P-NG Leg. Council Churns
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Out Bills But No One Knows if They Are Law, Says Mr. James
DURING an adjournment of the Legislative Council at its May session in Port Moresby, Mr.
E. A. James, elected member for Papua, called for an “Armistice on Lawmaking.” He said that since the Legislative Council had come into being at the end of 1951, the Council had passed over 200 ordin ances. However, he defied anyone to know which of the measures so passed had received the various assents and approvals that were necessary to make them Territory law.
He said that of the 29 Bills be fore the present session, 11 of them were devised to correct previous bills. To his mind this was the result of hasty legislation: He also begged that someone be detailed to prepare a workable in dex to the volumes of the Con solidated Laws of Papua—and the Consolidated Laws of New Guinea — which were prominently displayed in the Council Chamber. He said that occasionally he had been able to find something in these volumes but that was in spite of, rather than because of the assistance given by the index supplied at present.