It's A Three - Cornered B

The New Guinea Islands electorate —the new “outpost” electorate consisting of Manus, New Ireland and Bougainville, with a voting strength unlikely to exceed 300 —has become the stage for a political play which\ promises to turn into a first-class battle.

THE battle for the 300 votes can be traced directly to the recent formation of the United Pro gress Party the first political organisation in Papua-New Guinea.

These are the three men who have announced that they will be candidates: WILLIAM J. MEEHAN, businessman, of New Ireland, whom the UPP will endorse as its candi

Date: Peter R. K. Murray,

planter, of New Ireland, who calls himself “a straight-out inde pendent”; and PAUL E. MASON, planter, of Bougainville, who is to stand as “an anti-party inde pendent”. ... .

All three share the same beliefs and policies for the basic develop ment of the Territory, but they differ in their ideas concerning the

formation of a political party.

Mason, a war-time coastwatcher, has announced that he would not have offered himself if there had been no UPP Party. He claims he has little difference of opinion with the party’s policy, but “dislikes political parties on principle”.

He believes parties are undemo cratic and not in the interests of Papua-New Guinea. He also fears that any party control in Territory affairs would be subject to dicta tion from Port Morresby.

It is logical to believe that as far as the electors are concerned in New Guinea Islands, the vote is likely to come down to a straight choice on personalities. But what ever happens, it will be an interest ing fight.