P-Ng Should

Think Again!

If New Guinea decides it can’t afford to hold the Third South Pacific Games then it probably deserves never to hold them at all.

If New Guinea, with a Budget more generous by far than that of any other South Pacific terri tory, backed by one of the most prosperous nations of the Pacific basin, can’t do in 1969 what New Caledonia is doing in 1966 and what Fiji did in 1963, then it’s a pretty poor outlook for South Pacific sport.

New Guinea’s present situation is ignominous. The territory gave notice of its intention to seek the 1969 Games as early as 1963.

Its eleventh hour reversal is merely the result of a domestic political wrangle which should never have been allowed to involve consideration of the Games. Gov ernment leaders in the House of Assembly’s Budget session used the cost of the Games as a political stick with which to beat over the heads elected members who attacked the territory’s Budget.

The Government said in effect: “If you think we are not spending our money wisely, then you needn’t expect we’ll find the cash for any South Pacific Games!”

The harrowing picture of costs painted by the Administration was an exaggeration, which did not take account of the many facilities, including accommodation, which in the normal course of events will be available in Port Moresby by 1969. It panicked the members into a hasty decision.

Why should the P-NG budget have to meet the bill on its own?

Can’t the Commonwealth be ex pected to lend a hand with a prestige event like this? Of course it can.

The Assembly debate was not only lopsided in view of the serious shortage of real facts, it was quite unnecessary.

It's made New Guinea look ridiculous. And more faces will be red before the situation is re solved, as it will have to be, by the Assembly reversing its decision.—THE EDITOR.