Changes Suggested
p. 77 · Read in the full issue
In The P-NG Leg. Council
P. Moresby, May 12.
EUROPEAN residents of Papua and New Guinea may eventu ally have 3 elected members from each of their three el borates (Papua, New Guinea mainland and New Guinea Islands) instead of the one member from each electorate as at present.
This and other recommendations were made in a report of the Select Committee which was set up last November to inquire into the com position of future Councils, and was tabled on May 10 at the current meeting of the Legislative Council.
The report has been sent to Can berra also, but has not been dealt with because amendments must be made to the Papua and New Guinea Act before any recommendations can be accepted. At present, of course, the Australian Parliament is in pre-election recess.
The Select Committee which made the recommendation con sisted of Messrs. D. Barrett, I. F.
Champion, C. M. Jacobson, E. A.
James, A. A. Roberts and the Rev.
Father J, Dwyer.
The Committee agreed that at the present stage of native develop ment, and while the Australian Government made such substantial grants to the Territory, an official majority was necessary, but they believed that the present majority —l6 official members to 12 un official members —handicapped the effectiveness of the Council and that a majority of one would be adequate.
The Committee said the appoint ment of three nominated native members had not been altogether successful and believed that some change should be made. The Com mittee recommended that the Ad ministrator nominate such native members as he saw fit, but, in addition, an unspecified number of native observers should be appointed who would be able to take part in debates, but not have a vote. Thus, native observers would progressively be able to make a contribution to law-making and administration in the Territory, Other recommendations were that the next Council should consist of 36 members (instead of the present 29), to consist of: the Administrator, 18 officers of the Territory (official members) 9 elected non-official members, and eight non-official members nominated by the Admin istrator. In nominating the latter, the Administrator should give con sideration to persons representing the natives, Chinese-speaking re sidents, and the interests of the Christian missions.