P-Ng Officialdom Outvoted -

On Paper, Anyhow!

Prom a Port Moresby Correspondent Two days after the second meeting of the reconstituted Legislative Council of P-NG got going in Port Moresby on June 5, official members were outvoted for one of the few times in the history of Territory Legcos.

an amendment to the Child Welfare Bill, the voting was 19 for and 15 against.

Nine of the Council’s 11 native members present voted against the Government.

Mr. R. Slaughter, elected European member of Western Papua, intro duced the amendment during debate on the bill. He proposed that a clause dealing with the establishment of Children’s Courts should make provision for inclusion of a woman in the Courts’ membership.

The Government leader, Dr. J. T.

Gunther, opposed the amendment.

The Council President, Brigadier D.

M. Cleland, called for a voice vote and ruled in favour of the noes.

Mr. Slaughter asked for a division and the government found itself out voted easily.

The only two native members who voted with the official members were Reuben Taureka and Kibunki, of Wabag. Taureka is an Assistant Medical Practitioner, therefore a public servant and was, last Legco, an official member himself.

Kibunki is also a nominated mem ber—one of the two who represent the “less developed people” of the Territory. It would be interesting to know whether he really doesn’t want women in the Children’s Court or whether he just managed to vote that way by mistake.

The fact that the official members were defeated doesn’t mean that the Opposition gets what it wants. There is still the hurdle of Ministerial and probably Royal assent to be got over.