“Nothing To Be

Ashamed Of”

Concurrently with Papua- New Guinea's New Year labour explosions, the Tripartite Mission on labour matters that visited P-NG in September-October, 1960 (“PIM”, Oct., p. 18) issued a report that is a far more constructive document than those the Territory has come to expect from visiting missions.

The mission members came from Australian employer organ isations, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and the Com ma nw e alth Department of National Service. Their report came up with some shrewd observations —i ncluding the opinion that Australia had nothing to be ashamed of in P-NG; that European enterprise should be encouraged to stay there and investments made in the Territory “shall not be in peril”.

The mission believed that trade unionism should not be forced on the Territory; that the whole pattern of economic development of the Territory should be examined; that the whole wage system—and especi ally that of the Public Service —needs revising.

The report will be discussed in detail in the February issue of

“Pim”.