P-NG Legislative Cd: "Government-Sponsored

Debating Society”

Committee to Report on Set-Up for 1954 Elections

SOMETIME between now and No vember 10, 1954, the life of the present—and first Legislative Council of Papua and New Guinea will end and be followed by election and nomination of unofficial mem bers.

Before the recent session of Council ended on November 23, a select committee was appointed to review the composition of the pre sent council and to make recom mendations as to how the next Council could be improved in its composition and functions. The Select Committee consists of Mr. D.

Barrett, Father J. Dwyer, Mr. Ivan Champion, Mr. C. M. Jacobsen and Mr. A. A. Roberts. (Three un official members and two official).

Their report is to be placed be fore the Administrator by the end of January, 1954.

Composition of the Legislative Council, both before and after its formation, received wide criticism mainly because of its preponderance of official members who, almost without exception, introduce all the

legislation and force it through the Council. Provision is made in the ordinance which sets up the Coun cil for legislation to be introduced by un-official members; but this is rarely attempted.

Nonetheless, public opinion appears to be that they have re ceived better value from the Coun cil than was expected at the time of its inception.

Through elected and nominated members, whose role is that of a permanent Opposition, the public can at least let its voice be heard

and pertinent questions can be asked of heads of departments.

And, instead of being governed by decrees and regulations, legislation is now introduced and given a pub lic airing through the Council.

One of the severest critics of the set-up within the Council is elected Member for Papua, Mr. E, A. James.

At the November session he said that they appeared to just tinker with legislation, and that he was concerned at the number of Ordin ances which had been disallowed by the Governor-General, or from which his assent had been with held. He was also concerned about the high percentage of Bills brought down to amend legislation previ ously passed by the Council.

“More and more as time goes on,” he said, “I regret to say that I am

convinced that the role of the non official member of this Council is not that of a legislator, but merely a critic of pre-determined Admin istration policy. In fact I am forced to the conclusion that non official members of the Council as at present constituted, cannot achieve, on behalf of the Territory, any more than they could as mem bers of a Government-supported debating society. I can think of no amendment of legislation proposed by a non-official member of this Council, other than of a very minor nature, accepted by the Govern ment, or, if it was accepted, not disallowed by the Minister.”

Mr. James agreed with other Members, however, that until such time as the Territory could pay for governing itself there had to be a Government majority—although he thought the proportions of the pre sent representation seriously re stricted debates and therefore the conclusions of the Council. . H e thought there should be an increase in elected members—he, personally, had been seriously em barrassed at times as the sole elected representative of the Euro pean population of Papua,

Next Meeting

November session ended on the 23rd. The next meeting will take place early next year, at a date yet to be fixed.

ff Mr. H. H. Hickling, a prominent Administrative official in the Cook Islands territory, is reported to be suffering a severe illness, and has gone to Suva for special treatment. in connection with the annual Cession Day celebrations In Fiji, Mr.

R A. Derrick, curator ol the Suva Museum, prepared an interesting

display of Fiji historical documents and Fiji artifacts during October The display was viewed by many hundreds of interested visitors n r> v? , of Customs, Suva ff has accepted a transfer to a similar nosit?on in

Cyprus. He jomedttfe F?UCustoms

in 1934