P-Ng Control Put Off For

Another Three Years

Reasons for the postponement of the date for bringing the whole Papua-New Guinea under control —new target in end of 1963 —has \en put down to “unexpected difficulties” and the desire not to acrifice sound and prudent action for the sake of a plan” according a Ministerial announcement from Canberra on September 1.

The first plan for bringing the whole of the Territory under control is announced in 1956, and the target date then set was end of 1959. ; the time that this plan was announced, there was some Criticism the target in the Territory on the grounds that there was no point leaving some bolder areas unconsolidated in order to push on into rw areas just for the sake of putting up a good show for Australia’s itics.

The new target that the Minister has announced (December 31, 63) —which will require the setting up of 18 new patrol posts—is obably a much more realistic one. But the postponement underlines e complete unwisdom of setting target dates for anything in a Tern ry of the size and primitive nature of Papua-New Guinea.

There is no real point in spreading existing P-NG facilities — com unications, personnel, health, education and other services—even ore thinly than they are at the moment, simply in order to be able tell the United Nations that, at last, Australia has done it and at every man, woman and child in the Territory is in direct line r receiving all the benefits of our style civilisation.

It is expected that in this financial year, five new patrol posts will established and 36,000 people in 5,900 square miles of country brought ider control in 1961-62, 31,800 people and 6,450 square miles of country ll be similarly benefited ; and in the following 18 months, 13,765 square miles of country and 53,000 people