Why No War-Service

Land In P-Ng?

Strong Criticism by RSL

LAE, April 10. rHERE was strong language at the Fourth Annual Congress of the RSSAILA of Papua and tfew Guinea, on the subject of government failure to assist land »ettlement, when 18 delegates from ill sections of the two Territories issembled in Lae on March 27.

The ex-servicemen feel that Can )erra, despite all its assurances and jromises, has not done its part in naking suitable land available.

State President G. K. Whittaker, >f Lae, in the chair, opened up the object when presenting his annual eport; and he was supported gener illy by delegates during the ensuing iiscussions.

Mr. Whittaker said the State executive had been pressing for war lervice land settlement, through the federal body, four times a year, lince 1950. Of several reasons ad vanced for not introducing the icheme, one was a shortage of land.

Said Mr. Whittaker: “I informed he Minister at Federal Congress in Melbourne last October) that here was no shortage of land, and hat, in fact, thousands of acres if land were lying idle in both rerritories, and had never been nade use of by the native owners.

“I recognise that this land is iwned by natives, and I feel from ny observations that the natives yould be prepared to sell it to the Government, and that the Govern nent would pay them a fair price or it.

“If war service land settlement vas established in this Territory, he natives would benefit. There ire large tracts of land which could ie set aside for this purpose in the

Varangoi Valley (New Britain),

he Markham Valley, and the Gogol falley; and I have been informed here is an area near Buin, on Jougainville; and it is my opinion hat this land would be sufficient o commence a land settlement cheme.”

Mr. Whittaker said he had asked he Minister for Territories (Mr. lasluck) for a statement on land ettlement, but had not received a eply.

He added: “It is my frank pinion, in spite of anything the dinister concerned might say, that he Australian Government is not incere in its efforts to establish rar service land settlement in this territory. This may be because here is the problem of UNO. Dur tig the last visit of the United rations delegation to this country, a February, 1953, I was assured by he leader and other members that, whether we liked it or not, the latives in this Territory would have heir independence in ten years’ ime.”

THE following were among the

resolutions submitted by

branches and carried bv the

e ‘ That State Executive ask Mr. Hasluck how he has the right to make a difference of £3/10/- between “Smoke” and “Hot air” copra, when the difference in price paid by the British Ministry of Food is only 15/-. (Rabaul.) That a copy of the District Commissioner’s reply to two Rabaul Subbranch applicants for land be forwarded to State Branch, Lae, and that the latter contact the Administrator regarding the land position and ascertain whether land is available or not. (Rabaul.) State Branch is requested to ascertain the result of an investigation into land in the Warangoi Valley, such as was indicated would be made by the Secretary for Lands in the Legislative Council. (Rabaul.)

That the Administration be asked to define more clearly the Land Policy of the Terri tory, particularly with reference to new and virgin land being opened up.

This Sub-Branch is of opinion that new areas to be opened up should be surveyed and divided into economical productive blocks, to be disposed of by application,

(Kokopo.)

This Sub-Branch gives its whole-hearted support in upholding the White Australia policy, and maintains that Chinese resi dents and those Chinese born in TNG should not be granted Australian citizen ship. (Bulolo.) That State Congress be advised that this Sub-Branch regrets no special RSSAILA representative was included in the party to meet her Majesty the Queen, and considers it an affront to the returned soldiers of this State Branch. (Kavieng.) That this Sub-Branch unanimously agrees to give strong backing to State Congress on all matters pertaining to

land settlement and war service homes In the Territory. (Lae.) That State Congress be advised that the Lae Sub-Branch views with serious disfavour the Native Liquor Ordinance

urgently S The AdminisStiom

... w r That this Sub-Branch feels that the Government of Australia has no intention whatsoever of placing a Land Settlement Scheme before ex-servicemen of this Trust Territory, and if the government is truthful, it will openly advise us, and then no further time will be lost on this question. (Rabaul.) That the State Executive be contacted, instructing them to approach the Ad-

T‘ th "A"'"* “'S

Nub-Branch in New Guinea be given representation on the local Town and District Advisory Councils, and that a State Representative be appointed to the Legislative Council. (Rabaul.)

That the Australian Government be asked to annexe the Trust Territory of New Guinea to Papua, making it wholly an Australian Territory. (Rabaul.)

Office-Bearers, 1954-5

ATE RESIDENT: G. K, Whittaker,

Vice-President, Papua; J. W. Wat

kins, Pt. Moresby.

VICE-PRESIDENT, New Guinea Islands: Smythe, Rabaul VICE-PRESIDENT, New Guinea Main land; L Ash ton, Lae.

STATE TREASURER: James Petersen, L ae

Hon. Solicitor: K. J. Tonking.

Hon. Auditor: R. Davis,

« Bishop T. J. Wade, of the Marist - MISSIOn, BOUgamVllle, has left OH a Visit to Rome. Some Weeks prevl-

OUSIy, Bishop Allblll Of the BSI,

also left OH a Visit to Rome.