Colonel Allan Brings N. Guinea Grievances Before

" An Investigation Will Be Made"

Colonel Allan Brings N. Guinea Grievances Before Australian Prime Minister

A FINE job of work has been done on behalf of the non-official residents of Papua and New Guinea by Colonel H. T. (“Blue”) Allan, well known resident of the Mandated Territory.

Acting on behalf of the war veterans of New Guinea, Colonel Allan went from Rabaul to Sydney a few weeks ago, and sought permission to attend the Returned Soldiers Conference in Canberra at the end of October, where he might present the grievances of the Territories veterans.

Permission was given, and Colonel Allan prepared his brief carefully. He was given a good hearing by the Con ference, and he placed before the Con ference, very effectively, a series of state ments wherein he outlined the handi caps, disabilities and monstrous injustices under which Europeans have suffered in the Territories under the Wardist regime, since the end of the war. The news papers gave him much attention —practically every day, a New Guinea griev ance was prominently displayed.

Owing to the popular revolt in Aus tralia against the Chifley Government’s plan to nationalise the banks, Mr. Chifley reacted sharply to Colonel Allan’s public disclosure of the plight of copra-growers in New Britain and New Ireland. Because of lack of ships and bags, the growers cannot get their copra to market. Because the Government has a monopoly of copra-buying and banking in Rabaul, the growers there could not get any advance against their unshipped copra. Colonel Allan said that if the big firms had been allowed to buy copra, or if a private bank had been operating in Rabaul instead of the Commonwealth Bank, the growers would have immediately received finan cial help, on the security of their copra.

This was an example of what a govern ment banking monopoly meant.

The Prime Minister thereupon sent for Colonel Allan, and interrogated him in the presence of what is reported to have been a resentful Mr. Ward (Minister in charge of Territories). As a result of a long interview, some reforms are likely to be made in the -administration of the Territories, and Mr. Ward is to make a special visit to the Territories at an early date—and in the course of that visit he will go to New Britain and New Ireland.

As the result of what was done by Colonel Allan and the Returned Soldiers Conference the unhappy Australian Territories received more publicity and more Governmental attention within a few hours than they had obtained in all the black years since 1942.

Canberra Resolutions In Detail

COLONEL ALLAN left for the Terri tories by plane on November 5.

Before he departed he kindly sup plied us, at our request, with the following report of proceedings at Canberra: — 1 was given a very warm welcome in Canberra by the delegates, from all the States, to this, the 32nd Annual Congress.

This was the first time that New Guinea has been represented. The following resolutions, submitted by me on behalf of New Guinea, were carried: —

Repat Benefits

rAT the Commonwealth Government be requested to make available to Returned Soldiers in New Guinea all the benefits of repatriation now avail able to ex-Service personnel in Australia, by providing regulations and machinery suited to the different conditions obtain ing in New Guinea.

Available Land

rAT the present policy of no further alienation of land in New Guinea be reviewed, to permit of returned soldiers (not former residents) becoming settled in New Guinea; and that the present system of permits to enter New Guinea be revised to allow of new ex- Service settlers entering the country.

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Timber Industry

rAT the present ban on the granting of timber leases in New Guinea be reviewed with a view to permitting returned Servicemen to take up timber country and ensure sufficient supplies of timber for:— (a) Rehabilitation of New Guinea, (b) Assisting rehabilitation and hous ing schemes for returned soldiers in Australia. (c) Conserving dollars.

Status Of Ng Branch

rE following request was submitted for discussion: “That in all future Annual Congresses of the RSS & AILA, the Mandated Territory of New Guinea Branch be entitled to represen tation as a State Branch with power to vote.”

As a result of discussion the following resolution was passed: “"That the Fed eral Executive investigate and report to next Federal Congress upon the standing of the New Guinea Branch and similar branches. The Executive shall have re gard to the membership, geographical position and disabilities which may occur as a result of these branches being con stituted as at present.”

As a result of this, New Guinea will be invited to send a delegate to all future Congresses, and matters submitted will be proposed by arrangement with any of the State delegates. In effect, we have secured representation without power to vote, and have the right to submit our application for a vote at any future Con gress.

I regard this as most important for our future, and I do not think that it much matters whether we have a vote or not.

The following matters were put on the Agenda paper for submission to Congress

but were withdrawn - by me, owing to later developments:

New Guinea Matters

rAT the present ban on investigation into any prosecution for collabora tion with the Japanese by natives be removed and that all such cases be examined and offenders brought to trial.

That the Uncontrolled Territories Ordi nance be revised to permit of opening up of new gold bearing areas by persons approved by the Administrator, and that a system of Government assistance to prospectors (as in Australia) be instituted.

That the basis of War Damage pay ments (i.e. 1942 book values) be reviewed and that all claims be paid on 1947 re placement values—this being the present basis of payment by the New Guinea Administration for War Damage claims of natives. .

That natives who have completed a twelve-months’ contract with an em ployer be permitted to sign on again if they so wish, instead of being com

pelled to return to their home areas and not permitted to work again for six months.

That the Legislative Council of the Mandated Territory be revived, and that the non-Administrative members of the Council be elected by public vote and not by nomination by the Administrator.

That the present restriction on the ownership and use of watercraft over 25 tons be removed and that returned soldiers be permitted to own and operate their own craft, irrespective of size.

That the present imposition of export duties and repayment of bounties on goods from Australia to New Guinea (rice, wheatmeal, soap, cotton goods, flour and fats) be discontinued, and that New Guinea be treated as part of Australia and not as a foreign country.

That the ban on export of baby food, unsweetened milk and cement, from Aus tralia to New Guinea, be removed.

That more frequent shipping services be provided between Australia and New Guinea to ensure continuity of supplies of food and other necessities for Euro

pean and native population and to make available materials for housing and rehabilitation.

That copra, rubber primary products be paid for by the Production Board or other Government authority on

world parity prices or, failing that in relation to the prices charged to Aus trahan consumers.

Interv Iew With Prime Minister

AS Congress proceeded, matters relating to New Guinea were ventilated and hit the headlines in the Press, and questions were asked in Parliament.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, then stated that he had instructed Mr. Ward to proceed to New Guinea including Rabaul and Kavieng to investigate complaints. 1 then received an invitation to an interview with the Prime Minister. At meeti Mr Ward and Mr Anthony wer e alsQ present i was there given the opportunity to discuss all the above matter in detail,

and to fully present New Guinea’s diffi culties to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister gave me a cour teous and attentive hearing, and assured me that all the matters submitted would have his attention and that an investi gation would be made.

In view of this I decided that it would not be politic to press these matters in Congress, until the Prime Minister had had an opportunity to take some action.

I therefore reported to Congress what had occurred and Congress approved of my decision, and allowed me to with draw the motions.