Nauruans to Elect Own
pp. 97-98 · Read in the full issue
Council
A LOCAL Government Council is to be set up in Nauru and will have much the same function as a Municipal or Shire Council in Australia.
This move is designed to take the Nauruans one step nearer self government.
Since 1927 the District Chiefs have formed a Council of Chiefs to advise the Administrator on matters affecting the natives, but the new Council will supersede this Chief’s Council. The new Councillors —nine of them—will be elected by adult suffrage. The first election will be held on December 15 and voting will be compulsory.
The Council will control its own finances and have executive authority in such local matters as sanitation, road maintenance, water supply and the peace, order and well-being of the Nauruans.
Mr. A. A. Roberts, Assistant Director of District Services in Papua-New Guinea, is taking a long spell of accumulated recreation leave, and in consequence has re signed his presidency of the Public Service Association. During the balance of the Association year Mr.
G. T. Wells, who was the Senior Vice-President, will serve as Presi dent. Other temporary vacancies
on the P.S.A. Council have been filled by the election of Mr. P. H.
Clarke as a Trustee, and Mr. F.
Barber and Mr. W. Nicholas as technical officers’ representatives.
It has been proposed by Australia that the Government and BGD join forces to produce in New Guinea 10 million feet of plywood per year.