[?]W Guinea’S

Planters Look

At The Future

By a Staff Writer

r he planting industry in Papua w Guinea has been beset by blems over its whole history— )tns, depressions, wars, fluctuating :es for crops over which planters >e no control But the problems the present beat them all, in that y are political and therefore tend undermine the economy of the ritory as a whole, and thus pro '.e a general feeling of insecurity.

HE various producer organisations of P-NG have each tried to do lething to —as it were —stop the It is obvious that general lack confidence devalues all property I the efforts of the organisations r e therefore been two-fold: To try get some sort of guarantee from Commonwealth Government that npensation will be available to nters if sudden nationalism ;ulfs the Territories—in the way sngulfed such places as the Congo; I to boost morale generally by wing planters how to see present nts in their right perspective. rhe Papuan planters’ organisation attempting the former; the nters’ Association of New Guinea i tried the latter, in a small booklet v being circulated called Three ps to Progress, which outlines the z which the association is taking the development of the Territory, tries to show its members that is too soon yet to have calamity.

"Security"

Most of the booklet is devoted to ►laining what the association has sady achieved and what it intends go on doing, not only for the nting industry, but for the com mity as a whole by pressing for :h things as roads, land surveys, ter transport, etc.

Fhe crux of the “message”, how jr, is contained in the foreword ; the president, for 1961-62, Mr.

R. Wilson. He says (in part): “I would like to touch on an issue lich is frequently with us today— -5 security of tenure in New linea’s future for those people who i not New Guinea nationals. Much s been said about this and quently an unjustified and gloomy :ture has been painted “lt is true that Australia purely

holds New Guinea in trust for the day when the Territory’s own people are able to assume the responsibilities of their destinies. It is equally true that Australian policy of late has tended towards speeding up the pro cess. In view of the large amount of Australian capital invested in New Guinea, this situation has caused some disquiet.

“As an association we would be foolish to deny the existence of dis quiet within our own ranks as well as elsewhere. But we also have no hesitation in saying that loose and pessimistic talk has largely been responsible for some of today’s trends.

“One fact is uppermost. There is always room in any country for the man who is technically trained in that country’s industries, needs and economies. Our association has a deep faith in the future of New Guinea and believes, in addition, that the future of New Guinea and of Australia are closely tied together irrespective of the political changes which may occur within New Guinea. . Proper social, political and education policies—from private enterprise as well as from Govern ment —will ensure a stable economic future.”