A Correspondent in Madang

Moresby Domination

A Correspondent in Madang Wonts None Of It

MADANG, March 9.

THE proposed amalgamation of Papua and New Guinea is still the main topic of conversation here.

It is felt that if the territories are joined the mam benefits will be felt by Papuan people. It is noteworthy that people who have lived on the Papuan side, enter the arena on the side of amalgamation whereas people who have experienced living on both sides and who, therefore, are better equipped to size up the situation, advise against any com bination. * In Madang, the general opinion is that the very different natives in the New Guinea area will be retarded attempts will be made to develop them on lines found suitable in Port Moresby.

Racially, socially and educationally they are poles apart. In many instances, due to prewar training, they are easier to handle than the sophisticated natives of Port Moresby.

From the European standpoint it is felt that people living in or close to the Papuan ports will be first to receive such benefits as furniture, refrigerators, and timber. In any case if administrative headquarters central for both territories are desired, it is unwise to select a capital in a district that is relatively small in population and area. If experiments for the whole area are to be conducted among a handful of natives it is better to select those natives from a wider sphere and cbnduct classes and government close to their local environment.

If the present set-up is any indication of what we might expect in the future then we may well shake our heads.

Under the present set-up we have seen an extremely poor shipping service, a steadily increasing cost of living that is crippling almost everyone in the islands, and an Administration which is a shadow of the pre-war competent service. As well, we see an educational system de void of teachers but talking glibly of long range planning; a salary system whereby men of one and two years’ service earn as much or more than men of over ten years’ service; and last, but not least, a pathetic brown man who is trying to dis cover what it is all about.

In trying to find out any advantages of the present combined Administration set-up, I ask everywhere: “What are the advantages of the present set-up?”

The typical Aussie reply is “Slowed if I know.”