Bill “Removes
p. 14 · Read in the full issue
Confusion"
Papua-New Guinea’s House of Assembly passed an electoral bill on June 16 designed to “remove some confusion” about the Terri tory’s first elections under a common roll last March.
After the elections, Kainantu planter Mick Casey, an unsuc cessful candidate for the South Markham Special Electorate, stated his intention of challeng ing the Electoral Ordinance be cause it was confusing in its meaning about what constituted an “absolute majority”.
At the time, some observers believed that if Mr. Casey ap pealed and was successful, and if he was followed by appeals in other electorates, the elections would have to be reheld in more than half of the 53 contested seats.
Mr. Casey, however, allowed the deadline for his appeal — June s—to pass, and the Ad ministration breathed a sigh oj relief.
Introducing the bill to amend the ordinance, the Assistant Ad ministrator, Dr. John Gunther \ said: “It is conceded that the wording of the ordinance was not as clear as it could ana should have been.”