The By-Passing Of Mr Hasluck

Up to the end of September, the RSL of Papua and New Guinea had re ceived 300 applications from men eager to be accepted as soldier-settlers in the Territory. Many more are expected.

The decision to provide £250,000 to finance suitable ex-servicemen into plantations and the announcement (formal, by the Administrator) that the Ad ministration would make land available to men approved under this scheme, could mark a new era in P-NG.

Both decisions—to make finance AND land available—appear to have been taken by the Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies) personally. They appear to indicate an important modification —if not a complete reversal—of the Hasluck anti- European settlement policy which has dominated New Guinea affairs since 1954-55. For this marked change, P-NG must thank the tenacious president of their RSL organisation (Mr. Bunting) and his fellow officials.

How did Mr. Bunting finally by-pass the stubborn and unsympathetic Mr.

Hasluck, and gain the goodwill and co-operation of Mr. Menzies? PIM hopes to tell the Interesting story after the November general election in Australia.

Maybe, by then, there will be a new Territories Minister; and maybe Mr.

Hasluck will have been transported to a sphere where his great—but misapplied —talents will be better appreciated.