Canberra

Commentary

rom our Canberra Correspondent The winds of change for -NG very nearly blew out f the ballot box on Decem er 9. [E unexpected surge in support for the Australian Labour Party it to within an ace of being the eminent —with all the changes would have meant for Australian :y in P-NG. le Government’s two-seat margin i narrow that the long-term issue ill in doubt, hether the 24th Parliament will its full term will depend on many >rs: The death or even the ill :h of a member, the ability of the Dsition to force an election, a irnment decision to bring on a election in the belief that its sects have improved, though the general policies of the jrnment and the Opposition on j are close, there are major dif ices in accent. le ALP policy provides for UN ort in developing the area, an im ate common roll, and a review le Government’s plan for a new ial system. leaders also favour develop of an “elite” to hasten the jss of self-government rather the uniform development policy hich the present Government has y 3* iw External Affairs Minister lother effect of the election on tory policy is the appointment of Attorney-General, Sir Garfield 'ick, as Minister for External rs. le drawback in the new arrange will be that Sir Garfield, like sredecessor in External Affairs, *rime Minister, Mr. Menzies, will •urdened with two major port 5. t in each portfolio he will have lid of an Assistant Minister who take over administrative detail so leave him free to devote him to policy.

Garfield had barely taken the of office before he was con ed with his first big problem— aesian threats against West New ea. t he did not come to External rs as a complete tyro. He had 1 in the portfolio during Mr.

Menzies absences abroad and ever since he had kept himself abreast of day-to-day policy developments "Niqqardliness"

Award of the CBE to the P-NG State President of the RSL, Mr. Bob Bunting, is another reminder of the Federal Government’s niggardliness in recognising the work being done by Territory citizens.

It could, of course, be argued that the knighthood which the Administrator, Sir Donald Cleland, received in last year’s Birthday Honours was an indirect tribute to his staff.

The Government occasionally pays lip service to the work being done by

Administration officers under trying conditions in lonely outposts It could easily mark its’ appreci ation—as British administrations have always done in similar circumstances —by including more Territory names in Honours Lists.

And by the same token, it could at appropriate times, recognise the part being played by Papuan and New Guinea native leaders.

The time may not yet be ripe for the first native knight, but help given to the Crown by some of the Queen’s native peoples in P-NG surely merits recognition just as much as long service by the head of a typists’ pool or charitable work by a social matron.