Mr. Ward's "Disappointed People"

Unrest in NG Public Service

Letter to the Editor

1 SHOULD like to add my views to those of your Public Servant which were published in the June issue of “PIM.”

I belong to the Papuan Public Service Association, and not the new organisa • tion which has recently been formed. But, to my mind, that is immaterial. The aims of both associations are the same.

As far as the Papuan Public Service is concerned, unrest has dated from Oc tober, 1945, when, as a body, we com plained to Canberra on living condi tions (we were then quartered in the old Native Police barracks); appointments without regard for seniority of old officers and cost of living.

Little was done, however, and a general

protest meeting was called in August, 1946, by our President and the President of the NG Association to discuss what might be done to bring about re dress for those three grievances. This was the famous meeting at which the Administrator made an unscheduled appearance and was forced, therefore, to listen to some rather plain speaking.

The appointments referred to were that of Dr. J. Gunther as Director of Public Health; a Mr. Young as an adminis trative officer of the Department of Public Health; Sgt-Instructor J. S. Grimshaw of the South Australian police, as Super intendent of Police in the Provisional Territory; and Mr. J. R. Black, as As sistant Director of District Services.

VITE had nothing against these gentle- TT men personally. Mr. Grimshaw, for example, had an outstanding war record in the Middle East, but his only tropical experience was with the Provost Corps in New Guinea. The job of Superintendent of Police in the Territory has little relation to that of a Superin tendent in Australia.

But Mr. Grimshaw now replaces Mr.

S. Elliott Smith, a man with an equally fine war record, a former Papuan Magis trate with a vast experience of natives and native police, and one whose courage, integrity and high organising ability won him the respect of natives and Euro peans alike, both during and after the war. Elliott Smith has now resigned and is in Australia. Mr. W. Prior, formerly an Inspector of Police in the TNG ser vice, has also resigned. The reason given for Mr. Grimshaw’s appointment is that it would save friction between men of the Papuan and New Guinea services.

Mr. J. R. Black was an obscure officer in the TNG services; but suddenly he was attributed with great tropical experi ence and administrative ability, and was appointed Assistant Director of District Services. As Public Servants, we cannot understand why, and we naturally re sent it.

THE position, at present, is as chaotic as it was six months ago.

At present we do not know under what Public Service Regulations we are working, although as far back as De cember, 1945, Mr. Halligan, the Secretary to the Department of External Terri tories, told us that the Public Service Ordinance and Regulations would be ready in a few weeks.

Before the war. Papuan public servants enjoyed what was known as long leave— -6 months for every 6 years of service. For nearly 12 months the Association en deavoured to find out from the Minister if this pre-war privilege is still ours— without result.

All appointments to the Provisional Ad ministration are “acting,” and this “act ing” has now spread over a period of 18 months. Some months ago, reclassifica tion officers visited the Territory, but we do not yet know their findings. Officers, therefore, are uncertain of the future, un settled in mind and, as a result, their work is affected. Resignations have been numer ous and, so far, Canberra has not been able to attract many men of class to the Service.

In January, 1946, a protest was made to the Prime Minister concerning the ex orbitant prices being charged for com mqdities in the Territory. A Price Con trol Officer was subsequently appointed, but the result, as far as the cost of living is concerned, has been nil.

IN February, 1947, another protest was sent to the PM, this time pointing out that External Territories Min ister Ward had not honoured his pro mises to the public servants of the Pro visional Administration. The Prime Min ister forwarded the protests to the Min ister against whom the protests were made. The results were again nil, as far as redress was concerned.

However, Mr. Ward did so far break down as to challenge the public servants in question to tell him how he had broken his promises. The public servants did just that, ana without delay—but Mr.

Ward failed to reply.

In view of these things it is hard to see upon what Mr. Ward bases his asser tion that public servant unrest exists oniv in the minds of certain disappointed people—although in most respects I sup pose we could ail come within the “dis

appointed” category.

In a sentence, our trouble is that we nave no higher authority to whom we ;an appeal for redress and that, as a lefranchised minority, we have not the veapon of the vote, either.

I am, etc..

Murray Man.

3 ort Moresby.’ fuly 1, 1947.

Mr. Peter Griffin, of the Burns, Philp taff, who disappeared in New Ireland dien the Japanese invaded early in 1942 I now presumed to be dead. It is nought that he went down when a nson-ship was sunk in February, 1944.

Rev. Father Tremblay, a well-known outh Seas missionary, whose head uarters for many years have been in .aapai, Tonga, is at present on a visit ) Sydney.