P-Ng Hospitals Still A Disgrace To

Australia

[?]is And Other Matters Discussed At RSSAILA

Congress In Lae

this issue.)

IE second annual congress of the Papua-New Guinea State Branch of the RSSAILA was i at Lae, New Guinea, on Febru -16 and 17. he State President Mr. G. K. ittaker was in the chair and present were Messrs. C. Beckett, (vice-president), J. Peterson ite secretary), S. E. Pointon ite treasurer), J, V. Knight distant State secretary), and de tes from Port Moresby, Rabaul, , Bulolo, Samarai. Madang, Wau, ana, Kavieng, and Wewak sub iches. Apologies were received n vice-presidents I. Macdonald rt Moresby) and E. SmytHe haul). ;ate Congress was officially led by the Administrator of ua-New Guinea. Colonel J. K, ray. le new State Executive was ted, as follows: r. G. Whittaker. State president opposed): Mr. C. Beckett, Lae; R. Whippy, Rabaul; Mr. I.

Macdonald, Port Moresby, vice

presidents; Mr. J. V. Knight, State secretary, and Mr. S. E. Poiton, State treasurer.

President’S Report

"TURING the first day’s business, Mr.

G. K. Whittaker, president of P-NG State Branch, presented his report.

He outlined the steps that had led to the creation of a P-NG State Branch, and the financial and other obligations that this would now entail. He reported that it had been suggested that the Annual Federal Congress, which is held in each Australian State in turn, would, in 1953, be held in the Territory, at Wau.

This would mean that, among other things, accommodation would have to be found in Wau for 40 delegates and secre taries, as well as for press and radio representatives. There would also have to be provided an efficient staff for typing and Gestetner work.

Territory Defence Units

Under the heading of Defence, the pre sident said that, although the P-NG

Branch had urged upon the Common wealth Government the officering of native military units in the Territory from European residents who were already on the reserve of officers and had had at least four years’ experience in dealing with natives, this had been ignored. He understood that there had

already been some trouble with native members of the local military units.

Territory Hospitals

The president reported at some length on hospitals in the Territory, particu larly the Lae European hospital, which he described as a .“hovel.”

He said that following the public out cry last year and the adverse publicity

given Lae Hospital after the visit there of the Federal president of the RSSAILA, the Commonwealth Government agreed to spend £7 million on hospitals in the Territory over a period. It was expected that the buildings would be prefabricated overseas and erected in the Territory by imported labour.

Mr. Whittaker said that it now seemed

obvious that overseas manufacturers wc too occupied with defence preparatio at home to be interested in erecting he pitals in New Guinea, and for this a other reasons of economy, etc., the or way the Territory could hope to ha hospitals was for local contractors build them from local timber and Ai tralian building materials.

Referring to Lae Hospital, he said tl since the Federal president’s attack conditions there last year, new bat rooms and lavatories had been built a a hot water system installed, but tl the wash basins in the male sections i still old army-style galvanised iron, t hot water system led only to the kitch and labour ward, the labour ward m still only walled with sisalkraft pap the walls did not extend to the ceili and it was certainly not sound pro This, in a native country, was a d grace.

He said that Lae Hospital was built a temporary structure by the America in January, 1944, when they and < Australians were moving quickly in t Pacific campaign. But, eight years lat this and two other hospitals in t Territory were the only places where m who had fought for their country coi get treatment as repatriation patients.

He said that hospital conditions in 1 Territory were not the fault of the P-] Administration or officials, but wholly tl of the Australian Government.

General Business

During the course of the two da congress, numerous matters were discuss*

me of the more important resolutions »t arose out of discussions follow:

Secondary Education.—That Fur

;r action be taken to stimulate the ministration to go ahead with the con uction of Secondary Schools in Papua d New Guinea, and that the Wau Sub anch supports the Lae Sub-Branch’s a for secondary education with the 'gestion that the proposed High School at Wau as suggested previously. lUROPEAN HOSPITALS.—That this agress sees no prospect of the larger eme for new hospitals throughout the rritories reaching completion within a sonable time. It is accordingly moved ,t an immediate start be made on Idings which can be used later as ;lei for the final hospitals.

OLDIER PREFERENCE.—That the Lae i-Branch wishes to ascertain through te Congress if it is the general policy the Administration of Papua and New nea and the Department of External ritories to extend preference to re icd soldiers and, if so, moves that i fact be made clear in the Public vice Ordinance and Regulations.

Dvisory Councils.—That The Ad

iry Councils in the Territory of Papua New Guinea be wholly elected.

Hinese Broadcasts.—That The

imonwealth Government be asked to tisor a radio session in Cantonese over io Australia, for the enlightenment of Chinese, not only in New Guinea, but in South East Asia.

VNEXING OF NG. —Proposed that the eral Government be asked to annex Territory of New Guinea as a Terri of Australia.