. Moresby.

Mr. W. A. Mossman, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. R. I. Macllwain, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. K. Minogue, Administration, P.

Moresby.

(Continued on Page 55)

Mr. R. S. McKay, Choiseul Islands Plan tation, via Rabaul.

Miss M. A. Mcß. Mackay, Kwato, Samarai.

Mr. C. C. Marr, Administration.

Mr. J. J. Maskill, c/o T. Flower, P.

Moresby.

Mr. H. J. Murray, Kavieng, N. Ireland.

Mr. N. MacAulay, c/o Government Resi dence, P. Moresby.

Miss B. M. Marks, P. Moresby Hospital.

Mr. R. Moller, John Stubbs & Sons, P.

Moresby.

Mr. E. R. McKenzie, John Stubbs & Son, P. Moresby.

Mrs. A. Niall, District Office, Wewak.

Mrs. L. M. Nolan, c/o Government Stores, P. Moresby.

Mr. W. G. Niness, N. Guinea.

Mrs. C. O. O’Neile, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. T. R. Osborne, Miverna Island, via Samarai.

Mrs. Odgers and one child, P. Moresby.

Mr. M. J. P. Pitt, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. H. T. Plant, Post Office, P. Moresby.

Mrs. T. J. Phillips, Madang.

Mr. J. Peterson, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby. Mr. W. R. A. Parker, Prod. Control Board, P. Moresby. , , „ Mr. R. G. Pick well, Public Health, P.

Moresby.

Mr. C. Parer, Lae.

Mrs J. M. Pascoe, and three children, SDA Mission, P. Moresby.

Mr. E. D. Ryan, Umuna, Misima Island.

Mr. G. T. Robins, Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. and Mrs. A. J. K. Russell, P. Glasgow, Papua. .. Mr. F. V. Reitano, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mrs. R. H. Swanson and one child, Lae.

Mr. M. Schultz, District Office, Wau.

Miss P. M. Solomons, Prod. Control Board, P. Moresby.

Mrs. N. E. Stevens and two children, Higaturu, Papua.

Mr. J. H. S. Smith, N. Guinea.

Mr. G. Saunders, P. Moresby.

Mr. H. H. Smith, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mrs. C. Turner and two children, Losuia, Trobriand Islands.

Mr. W. Tracy, Lae.

Mrs. D. A. Thomas and two children, Ad ministration, Lae.

Mr. C. C. Wood, Government Stores, P.

Moresby.

Mr. A. Whitbourne, Steamships Trading Co., Ltd., P. Moresby.

Mr. M. A. Warren, Samarai.

Mr. E. D. Wren, P. Moresby.

Mrs. M. P. Weir, General Hospital, P.

Moresby.

Mr. E. Wilson, Samarai.

Mrs. M. W. Woodman, Madang.

Mr. F. R. Young, Administration, P.

Moresby.

Mr. G. Zanrosso, Lae.