Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

THE recent indefinite postponement of the Northern Territory’s Legislative Council meetings because there were no stenographers available for the Han sard record recalls the early meetings of the TNG Legislative Council. Official stenographers, even approaching Han sard standard, were not to be had in Rabaul, and there was talk of omitting Hansard altogether. But what’s a Coun cil meeting without a Hansard? The local newspaper editor was given the job of organising a Hansard staff. By comb ing the staffs of the principal commercial firms he collected half-a-dozen short hand writers, who managed reasonably well —except when the Council’s orator, the late Bill Grose, warmed to his sub ject and became oblivious of the strug gling stenographers trying to keep pace with him. Such incidents were overcome, eventually, by one of the Hansard staff displaying in the speaker's line of vision a large sheet of paper with the word SLOW, in large letters, which invariably had the desired effect of lessening the speed of his oratory.

Darwin might take a leaf out of Rabaul’s book if they really do want a Council meeting there. ♦ * ♦ IN February “Talk-Talk” I made men tion of a planters’ meeting at Kokopo with Acting Minister Chambers.

Comes a letter now from the Planters and Traders Association of NG dissociating itself from my remarks, which were based on a report from a prominent planter.

But that’s OK. It isn’t the first time there has been a difference of opinion between an individual and an organisation. ♦ * * rpHAT New Guinea is to become a bone 1 of contention in the forthcoming elections, to be tossed hither and yon, appears fairly evident, judging—to cite only one instance —from the recom mendations of the Federal Rural Com mittee of the Liberal Party, which held a conference at Wagga on April 28.

The Director of the Party’s Federal Secretariat is Don Cleland, a former chairman of the PCB in New Guinea, and he is plugging for the Territory’s develop ment by private enterprise.

I’m tipping New Guinea will become one of the major issues on political plat forms, what with the Manus base, the UN Trusteeship and the NG Timber ca&e cum-commission; assuming, of course, that the sub judice ban has been lifted by election time.

Says Don Cleland, inter alia, “The pre sent government policy means stagnation and ignores the vast potentialities of the Territories.” I seem to have heard that phrase before, somewhere. ♦ * * ANYWAY, Acting Minister Chambers appears to have ironed out some of the wrinkles in the Nauru tapestry, where the chiefs wanted to petition the UN Trusteeship Council anent their grievances, which would have brought the matter into world politics.

The Acting Minister reported, after be ing away for a month around the Equator, that everything in the Nauruan garden was lovely, and no petition would be lodged now. So, temporarily at any rate, that gives External Territories one less headache.

There still remains a bit of unfinished business resulting from the riots last pollce ' boy ’ who is charged with murder. * * * SIX months ago preparations were being made up Aitape way to touch off a 3,000 ton bomb dump, and zero was said to be the beginning of 1949. I haven’t heard any sound of it. Perhaps there’s been a change of plan amongst geophysicists, strategists or some other “ists.” * * * M__, „ i 4. . .

RS. R. C. PAGE last month received from the Governor-General the insigma of a Companion of the Distinguished Service prder awarded to her late husband, Captain R. C. Page, who did such wonderful work in the Hush-hush forces with limpet bombs and such things, Bob. when he enlisted, had one ambition: To earn the same decoration in War II as had been awarded his father (Goveinment Secretary Harold Page) in War I.

He very gallantly succeeded—at the cost of his life. * * * , , , , , . , PORT Moresby s model village, of which XT we heard so much last year, still appears to be a figment of the imagination, judging from reports. Concern was recently expressed locally 'over a diphtheria scare in this particular spot, which is said to be anything but a model village. If an epidemic ever did break out in serious proportions medicos will certainly have a job on their hands enforcing quarantine restrictions now that discipline is at such a low ebb. * * * GLAMOUR and romance still cling to anything connected with Pacific Islands. Men engaged on collecting and shipping Disposals gear to Sydney lecently became head-line news. During eleven months they suffered from tropical ulcers, dengue and malaria fever; they lived off the land, eating “wild pineapples

and taros, a kind of sweet potato.” And “it’s a pretty dangerous job.”

Tut, tut! How some of the old pioneers smile when they read of present-day “hardships” as compared with 30 or 40 years ago. They arrived in Sydney on the “Mindini or the "Moresby ’ after printed fP fhp nfiwsnaners nnr did thev wish

H These are clrta^nlv

Jf- „ Tnese days - tne islands are certainly * * * 17WEN if such news is a bit off the beam.

One daily sheet had a planter from Bougainville, who complained about the accumulation of copra on the island arriving by “Mooltan.” Probably “Ma iaita,”, actually. But what’s in a name? only a few thousand tons, , OIGHT throughout New Guinea there IV is a thirst for knowledge. These people are no longer living in Para disc.” Thus, it is reported, said Mr. A.

A. Conlon, of the School of Pacific Ad ministration. True too much! New Guinea, like the Garden of Eden, loses its paradise when the fruit of knowledge j S tasted. And, like the serpent, we will persist in making the inhabitants taste it. . . in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. . . .” How very true, * * * T _, O axt . ‘ ... I>ITS AND PIECES: Arthur Weiborn XJ gave a talk oyer the 2FC network on Anzac Day. Title “The Dance Chief.” ■ • • Cuthberts Misima Goldmine corn menced production in the last week of April, treating 15 tons of ore a day, about 12£ per cent, of plant capacity. ... BP (South Seas) Co.’s net profit for year ending January 31 was £94,018, a drop of about £3,000. . . . Walter Charles (Bunny) Robertson was accidentally killed at Dreger Harbour on April 4. He was buried at Finschhafen. . . . Mrs. E. V. Crisp, of P.M., is visiting Sydney. . . . District Officer Charlie Bates, from Rabaul. is down on holidays—and well-deserved, too!