Pta Can Do No More In Australia

Executive Will Move North in May

A STATE of complete deadlock has been reached in the dealings of the Pacific Territories Association with the Aus tralian Government —or, more particu larly, with the Department of External

Territories.

Owing to industrial strikes in Australia and the restrictions on lighting, it was impossible to hold the quarterly meeting of the PTA on its scheduled date in December. The meeting held in Sydney on March 19, therefore, was the first for six months; but the report submitted by the executive showed clearly that in spite of its best efforts, little, if any, progress has been made in the solution of Tern torians’ problems in the past six months.

This time-lag corresponds to the period since resumption of Civil Administration in Papua-New Guinea, with its industrial chaos subsequent to the cancellation of indentured labour contracts in October, the sudden introduction of new native labour Regulations, and the shift ing of responsibility from Canberra to the Civil Administration headquarters in Port Moresby.

To date the new Administrator (Colonel j K Murray) has not recognised the existence of the PTA; but it is obvious that the work of the Association in Aus tralia, valuable as it has been during the evacuee years, is at an end and that there are now better prospects of achiev ing something from within the Territory, rather than from without.

The report presented by the executive was as follows;

Transfer of Executive to Papua

AS you are all no doubt aware, numerous permits are now being issued for return to the Territories and with the opening up of the planta tions, goldfields and commercial activities, particularly in New Guinea, your execu tive has concluded that the time is now opportune to bring into effect the new Constitution and take all necessary action to have the branch and central execu tives located in New Guinea.

It is considered that the work of the Association can be more rapidly carried out and quicker results obtained by direct representation to the Civil Administration authorities in the Territory than to the Minister and his advisers in Canberra, it is, therefore, the recommendation of your executive that the headquarters of the Association be transferred to New Guinea at the end of the present financial year, that is, on May 31, 1946.

New Guinea Trust Fund

IN the last quarterly report mention was made of the proposal, by the execu tive, for the formation of a Trust Fund for the dependants of those former New Guinea residents who lost their lives owing to the war. The executive was pre pared to undertake the preliminary work necessary and submitted the proposal to some 30 New Guinea organisations. A few replies were received which, although favouring the proposal in principle, anti cipated many legal difficulties, but in the majority of cases no acknowledgments were received. In view of this lack of support your executive has been obliged to abandon the project. This step has been taken with great regret as it was felt that a trust could have distributed available funds to the best advantage and have proved of considerable assistance to those in need.

Proposed Club

rE position in this regard, as stated in the last report, is that until some suitable location can be obtained nothing further can be done.

New Guinea Infantry Battalion

MEMBERS are no doubt aware that many natives in New Guinea were enlisted into the Armed Forces dur ing the war and continued after the Japanese surrender to act as guards for POWs in Rabaul. Acting on reports re ceived regarding the actions of these units, your executive applied to the Minister for an inquiry into the actions of the troops as they considered that to arm these natives would prove detrimental to the future of Europeans in New Guinea.

The Minister passed our request on to the Minister for the Army, and to date no action has been taken.

In this connection the following letter, dated January 20, was received from Rabaul, giving details of some of the mutinous acts of these natives: — Last Saturday, January 11, a party of NGIB boys went by truck to Kokopo and entered areas out-of-bounds. When Lieut. Dean tried to re

move them they threatened him and called him a “bloody ANGAU bastard,” etc., etc., and said that they had won the war here and elsewhere, and that the Australians always ran away, and so on.

The ADO at Kokopo, Capt. Johnson, went with Lieut. Dean to the NGIB headquarters to complain to the Officer-in-Command in the absence of Col. Allen in New Ireland, but only non-New Guinea officers were there who had no idea of dealing with the situation.

The NGIB boys surrounded their car and tried to prevent them from seeing the OC, threaten ing them with Tommy-guns, axes, bayonets, etc., and again called them various so-and-so’s. They also stole Lieut. Dean’s revolver out of the jeep.

This Saturday the performance was repeated at Kokopo, where they released NGIB prisoners and demonstrated threateningly against the ADO and officers whose lives I consider to be in grave danger unless strong action is taken.

In Rabaul, on the same nighf, the NGIB guard on the Jap prison compound left their posts with their Bren-guns, etc., and demonstrated against the OC Native Police, Major Ron Hicks, using similar bad language, threats and boasts.

They then released NGIB and other native prisoners from the calaboose.

This morning there was a conference between the GOC (General Eather), Brigdr. Graham (just arrived from Lae), the District Officer (Major Bates), and others. 1 have not heard what transpired, but I believe they are awaiting the return of Col. Allen before taking action.

This NGIB business seems to be entirely un necessary and undesirable, and I think that, in view of the happenings, it should be disbanded and that the Native Police Force should be built up to sufficient strength for police purposes and other activities not performed by the Aus tralian Garrison troops. If drastic action be not taken there will be serious trouble and possible loss of life, and general disaffection of the native population. If the Government were trying to create an “Indonesian situation” here they could not be doing better towards that end.

Dependents of Lost Residents

MANY members will remember the fight that the executive has continued to carry on since 1943 in order to ob tain just benefits for the dependants of those civilians taken prisoner in, Rabaul.

Although the Government refused to agree to our request that these men be treated as members of the Armed Forces and their dependants be given all rights as such, it has now been announced that the Government has laid down a policy

covering all the matters contained in our original proposals to the Prime Minister in May, 1943.

Native Labour

rE cancellation of native labour con tracts in Papua in October, 1945, has continued to receive attention. The Minister has been asked his policy in regard to the repayment of recruiting fees for the unexpired portion of all contracts: but to date, no finality has been reached m this regard.

As soon as word was received that it was the Intention to cancel all contracts in New Guinea as at February ?8 1946 your executive approached the Minister with a request that all possible action be taken to obviate the chaos which even tuated in Papua.

Unfortunately, our idea of chaos and that of the Minister are apparently far apart, as is shown bv his reply to our 1 o tter ‘ * Minister wrote on February 18 as follows: I have your letter of February 12, and the contents of same have been noted.

Whilst it was anticipated that certain diffi culties would be encountered in the change-over from Army to civil control, it is untrue to assert that there was a state of chaos.

The Government’s policy respecting native labour is proving by results to be giving satis faction beyond its original expectations, and there is no intention to return to the former set-up.

Yours sincerely,

E. J. Ward.

We can only hone that with the return of experienced men to the Territories, the position will gradually right itself.

Production Control Board

11TE are still continuing to press for a f ▼ Producers’ representative on the Production Control Board, hut to date our efforts have not borne fruit, and we can only hope that eventually this democratic right will be allowed bv the Labour Government.

Rehabilitation

IN July, 1945, your executive placed before the Minister certain Questions regarding the return of civilians to the Territories and requesting that they be granted passages, freight on household effects, etc., but desnite repeated requests no derision has yet been advised.

Owing to the apparent impossibility of obtaining any decisions from the Minis ter, your executive formulated a list of 13 Questions which have been submitted to four members of the Opposition parties requesting that these questions be asked in the House. It is hoped by this means to obtain at least some information as to the Government’s intention regarding the Territories of Papua and New Guinea.

The questions submitted are:— ■ What plan has the Government for develop ment of the Territories and what part will ex-residents play? ■ Will the Government hold an inquiry in an endeavour to find out the reason for dis content in the Provisional Government Public Service of Papua and New Guinea? ■ When does the Government intend to end the present Dictatorship in Port Moresby and re establish Government by Legislative Council? ■ What Is being done to repatriate the. Japanese from New Guinea and when will the Territory be cleared of them? ■ Will the Government hold an inquiry and find out why 300 whites were not evacuated from Rabaul but were left to perish when the Japanese arrived? ■ Is the Government aware that native troops have mutinied in Rabaul, and, if so, what action has been taken?

■ Is the Government aware that production of rubber in Papua has ceased, and what action are they taking in this regard? ■ Copra production in New Guinea and Papua, pre-war, was approximately 80,000 tons per year, but has now been only a few thousand tons. In view of the food shortage in Europe and Britain, cannot something be done to remedy this? ■ Are the Papua and New Guinea Territories to be amalgamated under one Administrator? ■ Where will the Capitals or Capital be? ■ What does the Government intend to do re garding the township of Rabaul? ■ What plans have the Government for con trolling native labour? ■ Is the Government aware of the tragic shipping position of the Territories both Inter-Island and Intra-Australia-New Guinea? If so, what are they doing regarding same?

It is understood that steps are being taken in Rabaul to rehabilitate those Chinese who were following pre-war voca tions, such as hairdressers, carpenters, bootmakers, etc., but we have not heard that similar action is being taken in re gard to Chinese trade stores.

Social

YOUR executive arranged for a harbour trip on March 7, 1946, as a get together for Territorians and al though the number present was less than expected a very pleasant night was spent, and we are sure that had the weather remained fine at the time of embarkation a far greater number would have attended.

Executive Changes

OWING to his return to Papua, Mr. G.

Aumuller has resigned from the executive, and Mr. A. N. Lussick, having taken up an appointment in Can berra, has also severed his connections with the executive, and as both these gentle men were representing the planting interests, your executive would be pleased to hear of other members who are pre pared to take their places.

Discussion

SEVERAL members of the Association expressed regret that the executive had been unable to proceed with the formation of a Trust Fund for the benefit of children of those Territorians who had given their lives during the war.

Mr. R. A. Laws, chairman of the meet ing, said that the PTA was still willing to do what it could to help the formation of such a fund, but they' had had to drop the whole question owing to lack of response from those bodies circularised.

Mrs. A. Bowring asked what had become of the £6,000 collected by Morobe citizens for the Wau Spitfire Fund, and still not disposed of at the time of evacuation.

She was told that this had been giyen to Mr. Chifley (then Federal Treasurer) to be used for Australia’s war effort.

Mrs. Bowring asked whether this could be refunded and used as a nucleus of a Trust Fund.

Mr. C. A. M. Adelskold replied that it was extremely unlikely.

Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Mullaly spoke with some heat on the PTA’s request for an inquiry into the alleged mutiny or “in subordination” of members of the NGIB.

He said that these troops had done a magnificent job, had saved the lives of tens of thousands of Europeans during the war years, and that the most searching inquiries should be made into the so called mutiny before the Minister was approached.

Mr. Adelskold replied that the executive was satisfied that the allegations of the member, upon which they had based their request, were well founded.

Several members indicated that the continued silence of the Custodian of Ex propriated Properties on the policy he in tends to take with regard to war damage payments, is causing them anxiety.

According to War Damage Regulations, the Custodian has first charge on ex-pro. properties; and, in many cases, one of the Big Firms has a second charge on the plantations. The Big Firms also are wait ing for a statement of policy from the Custodian before they announce their in tentions.

The executive was asked to write to the Minister and press for a statement of policy from the Custodian. It is believed that 40 per cent, of New Guinea planters owe money to both the Custodian and the Big Firms.

Mrs. N. Wilmott asked if there were any way of finding out how long it would be before certain plantations on the Gazelle Peninsula would be available to their owners. Another member stated that IS plantations on the peninsula were affected by POW camps and that an estimated half-million pounds’ worth of damage had been done in the Rabaul area since the Australian Army took over.

On behalf of members who are finding transport from Australia to Lae impos sible to obtain, it was resolved to send a telegram to the Minister for the Army asking that the “Ormiston,” scheduled to sail from Sydney to Port Moresby and Rabaul on March 26, be divered to Lae with passengers and cargo.

On the motion of Lieut.-Colonel Mullaly it was decided to ask the Gov ernment to declare a 12 months’ mora torium on Government fees, licences, rentals, etc., for all returning ex-resi dents of the Territories, in order to assist in the rehabilitation of residents.

Col. Mullaly Makes A

Protest

AT the close of the meeting Lieut.- Colonel Mullaly spoke on the desir ability of continuing to keep the Association’s dealings with the Govern ment free from political bias. He said that the reforms takijig place in New Guinea were the inevitable result of the war years, when hundreds of thousands of Australian, American and American negro troops had passed through the Territory. The natives of 1946. he said,

were far different from the natives of 1939. They would demand more—and get more. For his part, he did not mind the reforms, or the raised standard of living for the natives. The reforms would mean a guaranteed market and price for the produce of the planter something he had never had in the pre-war years—and

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with these prospects he, for one, was satisfied. He could not see that anything but harm could be done by unconstruc tive abuse of the Government or its Ministers —for example, referring to them

as “gutter-snipe politicians.”

Mr. Norman Nelson, Mr. T. Bellamy and Mr. Adelskold, all members of the execu tive, said that never on any occasion had they brought politics into their discus sions with the Australian Government, nor had they used abusive language. In all matters they had endeavoured to deal first with the Government; but, when this brought no results, in some cases they had tried to achieve something by appeal ing to Opposition members.

Mr. R. W. Robson said that Colonel Mullaly obviously was pointing his re marks in his direction.

Colonel Mullaly interjected that, frankly, he was at the policy of the “Pacific Islands Monthly.”

Mr. Robson said that he had never been in any way associated with the executive of the PTA, nor had he ever sought to influence them or their policy, which to his mind was always everything that was correct, tactful and in good taste. As far as the policy of his paper was concerned, he had waited for about two years to see whether the present Minister for External Territories would help the Territorians, and how; but when it became obvious that Territorians were butting their heads up against a brick wall of official indifference, and that the Department appeared to be going out of its way to make life a misery for the Ter ritorians, then he had attacked the Minis ter in his own way. The methods he had adopted, he felt, were those which would be understood by a politician of Mr.

Ward’s calibre. His newspaper always would attack injustice and official ineffi ciency. in whatever form it might be found.

Colonel Mullaly replied that if Mr.

Robson believed That his paper repre sented the voice of the New Guinea planter, then he should like to disillusion him. In the opinion of New Guinea planters, the criticism of the Minister published in the “Pacific Islands Monthly” did more harm to the planters’ cause than any other factor.

With a dozen private arguments pro ceeding, and several members demanding Colonel Mullaly’s reasons for believing he would have a guaranteed market for his produce under the new set-up, Mr. Laws closed the meeting.