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New Public Service Association for Papua-New Guinea But Papuan Assn. Continues to Represent Majority of Papuan Officials

Prom a Special Correspondent „ .. POHT MORESBY, Ju ne 2 0 Association of Papua-New Guinea.” a new organisation which aims to repre v?SL a i n ™ em . be . rs , of the present Pro visional Administration. Already the PcT^hUc'ho? lB^^ 011 clashed with the clltion d 3PUan PUWIC S€rviCe ASSO ‘ ciation. . At a preliminary meeting in May an interim committee was elected to draft a constitution and initiate proceedings.

Mr. W. C. Groves, Director of Education. was elected president, and other mem bers of the committee include Miss W.

Edwards, Mr. L. Odgers (former secre tary of the New Guinea Public Service Association), Mr. W. Watkins, of the Crown Law Department, Mr. Cottrell Dormer, Director of Agriculture, and Mr.

J. Irvine. - In June a meeting was held to examine the draft constitution. Prior to this meeting the Papuan Public Service Asso ciation circularised members of the ser vice as follows:-

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ciation of Papua-New Guinea’ has been formed or is .n the process being

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Territory of Papua' is still i„ existence y It has a record of successful enfavour on behalf of its members and to-day is as strong, virile and active as " ever was in its long, honourable hisory. You are now eligible and invfted to Jom * To enable newcomers to join, the Constitution 88001 * 41011 bad amended lts

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is finally established. If they revert to independent Administrations, Y the oW organisation will resume. If a composite administration becomes permanent it is ?. oped the newly formed organisaif t the nucleus o£ Termanent Association.

At the June meeting only one speaker expressed opposition to the formation of new , organisation, but in all only half , a dozen Papuans attended. The speaker was Mr. K. Chester who sugjested that the new organisation was anti-Papuan in tone and was fostering already noticeable antipathy between th ? two branches of the service He Pointed out that there were no Papuans on the provisional committee.

Speakers in reply stated that the origlnal meet ing had been open to all public servants, all of whom had been notifiedand that only one former member of the Papuan Service had attended constitution was r

and possible amendment

new Ss^tio^atf‘are:^ 0 ° f

*-■ To uphold, preserve and protect the rights and privileges of its mem bers and generally to safeguard their interests. ■ To negotiate agreements with any legally constituted authority having control over the members of the Asso ciation with a view to procuring for them improved rates of pay, living, and working conditions. ■ To secure preference for its mem bers in relation to appointments or pro motions in the service.