31 Millions For Asians—But The Cold Chisel For
p. 91 · Read in the full issue
Charity-Begins-At-Home
[?]Wspartment
P Ng Public Servants
rHE idealists in Australian public life never ceases to praise the Colombo Plan—the Spender- Miceived idea that if the Western owers give lavishly of their •easure, to assist the under rivileged Asians to education and higher standard of life, Asia will ist naturally give us love and iteem in return, and will refrain om occupying our South Pacific mntries, and cutting our several iroats, when Asia’s breeding habits ive used up all the livable space . Asia.
Opinions differ. The realists nong us, knowing human nature, ive no faith in the Colombo Plan, lyway, for what it is worth, here e some details of the Plan.
The Plan was initiated in Colombo January, 1950, by Australia, mada, Ceylon, India, New Zea nd, Pakistan and Britain. Aus ilia led the way by promising 1,500,000 in capital goods and chnical help—although Australia rself is very short of those things.
Up to June 30, 1954, Australia d contributed £17,800,000 —includ-
ing 24 Diesel rail cars (£1,250,000) to India; 100 Diesel buses (£500,000), trucks and cranes (£69,000), and 310 fishing-boat engines (£420,000) to Indonesia: 190 tractors and £BO,OOO worth of ancillary equipment to Ceylon; 200 tractors and equipment (£350,000) and irrigation equipment (£2,600,000) to Pakistan; roadbuild ing plant (£150,000) to Cambodia.
And much more capital goods to other countries.
Technical help sent to Asian countries by Australia includes at least 73 Australian experts—men, for instance, to staff a Printers’ Train ing Centre in Indonesia, and a Rail way Training School in Cambodia;
and Australia is paying for the sup port and education in Australia of between 500 and 1,000 Asian students. . .
Yes—this is the same Australia which has stirred little Norfolk Island to fury by introducing new taxes there, and which has created bitter resentment throughout the Papua-New Guinea public services by “chiselling” the men and women there on allowances, after the allow ances had been recommended by the Public Service Commissioner.
If Governor Richard B. Lowe, of Eastern Samoa, accompanied by his Director of Budget and Finance (Mr. Thomas S. Smith) paid a quick visit to Washington, DC, in Janpary- February. The Government vessel Maiiu’a Tele took them to Canton Island, to connect with the air ser vice. They expected to return by the same route in late February.