Advisory Council

Lae Now Has Advisory Council Moresby Council’s Reluctance To Assume Powers

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, March 1.

LAE now has a Town Advisory Council.

Its formation was announced in the same 'week ias the Port Moresby Council presented its first annual report.

Members of the Lae Council, all ap pointed by the Administrator are;— A. J. Bretag, Chairman; J. A. Baker, Deputj Chairman; G. Whittaker; C. Heavy; C. Beckett R. Morgan; J. A. Birrell; Mrs. F. Stewart; Mrs; J. Pollard; the Assistant District Officer, Lae the Regional Works Officer, Lae; District Medica, Officer, Lae; J. Womersley, Forest Botanist.

In many ways these councils are quaint public bodies since as they, as yet, have no statutory powers, and as there are neither income nor municipal taxes im posed in the Territory, their deliberations are not curbed by any shadow of a finan cial reckoning.

The question of its constitution and the matter of statutory authority was handec over by the Administrator to the Pori Moresby Council last year. But, at a ses sion closed to the Press, it was decidec not to seek statutory powers but to re consider the matter after the body hac been functioning 12 months.

Now the 12 months are up, the Counci is asking the Administrator for his view; on the matter, and if he wants a recom mendation from the Council itself.

When this fox-trot debate finally end: it will then be known whether the bur ghers of Port Moresby are ready to as sume municipal authority. It is possible too, that the question of whether mem bers should continue to be appointed b: the Administrator, or elected by thei. fellow citizens, may be settled, and ; Council constitution adopted.

With no Legislative Assembly and m form of participation in the governmem of the Territory, it seems logical thai municipal councils should be elected am not appointed by the Administrator. How ever, the first Council members with tin. chance to do something about this haw not rushed their opportunity. This thru the fault does not lie with the govern; ment.

It is to be hoped that the delay on thi part of the Port Moresby Council memi bers is due to reasonable caution am not to distaste for definite responsibility In this matter the decision of Pon Moresby Council may set a precedent fa contemporary councils. A limited fram chise is better than none at all, and i Territorians do not take this chance, the; will rightly lose their present privilege c protesting against government without re; presentation.

ON its first year’s record the Pom Moresby Council has a lot to it credit. ‘ It has put in some heft! and at least partially-effective protest on many important matters. Its repre sentations resulted in improved plans fo the new main wharf; it hurried the slow motion Town Plan a little farther alorr its weary road; and it put the spotlight oc the inadequacies of power and water sen vices. It sponsored an Anti-Litter cam paign which got a lot of rubbish movea out of the town, and perhaps even incu j cated a sense of pride in the appearano of the township. In a dozen differen ways the Council did a very good job. I and when it sits as an elected body, witt statutory powers, it can render an eves more useful purpose.