Mr. Ward Reports To

Last Year In New

Guinea

Mr. Ward Reports To United Nations

From Our Own Correspondent

I Pt. Moresby. Feb. 1

N presenting the 1946-47 Annual Report of the Territory of New Guinea to the cv.3^ steeshl ? Council, Australia has shown exemplary promptitude, for which members of the Council expressed appre ciaxion.

The report, however, does not fully cover the questionnaire issued as a guide to Trustee nations. In a brief intro ductory apologa, Mr. Ward explains that shortage of time, the considerable diffi culties of rehabilitation, and disruption caused by the war, prevented the com pilers from complying fully with the sug gestions made in the questionnaire. . A brief statement of Australian policy in New Guinea is given in the most gen eral terms, and it closely follows Mr.

Ward’s famous second reading speech of 1945. The statement is as follows “ The cardinal points of the Govern ment's policy are the fullest possible de velopment of the Territory, and the social economic and political advancement of its inhabitants, both native and non-native The basis for the economy of the area will be native and European Industry working side by side, but with the limit of non-native expansion determined bv the welfare of the natives generally.

“The Government aims to provide full facilities for better health, better educa tion. and for an increasing participation by the natives in the wealth of their country and eventually in its govern ment.”

The Report lists three major difficulties with which the Administration has been confronted since the war:— • Shipping: Apart from the general shortage of overseas ships, the number of coastal small craft was also greatly re duced by the war. To restore an adequate coastal service, eight vessels of 100 tons each have been, or soon will be, con structed in Australia. • Native Labour: The war considerably reduced native population figures, caused the destruction of villages, and generally disturbed the equilibrium of native com munal life. Therefore,, states the Report, “even under favourable conditions it will be difficult to supply fully the native labour requirements of the Territory.” • Materials and supplies: Serious short ages have prevented large-scale rebuild ing. rE Report then claims the following achievements for the present Ad ministration: — • The re-establishment of adminis trative machinery and the resumption of contact with the native peoples. • “The rehabilitation of commercial enterprises.” • The disposal of services stores and equipment. • The provision of shipping services. • Preparation for the rebuilding of the townships and settled areas: “Although major works in this connection had not been commenced at the close of the year, extensive examinations had been carried out by town-planners and other technical officers.” • The provision of wharf facilities. • The organisation of a Public Service and the appointment of officers thereto. • The establishment of the Australian School of Pacific Administration. • Re-establishment training for natives

under the Department of Post-war Re construction’s Training Scheme. • The introduction of a new Native Labour Code.

'• The organisation of a Nutritional Survey of the inhabitants. • The appointment of an Inter-De partmental Committee to co-ordinate plans for the development of the Territory.

Trade Balance

Import and export statistics have, of course, shown an extreme deterioration compared with the position in 1940.

P 1939-40 1946-47 Exports 3.247,585 415,12o Gold exports .. 2,797,226 179,000 Imports 962.129 1,151,811