A Canberra Convention Will Discuss

Next January—

Australia’S Role In P-Ng

fITHE Australian Institute of X Political Science has chosen “Australia in New Guinea” as the topic for discussion at its 24th annual [Summer School, to be held over the Australia Day holiday week-end in January, 1958, at Canberra, f The Institute is a non-party [organisation, founded in 1932, to provide educational and research facilities for people interested in the study of political, economic and social problems in general, and in Australia in particular. \ The annual Summer School of the [lnstitute has been for many years one of the outstanding events in the political and intellectual life of the Commonwealth.

The scope of the School will be broad, covering both the present and future in social, political, economic and physical spheres in Papua and the Trusteeship Terri tory of New Guinea. • The first session will cover a general survey of the physical re sources, as they exist; and the pos sibilities for development of these resources. The main paper will be delivered by a geographer, followed by discussion. • The second session will tackle the problem of a plural society—in P-NG’s case, natives, Europeans and Asians. • A resume of what Australia is doing and trying to do will be the subject of the third paper. The main speaker will discuss and at tempt to evaluate the political, social and economic policies of the Aus tralian Government, and to assess Its chances of achieving success in administering this territory alone.

He will go on to discuss what is becessary in the future in the way of grants from the Commonwealth Government, research, adminis trative machinery and policy, if the task is to be carried out successfully. • The fourth paper will be closely linked with the second one, being primarily concerned with the racial question in its political form. *■ The political future of New Guinea will be discussed at this session. Is there to be independence or in tegration with Australia, or some intermediate stage? If it is to be integration with Australia—what form will this take?

' In this context the possibility of pew Guinea becoming another Aus tralian state will be discussed. • And, finally, in the fifth session :he strategic position of New Guinea m relation to Australian defence Organisation will be discussed. The ptal questiipn of the effect of Aus tialia’s having a defence outpost in

New Guinea on her relations with her Asian neighbours and with SEATO will be among the points raised.

In what light do these Asian countries regard Australia? Does this trusteeship present to them a basic contradiction in Australian thought?

The effect of the Territory’s existence on Australia’s relations with the United States and with the United Nations and visiting missions, will also be discussed at this session.

THE school should prove to be both stimulating and provoking intellectually, as well as throwing a searching light on a matter of vital importance to Australia’s future. Her position in the Pacific makes it imperative that friendly relations with Asian nations be maintained and strengthened, and

the eyes of Asia are certainlv upon New Guinea, to see what Australia does, not only what she says.—

J. Blaxland.