Elections

Two Ng Council

Almost Complete

Netherlands New Guinea a a Papua-New Guinea will inaugura new Legislative Councils in Ap\ thus bringing the move towards in dependence closer. NNG will get council for the first time-P-P will have an enlarged council, wi natives elected for the first time s AN Australian Parliamentary del gation, led by the Minister f Territories. Mr. Paul Haslui will attend opening meetings of ba councils.

Elections for the NNG Council known as the Raad—have be completed, but final results were n known when this issue of PIM we to press. Final elections on the An tralian side of the border were take place on March 18.

Sixteen of the Raad’s 28 membe are elected and 12 appointed. ; early results, three Dutchmen h: been elected, including a Holland lawyer, Dr. O. de Reike, who h been an outspoken critic of the A. ministration. He says the Gover ment is moving too slowly towar independence.

Electoral Colleges

There are 14 electorates, but only two, Hollandia and Manokwai are there direct elections. The othe use the electoral college system.

The New Guinea Raad will r place the old Council of Directoi whose members were Administrate departmental heads.

Native representation in the e: larged 37-member P-NG Legislate Council will be limited to 11—s of whom will be elected by a portio of the native population (500,0! out of 1,800,000). They also will elected by the electoral collet system.

There were no elected natives o the old Legislative Council, whie was established in 1951.

A total of 20,000 eligible Europea voters will elect directly six Eure pean members (three more than : the old Council). However, littt more than 6,000 of these bothered enrol for a vote —a fact whio brought forth the comment froc Administrator Cleland that ni many Europeans were apparent! interested in political development There are nine Europeans and K natives, standing for six Europes and six native seats.

The New Guinea Raad will ho) its inaugural meeting on April and the P-NG Council will meet o April 14.