Amended Native

[?]Ng Legislation

Amended Native Labour Laws on Way

IHE Administrator of Papua-New

Guinea (Brigadier D. M. eland) said late in August that it s expected that an amended itive Labour Ordinance would be unified to the next meeting of i Legislative Council.

Earlier in the month the annual iference of the Planters’ Associa n of New Guinea at Rabaul had jressed concern at the delay in reducing a revised Ordinance. )elegates claimed that Native airs officers were “hamstrung” by i present Ordinance. ’he conference agreed that icter policing of the present iinance was necessary, par ilarly in regard to the prosecu i of employees receiving pay in i of rations without a permit, t was said that prosecutions uld also be launched against em bers who paid money where they uld provide rations, and against ployers who, particularly in the n areas, failed to provide living ,rters. he conference re-elected Mr. D. rett president, with Messrs.

R. Wilson and W. T. Thomas vice-presidents. was stated during the talks that voting so far taken among members in New Guinea had svn an overwhelming majority in )ur of a semi-Government con board for the marketing of ra. (Papuan planters have voted nimously in favour). he Marine Superintendent of Bank Line (Captain Bullman) 1 the planters at their annual aer that it was the natural in don to continue in this trade, thermore the company was inising now to assist in future ingements with the continued >ping of copra in bulk. Bulk ling was the most economical hod of shipping and with proper ipment for stevedoring and iming it was a quicker method loading than with bags and, of ■ se, quicker discharge with grabs he other end. reights depend on turn-round, i general policy should be to Kl up loading and, with Rabaul i bottleneck at the present time, ig the port up to date with -rves sufficient to berth at least or three overseas vessels, rhe time is ripe to do this so ' after 1957 the Territory will be a good position to meet the Id’s market” he said.