by-election—but
p. 14 · Read in the full issue
Another New Guinea by-election—but only just!
There's to be another by-election for a seat in the P-NG House of Assembly—the second and last, in the life of this first Assembly.
THE by-election has been made necessary by the death at Goroka on March 15 of Ugi Biritu, member for Henganofi Open elec torate, in the Eastern Highlands.
Mr. Biritu, aged about 30, a peanut farmer with no formal education, took ill while returning from the March meeting of the Assembly.
A by-election for the Assembly must be held if any member dies within three years of the date of the previous election. Mr. Biritu died only three days before the end of this period. New general elections will be held in February or March next year.
The only other by-election during the life of this Assembly followed the death last year of Mr. W. J. Bloom field, the member for Kaindi Open.
Mr. Toni Voutas won the seat.
Mr. Biritu spoke rarely in the Assembly, but occasionally made use of question time to bring local matters to the Administration’s atten tion. He was a friendly man, well liked by fellow members.
In the 1964 elections he was elected on the fourth count from five candidates. He obtained 3,925 primary votes, second to Bona Azanifa, who obtained 8,028 but lost on the preferences.
Ugi Biritu.