NG’s Head

Condemned By Almost Everyone, Yet— NG’s Head Continues

As was to be expected in view of recent events, the non-official members of the Legislative Council of Papua and New Guinea had some rather biting things to say at the September Session when the Government introduced the Bill authorising the continuance of the £2 per head yearly tax on natives.

WHETHER in terms of money or in prestige, said Mr. lan Downs, no good arguments for continuing this tax can be produced.

Most of the fears of those who criticised the measure when it was first introduced have been com pletely justified. He proceeded to refer to the shooting incidents among the Tolai people who had refused to pay the tax.

Mr. Watkins (Law Officer) raised a point of order; and the President (Brigadier Cleland) ruled that there could be no reference in that debate to the subjects that were then under official enquiry at Rabaul.

Mr. Downs said that variations in the tax had caused a great deal of misunderstanding. In some cases, the rates of tax had been fixed against the advice of the Govern ment’s own experienced officers.

As much as 60 per cent, or 70 per cent, of the time of busy patrol officers had been wasted in trying to collect this tax in difficult areas.

They thus were prejudiced in their work among the natives—they were being regarded as tax collectors and not as Administrative officials.

In the light of the experience gained during the year, he urged that it would be most wise on the part of the Administration to adopt some different system.

"No Money"

Simogen, the native member, speaking in Pidgin and interpreted by Mr. J. K. McCarthy, declared that large communities in his Sepik country had no money and there fore were not able to pay this £2 per head tax.

These people, however, had given much time and labour to the con struction of roads in their district, for which they had not been paid ■~it was in that way that they dis charged their communal obligations.

They were not necessarily opposing the idea of a head tax —they simply had no money. In view of the services they had given in road building, he suggested, these people might be given a general exemption from the head tax.

Mr. Dudley Jones expressed strong opposition to the tax, which he said tended steadily to destroy whatever happy relations had existed in the past between the Administration field staff and the natives for whom they were supposed to care.

Mahuru Rarua-Rarua, native member, speaking in good English, declared that the tax was working unjustly in certain directions.

Natives who had land and could grow saleable products could pay a tax—but what was to be done with those people who had no land and no means of earning money?

They should not be asked to pay tax. In many cases the time-expired labourers who returned to their villages with a little money w6re assisting other natives to pay the taxes.

"No Hardship"

Mr. Fairfax Ross said he had seen no hardship in Papua—and it was only fair that natives who were enjoying certain increasing social amenities should be asked to pay something towards the cost of governing the country. He thought the Administration already was adopting a tolerant attitude towards natives who did not have the cash to pay the tax —each case was being treated on its merits.

Father Dwyer said he opposed the original tax proposal because the Administration had not engaged in sufficient research regarding the method of collection—and events since then justified that criticism.

He urged that tax collectors be instructed to make very clear to the natives the means by which exemption from tax could be obtained. It would be interesting to know how many Tolai people had lodged applications for tax exemp tion, and how they were advised.

Under the present arrangement the officials who had to gather the tax apparently had no authority for hearing or granting applications for exemption.

"No Public Relations"

Mr. J. K. McCarthy (who acted as Director of Native Affairs for several months recently) said that in 99 per cent, of cases the official authorised to collect the tax could also sit as a tribunal and grant exemptions; and the utmost liberality had been observed in granting exemptions.

Mr. John Hohnen said that in the majority of cases, the failure of tax collection lay in the failure of public relations. He reminded the Council that a year ago Simogen warned them that he did not object to the tax, but that he did feel that the

native communities had not been sufficiently prepared for the tax.

Later in the debate, after officials had explained the manner in which the head tax of £2 could be re duced to 10/-, or 5/- a year in certain circumstances, both Mr.

Downs and Mr. Bunting sharply criticised the methods that had been followed. Mr. Downs quoted figures, from one district as against another, to show lack of uniformity in the application of the tax laws.

“When this Bill was introduced,” said Mr. James. “I opposed it in its entirety as a damned silly and unnecessary thing—and the ex perience we have gained since then shows that we were right. I re

gard the native head tax as a catastrophe—bad in every way.

“I cannot see that it serves any useful purpose and it is likely to create bad relations between the Administration and the natives.”

"And no Teachers"

The Rev. D. E. Ure said that be cause of this head tax, villagers in many places now were unable to find the money needed to pay for the services of teachers in the village schools, and it was likely that the Methodist Mission in places would have to close schools already established. That threw upon the Administration the obliga

tion to provide schools in those villages.

He strongly urged that the head tax be reviewed in the light of on= year’s experience.

Mr. Dudley Jones remarked thal it was really not a personal tax bul an area tax, because it varied sc much in its application frorr district to district.

Mr. A. A. Roberts, Director oi Native Affairs, said the tax was nc new thing—the natives had beer paying individual annual tax for e very long time. The different rates in different districts were fixed bj the District Commissioners accord ing to local conditions.

In Committee on the Bill, Mr Downs moved to have the tas schedules altered or reduced.' His proposals received short shrift a the hands of the official majority and the Bill was passed; and the head tax continues.