Political Apathy

Ommendations

Ored

Canberra Still Scolding P-NG About lts Political Apathy

Papua-New Guinea’s alleged political apathy has been made the use for ignoring all the recommendations proposed 2\ years ago by select committee set up to examine the functions of the P-NG pslative Council.

S seems to be the purport of le “speech from the throne” ;ad by Administrator Cleland b opening of the last meeting he Legislative Council on 27. jadier Cleland read the state on behalf of the Minister, statement said, in effect, that ; not proposed to increase the d number of representatives e Council tas the committee ecommended) until such time native population had reached state of political awareness w T ould allow them to take an ve part in Council affairs: and Europeans showed more in in Territory politics, re are three elected European ers—one for Papua mainland: r New Guinea mainland; and >r New Guinea Islands, ng is not compulsory and in ne total enrolments were 2,771 nly 750 of these cast a vote, sason for this was that in the t electorate, Papua Mainland, ting member, Mr. E. A. James, turned unopposed. ’e probably is a large re of political apathy among Drians —many of whom con a floating population which Dt stay more than a year or so Territory. In addition, there my foreign nationals: and the nns under which votes were ere sufficient to discourage all e most politically enthusiastic. ; booths exist only in the main centres. ever, the failure of the tion to vote in the propor lat was thought desirable has, ing to Canberra, proved for me that Terntorians are illy apathetic. It is an argu hat the Minister flings at the >ry with the persistence of a g wife. Even Mr. Menzies d out the same old accusation his recent visit to P-NG.

Legislative Council of P-NG, at present constituted, is, as . James has pointed out on a r of occasions, little but a d debating society. Unofficial rs are permitted to air their ices —but the official will pre it all times, and legislation by the Administration (for read, Canberra) is forced i the Chamber by the official ;y.

Territorians are, of course, well aware of this and this is the main cause of their apathy.

There are three native members in the Council at present. They are hand picked but —with the possible exception of Simogen—their con tributions to the government of the country or to debate are nil.

Simogen speaks fluently in Pidgin and what he says is frequently amusing and certainly to the point.

But Simogen’s horizon is limited to his village environment, and he can not be called, by any stretch of the imagination, a statesman. The other two native representatives contribute nothing to debate or gov ernment although they no doubt are well-meaning enough men in their own sphere.