all C.D.C. Sales

Territorion Preference in all C.D.C. Sales Statement by Supply and Shipping Minister

From Our Canberra Correspondent

Canberra, Nov. 28.

ISLAND residents were given preference in all sales by the Commonwealth Disposals Commission in New Guinea, stated the Minister for Supply and Ship ping (Senator Ashley) who controls the CDC, in a written answer to a question to-day. , , .

He denied that, at auction sales, stocks were being sold in large quantities and added, “The Disposals Commission’s ar rangement provided for the sale in small quantities to local buyers before bulk stocks are offered to mainland buyers.

The information was supplied to Mr.

White, who wanted to know what steps were being taken to provide for the needs of returning settlers to New Guinea.

The Minister stated that prior to ar rangements being made for the current auction sales in New Guinea, the Disposals Commission took every possible precaution to ensure that the needs of the Territory and of the settlers who were not yet back in the territory should be provided for.

In the first place, he said, the Commis sion covered the requirements of the De partment of External Territories for all Governmental rehabilitation purposes.

Secondly, it had for a period of 12 months, made available to settlers, mis sionary organisations, mining companies and others in New Guinea, all such stocks as the people and the organisations con cerned desired to take over.

Thirdly, realising that a number of settlers were not yet back in New Guinea, the Commonwealth Disposals Commission arranged with the Department of Exter nal Territories for the Production Con trol Board to take over stocks of equip ment which were held by that Board for the needs of settlers who were not back on their holdings.

Settlers who came within this category, he said, should make application to the Chairman. Production Control Board, for supplies of materials from this reserve.

Finally, all settlers in New Guinea, in cluding a large number who returned by the vessel “Duntroon,” had been given every opportunity at the auctions in com petition with buyers from the mainland.

“TT is emphasised,” he added, “that the J. cost of freight from New Guinea to the Mainland is so high as to ensure that local buyers have every opportunity of purchasing in competition, as they have no freights to pay. It is not correct that even at the auction sales the stock is being sold in huge quantities, as the Commission’s arrangement provides for sale in small quantities to local buyers before bulk stocks are offered to main land buyers.

“Whilst the General Manager of the Disposals Commission was in New Guinea some three or four weeks ago, he met representatives of the Returned Soldiers’

League both at Rabaul and at Lae. In both areas the Returned Soldiers’ League expressed itself as being highly satisfied with the arrangement .which the Com mssion had made to meet the needs of local settlers.”

Editorial Note

THIS is the same old story; Ministers have been countering Territorian discontent at the activities of the

CDC in this fashion ever since the CDC went to New Guinea —that is, with a flat denial that New Guinea residents have any reason for complaint. . The only new note in the assurances of Canberra is Senator Ashley’s statement that the local branches of the RSSAILA are satis fied with the CDC.

This surprises us. The New Guinea Returned Soldiers’ League has complained bitterly in recent months of CDC methods, both publicly and in private representa tions to the Australian Prime Minister, and at the same time as the General Manager of the CDC was in Lae receiving RSSAILA approval, a “PIM” representa tive, also in Lae, was told by an official of that branch that they could get no satisfaction whatever from the CDC. One of their grounds for complaint was that Lae vehicle-park had been closed for the previous two months; and then it was announced that it had been sold outright to a Southern buyer.

We do not suggest that the Minister is

lying; but, on our knowledge of the cir cumstances, we are sure that he has had the wool very thoroughly pulled over his eyes by his official advisers.