Pir "In Ng

Brigadier Cleland's Statement to Legco

To Stay"

In a statement made to the

P-NG Legislative Council on

March 4, the President (Brigadier

D. M. Cleland, P-NG Adminis

trator) spoke on the matters raised by Mr. lan Downs on the

previous afternoon.

BRIGADIER CLELAND reiterated what Mr. Watkins had said in relation to the Anderson case, but dealt at some length with the PIR riots.

He said that Mr. Justice Gore had recorded the fact that as the PIR men rushed down on the temporary court house at Taurama they had shouted “What right have the Administration and the magis trates to come out to Taurama and interfere with the PIR!”

Mr. James had construed from that—and he did not blame him— that the PIR regarded themselves as sacrosanct. (Mr. E. A. James, elected member for Papua, speaking on the adjournment, had also referred to the matter).

Brigadier Cleland said that the impression had been created in the public mind that it was now a matter of Army versus Administra tion. This was far from the truth.

There was a clear recognition on the part of the Army that the

(Continued on page 139)

Administration was the respected and superior authority.

Brigadier Cleland said that since his return from leave he had spent considerable time trying to get at the root of the trouble and find a solution for the future.

He said that on the Thursday before the riot in the Taurama court, there had been an incident at Koki; on the following Saturday there had been further trouble.

Later the same afternoon, a RSM and NCO’s, not knowing of the previous trouble, had gone to Koki and were beaten up; they returned to barracks and talked about it and this resulted in the regiment moving out for further trouble on the Sunday. On the Monday came the final riot at the court.

Brigadier Cleland said that in his opinion, going to Taurama to hold court was an error of judgment on both sides, although it had been undertaken in good faith. The offenders should have been brought to court where the court usually sits and the native troops did not understand the implication of their act. It was not real defiance; they saw something they were not

stomed to and reacted accord- Brigadier Cleland’s opinion, Army authorities did not lack rol over their troops, but lacked ligence of what had happened that weekend and what the es were thinking. PIR officers inly did not run away, and rerritory resident who went to ralia and reported that they vas casting a nasty and un ved slur on the Army.

"Undeserved Slur"

icer strength of the PIR had been increased; European Dn commanders had now been iuced and five new Army rs were now taking a course 3GPA, Sydney. lad been decided also that an ' could be returned to Aus if, after a period in the ;ory, the officer commanding lered that he had not the f to deal with native troops. whole future of the period rvice of officers now serving erritory was now being recon d (present period is two ; and finally 15 of the ring s in the riot had been dis i from the service, adier Cleland said that y he would visit the PIR and as Administrator, tell in plain language their duty community.

PIR was in the Territory y and he hoped in time that )uld be built to brigade th. (See also page 131)