Many Territorians Against Amalgamation

of Papua and New Guinea

the recent meeting in Rabaul of the Planters and Traders’ Asso ciation of New Guinea, among matters discussed was that of the amalgamation of Papua and New Guinea.

In this regard, the secretary of the Association, Mr. W. R. B. Thomas, re ported as follows: — This Association is being appealed to by a majority of its members to make rep resentations to the Australian Govern ment for a separate administration for this Territory as distinct from Papua.

For your guidance in this matter the As sociation’s Committee invited the opinions of various public bodies and Missionaries.

The following is a typical expression of general opinion. In this case it is the expression of a gentleman possessed of a very thorough knowledge of the situa tion:— “I very much regret that, in response to your invitation to express the views of the Mission in regard to the advisability of separate Administration for the Ter ritory of New Guinea, I am unable to re spond, as we have not met as a Mission Committee since the request came; but I desire to express my personal views.

“I have had opportunity to visit most of the Mandated Territory areas since the joint Provisional Administration came into being, and from what I have observed, and been able to compare with the pre war methods of Administration I very de cidedly believe that unless the Mandated Territory comes under its own Adminis tration in the very near future, the dam age will be irreparable.

“Many promises have been given by apparently uninformed men to natives, and while the native has a right to ex pect fulfilment of these, it is most ap parent that it is neither possible nor desirable that they should be fulfilled in their entirety. Instead of encouraging the native to believe that it is his right to expel the white man, and consequently the Government ultimately, I believe that the native should be led to recognise that the benefits they receive in actuality are from the close nersonal contact of the white man in his capacity of Trader, Planter or Missionary, under the super vision of a government which operates for the benefit of the white and black alike, and which, through proximity, is able to give speedy and sympathetic con sideration to the needs of all. Such a Government, I believe, is impossible when it is situated at a distance, or becomes partial, or relies on the judgment of text books written by men who have had little or no personal experience in the Terri tory.

“While the Mission bodies have re ceived very helpful treatment and, where possible, every consideration, I feel I can not be blinded by this to the fact that the business section of the community is labouring under difficulties which will* if not very quickly removed, do great harm; and once exports are neglected, of necessity the prosperity of the Terri tory suffers, and like its pre-war neigh bour, it becomes a burden instead of an asset to Australia and the Empire. In the interests of the struggling plantation owners I think that a separate govern ment, providing facilities for shipment of produce, provision of necessities, and a

wise policy which will give both white and black the security they really desire under proper working conditions, such as were provided previously, is more than to be simply desired.

“I would repeat, that these are only my personal views and do not reflect the opinion of the Mission, but even in our own interests it appears to me that a local government is much to be desired so that greater co-operation can be ob tained. I desire to see a separation of the Territory of New Guinea from Papua in the interests of the community.”