145 Co-Operatives
p. 114 · Read in the full issue
More Information Wanted About New Guinea
THE Australian Territories Ministe said in September that there ar now 145 native co-operative societie functioning in Papua-New Guines divided thus: copra production, 31 copra, and consumer stores, 7C stores, 19; building, 2; rice (rura progress) 19; wholesale, 4. Th Minister added: “During the tern of the present Government, th strength of the native co-operativ movement has been almost doubled.
Editorial Comment
Apart from the profession politicians of Canberra, who care what Government was in powe during the development of th Papua-New Guinea native co-opera tive movement?
All that is of interest to th average citizen is whether this is ; healthy movement, of benefit to th economy of the Territories.
Co-operative movements are h favour among the younger brigad of Socialist theorists, because the are believed to check and undermin the system of private enterprise, th bete noir of the Communists an their fellow-travellers. They wer introduced among the natives an actively assisted by the Ward-Murra Administration; and the move wa applauded by the Trusteeshi Council, which joins with the Red and their Socialist fellow-traveller in hatred of capitalists.
Canberra, in its eagerness to ge onside with the Socialists, says i has strengthened the native cc operative movement. What is mor to the point is: Is the co-operativ movement really a good thing fo the natives? It appears to be; but w have only the evidence of bureau crats and of the young planner called “co-operative officers,” whos judgment on such a matter is by n means dependable.
An independent examination of th effect of the esablishment of 14 native co-operatives would be wort having, before the Government com mits itself indefinitely to the cor siderable expense of assisting thi movement. It may be all that i claimed for it. But anything of thi character, born of the Ward-Murra regime, is necessarily suspect. Th economic side needs examination. 1 is grossly unfair that the overtaxe people of Australia should bear th cost of maintaining such an organ isation in the Territories, if it is nc self-supporting.