P-NG's first parliament ends

with a mind of its own

Prom a Port Moresby correspondent

Papua-New Guinea’s first experiment with a popularly elected House of Assembly ended in the early hours of Novem ber 22 after a spate of valedictory oratory extending over a seven-day sitting.

If some of the oratory occasionally had a regretful tone, it was because a number of the native members were doubtful whether they would be re elected at the February elections, and the prospect of non-election was dis turbing because (a) they have enjoyed being members of the House, and (b) they will suffer loss of prestige and income if they are not re-elected.

The final session of the House began on November 13 with the elec tion of Mr. Don Barrett (West Gazelle, Special) as Chairman of Com mittees and Deputy-Speaker in place of Mr. J. K. McCarthy, who has retired as an official member.

The session was a quiet one.

The only motion to rouse members to prolonged debate was one moved by Mr. John Guise (Milne Bay, Open).

This motion, which was accepted by the Government and passed on the voices, asked the Administration to introduce appropriate legislation early in the life of the new House “to meet the looming crisis in educa tion in the territory,” In particular, the motion asked that: • There should be increased par ticipation by Christian missions and the community in the determination of education policy, and by local gov ernment councils and local com munities in education activities in their own areas. • A national system of education should be introduced to replace the present one which differentiates be tween Administration and non-Ad ministration schools.

Main legislation

The main legislation introduced during the session comprised: • Five Government bills to give effect to a major change in the structure of the salaries and salary classifications of overseas staff em ployed in the Public Service, the Police Force and the Housing Com mission.

• A Government bill to enable the Administration to confiscate under-developed freehold land if the holders fail to show that they intend to develop it adequately (see p. 126).

The most fascinating provision of the salaries bills is that, on paper, differential salaries for local and over seas officers are abolished, and that salaries and salary classifications are now expressed in terms of local rates.

But this is merely a change in the bookkeeping. Overseas officers still get higher salaries, but the difference is made up with special allowances.

Equal pay for sexes

A feature of the debate on the salaries bills was that in the com mittee stages, Mr. Toni Voutas (Kaindi, Open) moved an amendment that the base pay for men and women in the Public Service should be equal.

The Administration strenuously opposed this on the grounds that the amendment embodied “a most im portant principle,” which had not been referred to during the second reading rebate.

The Secretary for Law, Mr, W. W.

Watkins, said he thought the amend ment was out of order, but the chair man (Mr. Barrett) ruled to the con trary.

In the ensuing debate, Mr. Voutas’ amendment had the support of a number of influential native mem bers and it was finally carried by 28 votes to 22.

On the folowing day, Mr. Voutas followed up his victory by introduc ing a bill without notice to “pro vide for the removal of the distinc tion between rates and allowances payable to officers and employees of the Public Service by reason only of the difference of sex. . .”

This time, however, Mr. Watkins successfully claimed, on a point of order, that the bill was a money bill and that it was therefore not eligible for discussion without notice.

That left Mr. Voutas’ origin amendment still on the statute bool and the only thing that can nc prevent it from being put into effe is for the Australian Govemor-Ge eral to disallow it.

To disallow it, however, would 1 to deny the will of P-NG’s popular elected representatives, who ha 1 clearly shown in the past four yea that they have minds of their ow even if they are still rather weak c House procedures.

Footnote: At least four Europe* members of the House of Assemb will not contest the elections i February for the Assembly. They a; Messrs. lan Downs, John Pasquaref Graham Gilmore and Jim Grose. 1 addition, the House will lose the se vices of a veteran native member, M Pita Simogen, Under-Secretary of tl Police Department, who is retirir after more than 35 years of publi service, including membership of pos war Legislative Councils. • Mr. Bruce Davis, former Pre! secretary for the NSW Minister fc Local Government, Mr. P. H. Mortoi has been appointed Principal Infoi mation Officer for the P-NG Admit istration and takes up his new pos in Port Moresby in early Decembei