Target Dates For P-NG

"Immediate and Realistic Target Dates For P-NG

Australia is to set immediate “ and realistic” target dates for dll stages of educational economic and socml “dvancemeri by the es pamia-New Guinea. This was announced by Minister for Territories, p au i Hasluck, as a major policy measure, on June d 7.

HASLUCK’S announcement Jy| followed a statement by Prime Minister Menzies on his return an p <“ e s f d ° V^ y th united Nations Trusteeship council asking Australia to fix a step-by-step programme for native d f a ncement - his SU b S equent elaboration of statement, Mr. Hasluck was SDecific about means of political ad- V ancement but vague on the other aspects of the UN request.

P that Australia was He s v, e honouring that she had token under the UN L.narrer ®at full hut Australia’s was the responsibility S 3 the best way of reaching

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health s^ n education food supply and incomes But New Gumea people

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walk over cliffs in the d , A

Scheme Outlined

Mr. Hasluck then outlined the means by which political advance ment could be achieved and said that the Australian Government wished this to be through the exist ing Legislative Council. This had, however, been delayed by the current challenge in the Australian High f Q valld p y of the Coun j,g exlstence (see June. p.

If th(J Hlgh Court (ound tha t the Council was a validly consti -ISHe°"aid that these proposals had been made:

• Non-official membership is to be increased. • There will be direct representa tion of the large section of the native population which has for some years been operating Local Government Councils, and thus were considered reasonably familiar with the processes of government. • There would be other forms of native representation on the Council for those still living under primitive conditions. • And, finally, “increased repre sen + ation of inhabitants who qualified for admission to the normal electoral rolls”.

Minister Visits P-NG

On June 30, Mr. Hasluck made a further statement to the effect that he would, between July 10 and 15, visit P-NG centres “solely to dis cuss sugges f ions for political develop ment with representative citizens and organisations”.

(Continued on page 151)

He went on: “Proposals for the reform of the Legislative Council have been largely influenced by the 1954 report of a Select Committee of the Legislative Council and by subsequent expressions of opinion in the Council and in the Federal Parliament, “The Government has also been helped by discussions I have had on previous visits to the Territory, and the communications received from organisations and individuals.

The results of studies pf the problem were also examined in conference with the Administrator in Canberra last March.

“Before preparing further sub missions to Cabinet I wish to talk over various aspects of the situation with both European and native

representatives.”

In a statement made in Port Moresby on July 10, at the beginning of his tour, Mr. Hasluck said proposals for Legco reform were not the direct result of Holland’s actions in NNG or of the UN Trusteeship Council’s report— they were being worked out before this. He had believed for the last two or three years that natives were ready for a greater role, but he had given priority to other legisla tion that took longer than expected to pass.

The main claim over the last few years had been for more elected members of the Legco, but he had said previously that there could be no increase in European elected members until there were native elected members. He wanted in creased native membership to be effective and not a sham.

Mr. Hasluck said Legco reform has become mixed up with talk about self-government. But these reforms were merely one more step in that direction. Before any country such as P-NG could become self governing it has to see great social and economic advances.

“Social, economic and political change will only come with the help of Australians not only public servants but others.

“Good economic foundations for the self-governing Papua and New Guinea of the future demand Aus tralian investment, management and technological skill.

“The security for those who bring them here is, as I have often stressed, in building up among all the people a tradition of respect for each other’s rights and in partnership between indigenous and immigrant Territorians.

“The greatest disservice is being done today by those who, by folly or design, damage that kind of re lationship.”