Report On New Guinea

Far-Reaching World Bank Report On New Guinea

A scheme designed to allow New Guineans to take over assets after 30 years is understood to be one of the proposals put forward in the report of the mission from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which carried out an economic survey of P-NG in 1963.

THE report was received in Canberra about June; and it was generally expected that something would be published in August.

It had been anticipated that the P-NG Treasurer would have a good deal to say, based on the report, when he presented his Budget to the new House of Assembly in Port Moresby on September 1. All he said was that the report was not yet available, although he warned that emphasis in the future would be on economic rather than social develop ment.

One section of informed opinion believes that the report criticised the Commonwealth Government’s policies in relation to social and economic development in P-NG in such strong language that the Gov ernment decided to suspend publica tion while the matter was discussed with the World Bank authorities; and that a request was made for a re writing of part of the report.

Some critics, in the past, have insisted that far too large a pro portion of Australia’s most generous grants to the Territory was spent on social development, and not nearly enough on economic development.

It is understood that World Bank experts accepted this view, and pointed out that it is foolish in view of the present drive towards early self-government to load the Admini stration structure with heavy obliga

tions in the fields of education and health, while the development of the Territory’s natural resources is not sufficient to pay for them.

Tenders closed in Canberra on October 8 for the printing of the report, which will be in about 500 book-size pages with charts and coloured maps.

Main Points It is understood that among the important points of the report is one criticising the present land tenure system in P-NG. It will suggest that native owners be allowed to lease their land for development directly to lessors (of any race) at an economic rental. A suggested lease is of 30 years, after which the owners should have the opportunity to ac quire the capital assets created on the land. Finance would be made available to them to do this.

Other points of the report are: That a Rural and Industrial Bank be established to provide finance necessary for individual projects in

P-Ng.

That a P-NG Economic Advisory Committee be established.

That Australia should provide in creased funds for further economic development, with emphasis on roads and communications and a cattle in dustry for the Markham, the Ramu and the Highlands.