Australia s New Policy In N. Guinea

FOR the first time since the Territory was taken over by Australia, New Guinea has been given a clear-cut policy on which to base its administration, and—what is even more important—a Minister who gives promise that that policy will be carried iqto effect. It is a refreshing change, after 30 years of dithering and discouragement. The administrative and industrial paralysis of Wardism—which lasted five years—was bad enough; but Ward merely put the coping-stone on 25 years of Canberra indifference and neglect, for which all parties were to blame.

In the months between December and May, many, many “plans” for reform and development in Papua-New Guinea went into the hands of Mr. Spender, but he accepted none of them. He examined them in detail; he went personally and looked the Territories over; he took what he regarded as the best ideas in all the plans; and then he presented. to the Prime Minister his own skilfully woven policy.

It appears to be based on three main principles: These islands must be occupied and developed as a vital part of Australia’s external defences; they must be developed and settled by private enterprise under Government encouragement and close supervision; and the welfare and advancement of the .natives must be a primary consideration. Most Territorians will agree that that is a realistic and well-balanced concept.

SOME Territorians are critical because the Minister for Territories also is Minister for External Affairs. They sav he mav be so deenlv concerned with international relations that he will not have time to deal thoroughly with Territorial matters. That was a sound argument once—but not to-day.

To-day, the main problems of Australia’s “external affairs” are in the Pacific—they tie in closely with Alls-

tralia’s future political and economic relations with the nations of Asia and North America, which face the Pacific Ocean. Ever-y question of Australia’s future security must concern itself with Conditions in New Guinea, in which Australia must place her first line of defence. If - there is to be a clear-cut plan and efficient administration in New Guinea, New Guinea policy must be closely integrated with External Affairs policies. Australia is securing that co ordination, through Mr. Spender.

Australia, alone, cannot completely protect herself, and the European and Islands communities of the South Pacific, against Asia—she must have help, in the ultimate test, from other countries. Upon the character and degree of that help will depend the extent and quality of Australian activities in New Guinea.

These matters cannot be decided through a Territories Minister, alone; plans must be made in consultation with other im portant departments.

In other words, the over-all plans which will govern Papua-New Guinea, in the future, will be more concerned with international affairs, at first, than - with the welfare of primary industries, like planting and mining. Already, the Minister has made it clear that Australia’s interest in New Guinea is more concerned with defence than with “colonisation” (a term used by Leftists to describe the development of a new country’s resources for purpose of profit); but that, as the establishment of a strong European economy in New Guinea is essential to the defence of Australia, European settlement and industry will be officially encouraged in every reasonable way.

It seems to amount to the same thing; but it is not. If it was merely a question of developing New Guinea’s natural resources, the cry of the idealists, that the welfare of the natives should have precedence over all other considerations,

probably would be given much attention, gf Government to enter the country. The Australian Government could say that the development of Australia’s own natural resources, rather than those of Trust Territories, should be its first consideration. as the New Guinea problem is primarily a matter of building up protection for Australia, the Australian Government’s first consideration is to establish, within the great islands of New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville, conditions which will allow a defence organisation to be supplied and moved much more readily than was the case in 1942-44. In order that the financial burden of such a policy may not bear too heavily upon the Government, the Government has decided to encourage private enterprise to enter and develop the country, to make it as far as possible self-supporting, jjoWEVER, as the Minister has pointed H > o ut, such a policy is not necessarily con flict with the policy of the j. k. Murray Administration, which — rightly or wrongly—is regarded as having made the welfare of the natives its first an d almost its only thought. Mr. Spender has emphasised that, the natives will not be sacrificed to the demands of commerce an d industry, and that there is no reason w hy their physical and mental improye ment, and the raising of their living standards, should not go hand in hand with increased European settlement and the development of the Territories re sources. He reminds us, also, that—despite a ll the nonsense talked by the starry-eyed idealists of the early Wardist regime these natives generally are of a primitive type, and will need care and training over two or three generations before they aie capable of running their own affairs, after the manner of Samoa, Tonga, riji, etc. , , .

Generally, the Spender plan is good. and Territorians, with interest, will await its implementation. After all, most people can make a plan: the real test comes

when other people try to give effect to it.

The Minister has said that he will introduce local Advisory Councils, and will soon try to establish a Legislative Council. He would be wise to hurry on with that. The secret of the success in tropical administration lies in the skill with which administrators make use of local know-how and practical experience.

Every College tyro, and nearly every politician, thinks he can undertake ad ministration in a tropical region without ever having seen a native or a coconut tree; and when such gentlemen are given authority, there usually is a condition of administration paralysis—the newcomer fumbles and frets, while the old hands sit by, grimly silent.

The wise director loses no time in bringing practical knowledge to the aid of enthusiasm and academic skill; and that, above all, is what is needed in New Guinea. There is plenty of know-how available in New Guinea; but the Territorians, for so long, have taken such a hiding at the hands of political blunderers and well-intentioned bureau crats that, for years, they have been withdrawn and cynical and not very co operative.

Owing to printing-house troubles, this (June) issue of PIM has been reduced in size, and Shipping and Airways time tables do not appear. Thiey will be published as usual next month.