One Less Holiday For

Territorians

DUE to an amendment proposed by Mr. B. E. Fairfax-Ross, residents of Papua and New Guinea may have one less holiday next year than they have enjoyed in 1953.

When the Public Holidays Ordin ance, 1953, was before the Legis lative Council at its May session, Mr. Fairfax-Ross objected to the inclusion of the Tuesday aftei Easter in the list of Public Holi days. He said that it was not the general practice in Australia to have this holiday and this was a gooc opportunity to withdraw it.

In support, Mr. E. A. James saic that the Tuesday after Easter was evidently a legacy from the Nev Guinea side; he could not remembe] Papua ever having had this extn holiday before the war. April this year had been disastrous fo: planters as it had contained only IS working days—five days at Easte: and Anzac Day were holidays.

Mrs. D. R. Booth said that Apri had been equally disastrous for thi mining community and that ii outports all communications shu down from the Thursday befor Easter until the following Wednes day morning.

Mr. Fairfax-Ross’ amendmen was accepted by Mr. S. Lonerga: (Government Secretary) who ha, introduced the Bill. Private member agreed that this was the first tim official members had accepted a; amendment to a measure withou any apparent reluctance.

P-NG will still retain 11 publi holidays in 1954, including one o September 15, which commemorate three historical occasions;—The an nexation of Papua by Australia 0( September 4, 1888; the landing c the Australian forces at Rabaul O' September 12, 1914; and the Sep tember 15 landing of the Aux tralians at Lae during Worl War 11.