[?]Ng Ex-Servicemen Discuss Japanese Salvage

Annual Congress

And Land-Settiement

The urgent need for a strong defence base on Manus Island was xessed at the 7th Annual Congress of the Papua-New Guinea State ranch of the RSS & AILA, which met in Lae on March 23 and 24.

[E Congress, which was opened by Mr. Justice Gore, Acting Chief Justice, was attended by gates from all sub-branches ughout the Territory, and was iwed by a dinner at the Hotel 1 on March 23, and a wreath ig ceremony at the Lae War etery on March 24. i election of office-bearers for resulted in the re-election of except two of the previous ers: The new Deputy State Pre it and Vice-President, New lea Mainland, is Mr. D. Gore m, and Vice-President, New lea Islands, Mr. L. M. Henry, immendations for award of Life ibership were made on behalf tessrs. J. A. Hughes, Lae, and V. Watkins, Port Moresby.

R. F. Bunting, MLC, P-NG ! President, reported his dis ons with the Prime Minister, Menzies, on implementation of

a Land Settlement Scheme in the Territory; on Australia’s defence in the South Pacific; the protest against the admittance of a Jap anese salvage team in Rabaul; and a Constitution for Native Ex- Servicemen’s Association.

Relative to the interview with the Prime Minister, the following message was received: “Prime Minister active land settlement matter but desires time closely consider reports just received including com prehensive review position by Hasluck stop Prime Minister assures personally deeply in terested possibility development land settlement New Guinea.”

It was stated at the Congress that no aircraft whatsoever was based at Manus, a spot which was acclaimed in Southern circles as Australia’s northern bastion of de fence.

A resolution was unanimously carried that: “It is the considered opinion of this State Congress that early action should be taken by the Commonwealth Government to invite the Government of the United States of America to assist in the establishment and maintenance of a sound defence base for operations in the South Pacific, such as Manus Island.”

It is noteworthy that the majority of RSL members now settled in the Territory fought in the New Guinea campaign and are alert to the lack of defence and the vulnerability of Australia.

During the discussion about the Japanese salvage team, Congress was told that the only day-time supervision maintained was carried out by a European representative of the company conducting the salvage operations; that the Rabaul RSL had made repeated requests to the Administration through the District Office for the establishment of a liaison officer, but to date the matter had been completely ignored; that the Japanese were moving outside the town area into the jungle collecting scrap; and that several had applied for and re ceived driving licences.

It was pointed out, also, that at the time of the application for the

scrap undertaking, it was under stood that all Japanese activities would be centred on harbour salvage.

A Resolution was passed that: “This Congress considers, from a security angle, it is

urgently necessary in the best interests of all parties con cerned for the Administration to appoint a liaison officer to work with the Japanese salvage team now operating in the Rabaul area.”