The P-Ng's

It’s The Heat That Brings Them Out

The VlP's Meet

From a Staff Writer in New Guinea «At the present rate” said the earnest young Territorian, “there mil he no independent European planters left in this Rahaul area (Flew guinea Islands) within five years—plantations will all he owned hy Burns Philp, Carpenters and the Chinese

don’t believe it,” snapped the VIP. He is not only a visiting politician, accompanied by a xetary, all expenses paid—he also a highly successful and respected siness man. ‘Look at the copra prices,” he itinued. “Look at the valuations ly are putting on their plantations. m should they want to get out?”

Because the conditions created the Australian Government give jm no security. Very few of their ildren are returning—they see no ;ure here.” ‘But that is nonsense —this is a tter investment than ever. What s changed for the worse?”

Fhe Territorian mentioned several itors—but especially the native lour laws. [he VIP fastened on that. Would i Territorian suggest that, in this e of anti-colonialism, the labour atract between native and Euro an should be anything more than civil contract, enforceable by the iurts?

Ihe Territorian tried to explain at most labourers, whether raw tives from the bush or sophisti ted gents from the coast, know ly one kind of law. His point was at, unless there was a depend le labour supply, maintained and iciplined under the conditions Dived in the 1920-1940 period, it s most difficult for the smaller intation properties to be worked Dnomically. An efficient, depend le labour supply became impos »le when Canberra’s bureaucrats )k the teeth out of the labour laws.

"Holy Indignation"

Ihe VIP worked up a quite holy lignation. He sounded as if he re addressing a soapbox election Uy. fhe Territorian shrugged and gave up.

There were many such incidents this Territory this month. This nter in Australia is very cold. This irritory is warm and sunny.

Various Parliamentary VlP’s, welling at the expense of the Aus alian public on the ground that ey were discussing the Terri ry’s vital problems with Terri rians, have been given VIP treat

ment —D.C. cocktail parties, con ducted tours by quietly-cursing officials, and so on—and have tried to talk to Territorians about their problems.

There is about as much chance of some VlP’s understanding the real character of P-NG s problems (adult natives with a childlike intelligence, for example, and an economy made entirely cock-eyed because more than two-thirds of the £lB millions expenditure is a free gift from Aus tralia) , as there is of the Terri torian understanding the mind of the politician.

The Territorians appeal desper ately to the smooth spoken politicians; and the politici ans give the Territorians the usual platitudes and assurances that all is well in the best of all possible Islands worlds.

In one place, where a man on the side-lines referred to the harm done to European enterprise here by the “Socialist” Minister for Territories, a VIP became very angry and said he would not allow such re flections upon his “dear old friend Mr. Hasluck”.

It is impossible to escape the con clusion that there never will be real peace, order and good govern ment (for all races) in this Terri tory until the job and the respon sibility of administration are placed entirely in competent hands. The non-official population and the Canberra - directed Administration were never further apart than they are today.

At present, administration is a halting, fumbling thing, half-baked between Canberra bureaucracy and a quite extraordinary Ministerial dictatorship.

The VlP’s are honestly trying to help. But, even if they get this country’s troubles into focus, what chance have they against Mr.

Haslu c k ’ s “Mother-knows-best” policy?

It is only a few months since Aus tralia was stirred by the native-tax shootings at Navuneram. Amons all these pleasant chats between VIP s and Territorians, I did not hear one reference to Navuneram, nor to the Chief Justice’s lengthy and signific ant report.