S?wastes

Canberra

Commentary

im our Canberra Correspondent ie Norfolk Island Adminis

m is gradually catching up

its annual reports, which nly 16 months behind. many years the Administration as many years behind in its s. But recently Prime Minister es has been rapping Govern authorities for tardiness in re l to the Parliament on their es. )ctober, the Minister for Terri- Mr. Hasluck, tabled the Nor sport for 1959-60. what a report it was. Not a n fell on Norfolk without its being noted. The report barely counting the feathers, the sparrows apparently ob the eagles, for there is not a E murmurings of political un i the island. The lateness of fort has something to do with I course, because real trouble y started in the last 12 months.

National Parliament is mean regaled with these fascinating blic conveniences at the swim beaches were regularly at ’d to. ie ounce of Eucalyptus macu seed was sown. e annual job of clearing the growth, silt and other ob ’s from Kingston Creek was in February. Other storm ■ drains and culverts were regular attention, e avenue of young pines in n Elizabeth Avenue, which are ng good progress, was weeded, ences were repaired, small area was fenced in ty Row and two Norfolk Is pines planted to replace es in earlier plantings. r ty fence posts were cut . . . ie report did not mention that ind’s third biggest export— lale oil and bean seeds—was i empties (beer kegs, cylinders ms, presumably petrol drums), fact was kept for the small •les in the appendices, in the Canberra Press Gallery rfolk Island report wins the f the largest collection of the inute facts presented to Par each year.

Four matters of concern to Papua- New Guinea were dealt with in the Parliament 1865 ° £ ““ Twenty ' Third

S?wastes

a u „ Another was the five-year plan for vancement ’ 5 ° economic ad f U a . 4 , .

Both of these were introduced in the form of statements by the Min- 1St p f ° - 7 er f lto . neS ’ Mr. Hasluck, By , producing them in the crowded last week of the Parliament, Mr. Hasluck came in for criticism s' 0111 some People who felt that he thus ensured that they could not be

debated.

Some critics thought the Govern ment also sought to stifle criticism on two other matters—both of which had been the subjects of criticism of the Government by two of its own statutory bodies.

The Australian Broadcasting Com mission revealed in very guarded phrases in its annual report that it had clashed with Cabinet.

The clash occurred over the ABCs membership of the International Television Federation, known as Ini tertel.

This body proposed that its mem bers should make a series of docu mentary films dealing with matters

iternational political moment, le ABC ran into trouble when is assigned to make “Living with riant”, an examination of the lems experienced by Canada in I in the shadow of the United s. inisters felt that an objective dis- Dn of such a subject by a Gov ent instrumentality might ge Australian relationships with Jnited States. t a secondary objection was the of what might happen if the eas members of Intertel came Australia—or its Territories—to documentaries of those facets istralian life which interest other ries. ne Ministers feared that over nterest might be centred in such ds as our stewardship in New ;a or the treatment of abori ;y feared that although the Gov ;nt would be expected to pro facilities for Intertel to make ms, the treatment might not be ithetic to Australia. 5 ABC properly insisted that the nment could have no influence :ommercial organisations which come to Australia to make r films. >ointed out that if it was not a er of Intertel, the Australian :y might be filled by com il TV interests.

I it took the line that so long ABC retained its membership tertel it could hope to wield influence on Intertel policies, final matter brought up late the annual report of the than National Airlines Com ti, operators of TAA. report was not tabled until de vas complete on the contro- Airlines Bill. bill extended the Government al guarantees to Ansett-ANA further 10 years from 1962, le report contained the Com a’s criticisms of some of the which were being hotly 1 Commission complained that ationalisation agreement was ing Ansett services at the ex of TAA.

Anted out that Qantas had been a break even on the internal services, but because of the \ arrangement with Ansett, had become a losing proposi n' TAA. (See Pacific Report.) * * * aen in P-NG were catching up aen as a result of the policy

of equal opportunity in education, Territories Minister Hasluck told the House of Representatives.

For a long time, women in the Territory progressed much more slowly than men, he said.

But now the results of the educa tion policy were being seen in the emergence of women teachers, nurses and administration employees in offices.

Mr. Hasluck said that in addition to the work for the younger women, the lag had to be overtaken in the middle generation.

A good deal of work was being done with women’s clubs in the vil lages to help housewives to keep pace with the advancement of their men folk.