The Territory

Of Papua And New Guinea

This comprises the Austra lian Territory of Papua, and the Trust Territory of New Guinea, which includes New Britain, New Ireland, Manus, Buka and Bougainville in the Solomons, and about 600 lesser islands. Together they occupy an area of about 183,000 square miles, and they are administered jointly from Port Moresby in Papua.

They are governed by a House of Assembly of 64 members, of whom 54 were elected this year in the first common-roll election in the Territory’s history. There are also 10 appointed members who are departmental heads.

Ordinances passed by the House of Assembly do not be come law until assented to by the Administrator or, in some cases, the Governor-General of Australia.

There is some criticism, from both European and New Guinean sources, about the system whereby departmental heads are required to sit in legislative judgment on criticism affecting their own standards of administration.

It is felt that these posts should be abolished, or at least filled by people whose views could be expected to be more objective when departmental matters are under discussion.

This is not a criticism of the individuals concerned but of the general principle involved.

In the House of Assembly itself, very little has yet appeared in the way of cohesive national thinking, either among the white mem bers or the New Guineans, who still reflect the extreme fragmentation of the country, which has more than 500 dif ferent languages— not dialects.

Several very able and dedicated New Guinean members are making their mark but there is no sign as yet of the emergence of a national leader.

The People

Population of the Territory totals a little more than two million people, of whom about

H million live in the Trust Territory, and about 28,000 are European. Racial types vary greatly from district to district, as do customs and languages.

Their relationship with Euro pean settlers is generally first class, although some resent ment based on colour-con sciousness and economic dif ferences is evident in some of the major centres, notably Port Moresby and Rabaul.

Between 40 and 50 per cent, of the people of. the Trust Territory live in the Highlands and it is here that the major plans for economic develop ment of the country are being concentrated. The Administra tion envisages a population “explosion” in the Highlands within the next 10 years, and other sources foresee popula tion centres of up to one million people in the area within 20 years.

The people, particularly in the Highlands, are capable when instructed, industrious, and intelligent. They are re sponding well to education and there is every indication that their modern culture will be one based on their pleasing personality, Australian standards of health and hygiene, and a universal English language.

There may, however, be another six or seven years be fore this culture starts to take form and it will be important in the intervening period to retain the goodwill of the people.