Nc Village Councils

Planters’ Leader Gives Warm Praise

From Our Own Correspondent RABAUL, August 31 rHE establishment of the system of Village Councils, sometimes mder criticism by “old hands” in few Guinea in recent years, has [Hind a warm supporter in Mr. Don larrett, a leader of the planters of ’apua-New Guinea, and a member f the Legislative Council, i The following is a summary of a tatement made by Mr. Barrett at a scent meeting of the New Britain idvisory Council: “Since this Council last met, the funamami Village Council in the [okopo area has been opened and, t the invitation of the District tommissioner, (Mr. J. K. Mc- Carthy) I attended the opening cere tony. Through the kindness of the •istrict Commissioner I was able to idress the natives.

“Quite a lot of fears I previously itertained have been removed trough the District Commissioner’s ►resight in requesting me to address tat Council.

“I might state that at the present

time there is not a week B oes by but representatives of one or other of the Village Councils in this distr ict come to discuss their problems with me.

“Due to the close attention which the District Commissioner and his Native Affairs Officer, Mr. Orken, J“£ i "J 8 , xhe Vunamami Council has a h , wh h is on agri . 6

culture and that, I think, is what we should aim for.

“The Village Council system is to be encouraged and I should like to record my appreciation of the work which has been done in that direction by the DC and Mr. Orken.” _■ *• and Mme. R. Charon, who went to Australia from Tahiti last

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Two recent Ordinances brought into operation in Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony are entitled “To Provide for the Establishment of a Police Force Reserve” and “To Make Provision for the Preparation and Publication Of a Revised Edition Of the Laws of the Colony”.