Legislative Council For Papua-New Guinea

Some Angles of Proposed Election System Still Obscure

THE Papua-New Guinea Legisla tive Council now is being formed, and may hold its first meeting in November. The Aus tralian Minister for Territories (Mr.

Hasluck) made this announcement in Moresby at the end of July.

Provision for the creation of this body was made years ago, in the Papua and New Guinea Act. It is to consist of:— The Administrator 1 Officers of the Territory .. 16 To be elected 3 To be nominated by the Administrator (3 to rep resent the Missions) ... 6 Natives to be nominated by the Administrator ... 3 Total 29 For some years, because the non official civilians were completely without representation of any kind, and without any means of appeal against bureaucratic harshness, there was urgent need of the Coun cil; but there was no Council, and no reason given by Canberra.

In the absence of any other ex planation, it was generally believed that the hold-up was due to the present Administrator insisting on

the appointment of natives to the Council, while other interests were reluctant to take this step. In his statement, Mr. Hasluck said: “One of the preliminary prob lems to be overcome was the nomin ation of the three native members; but I have received the assurance of the Administrator that it will be possible to obtain well-qualified candidates for appointment.

“It will be necessary to hold general elections to choose the three members representative of the general community. A draft Ordin ance has been prepared and discussed with the interested de partments in Australia, and will be further discussed with the Ad ministrator and officers of the Administration during my present visit.

“The principal proposals are that the Territory be divided into three electorates, namely, Papua, New Guinea mainland, and New Guinea islands. Each will return one member.

“Any qualified person who has re sided in the Territory for 12 months immediately preceding the date of election will be entitled to enrolment and the requirement for candidates will be 3 years’ residence in the Territory immediately pre ceding the date of election. Elec tions will be held every three years.

The arrangements in respect to rolls, polling and the scrutiny of the count will follow closely the model of the Commonwealth electoral laws.

“After the ordinance has been promulgated, the Administrator will fix the dates for the closing of nominations.

“The members of the Council will not be paid a salary but allowances and expenses will be authorised in

respect of time spent on the work of the Council.”

Editorial Note

IT is not clear from the statements whether there are to be any racial distinctions in relation to persons qualified to vote. Are the Europeans and the Chinese, in this respect, on an equal footing? If so, is there to be a preferential, transferable vote?

From the Minister’s choice of words, it seems that the natives, whose term of residence generally exceeds three years, will not have a vote, irrespective of their edu cational qualifications. In view of what has just happened in New

Caledonia, this should be made very clear.

What is the position of the literate Euronesian? Does he, for voting purposes, rank with the Europeans or the natives?

Quite a number of such points should be cleared up. Of course, the three elected representatives will have no power at all in a Council of 29, of which 26 are officials, or nominated by officials.

But as the three will be the only official spokesmen for the non official classes, it is desirable that they be the best three men avail able.

Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Smyth, of Apia, who have been on a visit to Australia, left Sydney on the Mono wai on August 10 to connect with the Matua, for Samoa, on August 25. Fiji and Samoa, which suffered considerably as a result of the New Zealand strikes, will again have a break in the Matua service. The ship is being withdrawn for survey on her next return and there will be no September sailing.