White Domination Is "Doomed To Failure"

Papua-New Guinea must bring into its Legislative Council the elected voices of the people, who will otherwise “be forced to take unilateral action themselves”. That’s the view of Mr. lan Downs, planter and elected member for the NG Mainland in the Council. He suggests that the Legislative Council should be expanded, and contain elected native members.

xn answer to a PIM query in May, I Mr Downs explained that this is how he sees New Guinea s future: ™ntinuine “The only Australia close association Oetw e b „ ( or suc . and New G. um n e 5 a Xal non-raciai cessful and

stuck fast in prepared positions, from which they are unlikely to Downs says that reasonable people realise that “white domina- Son. and neo-Victorian paternalism by the Administration, are doomed to failure”. The situation has been acce lerated “by conflicting Govern ment policies, w^h^aje^lready opinion that

we have been forced by these policies to take a major step forward to regain the initiative, and renew the confidence of the people. To this end, I believe we must bring into the Legislative Council the elected voices of the people, who will otherwise be forced to take unilateral action themselves.”

Mr. Downs says extension of the franchise is inevitable, but what ever method is used, NG should make sure it is not used too late.

NG people are not yet ready for self-government. But there was work for all to try to make non racial democracy and a common loyalty to Australia, work. P-NG