Some Pertinent Questions At Brief

No Fireworks, But Plenty of Interest

P-Ng Legislative Council Meeting

From Judy Tudor, in Port Moresby No fireworks marked the opening of the March meeting of the Papua-New Guinea Legislative Council. This perhaps, was because of the absence of Treasurer Harold Reeve, who has a reputation for sitting up nights thinking of measures for stirring up his fellow Territorians.

OTHER absentees were Mr. A. A.

Roberts, Director of Native Affairs, on leave; and Mr. R.

Bunting, nominated member, whose plane was delayed.

He arrived on the second day of the sitting.

Only $64 question on the agenda was the fate of the five related

native labour bills, which is dealt with elsewhere.

The debate “on adjournment” during the first afternoon of the session lacked the fire and brim stone of the last meeting in Sep tember, 1957 although several members touched on the recent Pacific Islands Regiment shenanigin.

Mr. lan Downs, elected member for New Guinea mainland, described it as a case of the Army having “saved 54 faces but not its own”.

Few Territorians disagree on that one.

Mr. Downs had other things to say about the Administration of justice in the Territory and suggested that it was often on the side of the person with the biggest financial resources.

There were frequently two purposes of administrators in the Territory, he said —firstly to carry out their duties, but secondly to increase their own powers. In addition, two administration instru mentalities sometimes found them selves with conflicting interests and between them the court found itself powerless to convict—with very bad results, particularly for the native people.

"Cannot Understand"

Papuans firmly believed that during the recent PIR troubles, a large number of native soldiers did invade the court room. They can not understand why four of these were convicted and sentenced while 54 were discharged. (Native member, Mahuru Rarua Rarua, later spoke in support of Mr.

Downs on this matter).

Referring to the Anderson case, Mr. Downs said that a European officer who was able to employ learned counsel in Australia and appeal to the High Court had his 18 months sentence reduced to six weeks.

However no appeal had been made on behalf of a native police sergeant who had been involved in the same case, was convicted and was now serving his full sentence.

It was the duty of someone to take some measure to appeal on behalf of the sergeant and have his sentence reduced. The time for an

appeal had passed, but there some other machinery that be employed.

In reply, Secretary of W. Watkins, said that Mr. II was misinformed; what he sai*j completely fallacious and in of his past magisterial experierr should know that accused always provided with a defen he could not pay for it, and was particularly so in the caE natives.

The matter of the sergeant been fully investigated by ’ highest tribunal and it was sidered that justice had been i an appeal was not justified..

Mystery of Missing 3,71

No one bothered to put; Downs’ mind at rest over his; problem—the alleged 3,716 ■ that the Department of Agricr livestock stations should have in excess of their present acfe! ledged 2,879.

The Department has nine stock stations, employing Europeans and 460 natives fo annual pay check of £50,000. i the period under review, 1,857 < have been imported. Over year period, it is calculated b;< Downs’ experts that the na increase should have broughi total up to over £6,500.

Taking into consideration and losses, present stock fiE

(Continued on page 141)

that there are 3,716 animals mnted for, and Mr. Downs— lot of other people—are left surne that they have been tered—and that, at the price >orting cattle to this territory, mighty expensive meat, i if the experts are only half said Mr. Downs, that leaves cattle missing. He suggested t of a recognised expert to on the future conduct of the is —and to close some of them if necessary. fin a day or two it was clear Hr. lan Downs was going to e the only sensations in the t meeting.

'■> he said “damned” during —and was instructed by the mt to moderate his language,

i he incautiously remarked

iany top level Public Servants mly too happy to see P-NG led up—until they retired. brought down the wrath of lair (in public) and a lot of xed reaction (in private)

from some of the top public servants. This time, it was said, lan really had gone too far.

He probably realised this himself and, after some obviously quick thinking, made the necessary, and probably quite sincere, withdrawal.

Now only the memory remains.

The incident occurred during the discussion on the Public Service Bill —the fate of which was sealed from the outset, having been intro duced by a private member, Mr.

Downs himself.

He sought to have an amendment made to the Public Service Ordinance whereby public servants of over 20 years’ service could obtain agricultural land. Mr.

Downs’ argument was that in this way New Guinea would retain the services of men who have devoted their best years to the Territory’s service but who have, on retirement, no alternative but to go to Aus tralia with which country they have lost contact.

Under existing legislation public servants are prohibited from own ing land other than house sites; or possessing shares in any local company.

Many public servants have pressed for an amendment to the land clause, but many others, especially in the higher positions, are in opposition to the idea, holding that such a practice would be detrimental to the public service as a whole—in that few men could successfully serve two masters; and confusing to the natives, who would find it almost impossible to differentiate between the in dividual’s two functions—that of public servant and that of private landowner.

Debate on the proposed amend ment showed surprising variation of opinion—some members repre senting private interests were for the amendment: more were against it. Some mission representatives approved; others did not. Mr. J.

K. McCarthy, alone amongst the official members, gave some luke warm approval. Most refrained from voicing an opinion.

During these free expressions of views, Mr. Downs had the doubtful pleasure of hearing himself quoted against himself. The Bishop of New Guinea, the Rt. Rev. P. N. W Strong, reminded him that at the last meeting he (Downs) had told the Council that “power tends to corrupt”. The Bishop thought that if public servants were also land holders they might find themselves corrupted by power.

Whatever the merits and de merits of the proposition, it appears that all that public servants can look forward to in the way of land acquisition is the measure of relief provided at present—that within a few years of retirement (even up to five) they may make application for leave to acquire land.