of Labour in P-NG (Says Labour)

How Cock-eyed Can You Get?

Liberals Have Undone Good Work of Labour in P-NG (Says Labour)

The article that follows was published in the Brisbane “Courier Mail” in late August. It is written by Jack Schmella, State secretary of the Australian Labour Party. The article follows the hysteria that has gripped certain sections of the Australian public since two patrol officers were murdered at Telefomin, NG. in November.

THE Labor Party is concerned about New Guinea, and fears that this most important terri tory is not receiving the expert ad ministrative attention and legis lative consideration it deserves. • During the Chifley Government’s lerm, Labour took enterprising and positive action designed to further the development of New Guinea.

Following that Government’s de feat, many of Labour’s projects and proposals went by the board.

This happened although they were considered by world leaders as be ing most humanitarian and pro gressive in outlook.

Under the Chifley Government’s direction there was a marked im provement.

The Administrator of Papua and New Guinea, Colonel J. K. Murray, a man of high academic and tech nical qualifications, built up a re markable record of achievement which attracted admiration and at tention throughout the world.

But he was replaced by the Menzies-Fadden Government by an Administrator whose chief claim to fame was apparently the fact that he had been a political organiser for the Liberal Party.

It should never be forgotten that

the responsibilities of governing the Territories of Papua and New Guinea are of our own choosing, and therefore we must always accept the responsibility which we have taken upon ourselves.

New Guinea is a vast, practically undeveloped island right at our front door and from the very im portant defence aspect, if from no other, it is essential that the Gov ernment should give New Guinea the attention it deserves.

THE fact that we have not fulfilled our obligations is shown by circumstances surrounding the sentencing to death of 34 natives for the murder of two Australian patrol officers in New Guinea.

These 34 natives, mentally back in the Stone Age, were sentenced to death by Mr. Justice Gore fol lowing the Telefomin trouble.

No one can in any way condone attacks on officers of the law in New Guinea but the plain fact is that these primitive natives, perhaps, would not have the slightest idea as to what their trial would be all about.

The Labour Party is opposed to capital punishment at all times. In no case is it more opposed than in circumstances such as those men tioned. (Over)

granted that the Common wealth Government has to enforce a proper respect for our laws, and ,^ e . ason ,able citizen must agree with this wholeheartedly.

But it is the Government’s re sponsibility also to ensure that the primitive men of Telefomin did not decide to kill Government officers because of any actions of Govern ment servants, because of adminis trative failure by its Ministers, or because of bias in its policies.

New Guinea committee of the Australian Labour Party has carefully considered all aspects of these tragedies, and has affirmed its belief that the causes of the tiagedies can be found in the prior history of the area. . . (It would like to know) whether certain actions or lack of appropriate action, on the part of the officers re sponsible for the area, contributed to the anger of the natives, who know so little of white men and their ways, and who have been in contact with whites for onlv a few years at most. . . J The opinion is reiterated that only by an open public inquiry will the facts of this matter be established.

The committee believes that the only way the Federal Executive Council can be properly ad vised of all the circumstances is bV holding such a public inquiry and it is not considered that reports of departmental officers will provide the complete picture.

Surely the Government, if it

possesses any humanitarianism at an, should adopt a more progres siye policy in New Guinea. Why not think about the natives and their problems for a while rather than of the enormous timber tracts, mineral deposits and possible oilfields to be oXpiOl tGu. ? •jkj * ; • From the economic aspect, New Guinea is also of great im

portance to Australia, because « tbe enormous possibilities in miner and other natural resources, and i developing the agricultural side. . Altogether, New Guinea is mo significant to Australia. Labour ful realises this, and hopes that the pn sent Government will change its ai titude and do something definite tc wards its welfare.