Norfolk Wants Its

Own Laws

Norfolk Island Council is unhappy about the Minister for Territory’s refection of its proposals for “a greater share of democracy”.

IT still thinks that Norfolk citizens should have the power to make their own laws, and have con trol of the budget.

“The time has come,” said the council at a meeting in January, “when an intelligent and responsible public can no longer be denied their basic rights.”

It said the form of government proposed by the council last year, and now rejected by the Minister, was the only form of government “that will work in harmony with the Administrator and avoid the feeling that he is not representing the wishes of the people”.

Norfolk Island Council put forward its plans for democracy after it had been elected last year.

That election was a first step in local government for Norfolk, but Canberra presumably got something of a shock when it found that Norfolk’s choice of representatives didn’t intend to take their powers quietly.

Right from the start they made it clear that the ordinance under which the council was established wasn’t nearly wide enough, and they

wanted a greater say in just aboi everything.

Apart from making their ow laws (to be approved by Commor wealth Parliament) they wanted reconstructed council of six or eigh with the Administrator as ex-offici chairman, “to operate like a mar aging director and a board ( directors”.

No Changes

Mr. Hasluck gave a lengthy repl in December.

In a nutshell, what he said ws that he expected the council t keep going as it was, and try oi the system it already had befoi peering over into green fields. I At its meeting in January, th council made it clear that it didn intend to take the Minister’s rejec tion lying down.

It requested “early replies” froi Mr. Hasluck on such questions a

these: J

Does the Minister hold with th principle that the will of the peopl is the basis of the authority of gov ernment?

(Continued on p. 142)

Does the Minister realise tl Norfolk Island had self-governmt 40 years before Australia?

Does the Minister consider t people of Norfolk Island are i primitive to produce competent re resentatives?

Norfolkers, meanwhile, are not as one with the council. There plenty of local opposition, and ev something of the old spirit mutiny.

Wrote “Mutineer”, in a letter the editor of the Administrate] weekly news-sheet in Januai “Council’s reply to the Minis! was unpardonably rude and I ca: help wondering how much long Norfolkers will tolerate such goir on.”

“Mutineer” said he wouldn’t agi with the council that there h been a lengthy economic declii “Some Norfolkers can remember t time when, as children, we we afraid to display our underwei branded ‘Gillespies’ across t seat!”