First Steps Towards Png

Native Drinking

Following a “comprehensive report” that had been made by the Ad ministrator of Papua-New Guinea to the Department of Territories, Canberra, a long-heralded first move towards removing prohibition on Territory natives has been made.

The Administrator advised that the “time has come for this total prohibition to be changed” and recommended the appointment of a com mittee to advise him on the form and extent of the changes that should be made. The Minister for Territories agreed to this arrangement.

The names of the people who will sit on the committee will be announced in June but the Administrator, Sir Donald Cleland, said in mid-May that he would appoint a prominent Australian lawyer ex perienced in licensing, a Papua-New Guinea magistrate, a Papuan native leader, a New Guinea native leader, two representatives of Christian missions, and a woman. He had not decided whether the woman should be European or native.

Sir Donald said the committee's terms of reference had been de termined. Emphasis would be placed on the way in which the supply and sale of liquor would be controlled.

“We are going to change the law,” he said, “but there is no sug gestion that we are going to let everyone drink—we couldn’t let primitive people in restricted areas drink.”