Alice through the looking-glass

and among the politicians

From a Port Moresby correspondent

An interesting feature of the political scene in Papua-New Guinea since the second House of Assembly came into being last June has been the formation of “parties” by, or under the leadership of, last elections’ defeated candidates. Another fea ture of interest has been the search for alternatives to the out word “party”.

First there was the Melanesian In dependence Front, advocating the autonomy of the New Guinea Islands as an independent “nation”, which, though widely believed to be the brain-child of Steve Simpson, of Rabaul, was able to secure as its first president the veteran Tolai leader Yin To Baining, whose defeat at the hands of 27-year-old teacher Oscar Tammur was one of the sur prises of the 1968 elections.

In reaction from the separatist programme of the MIF, another un successful candidate, Stanis Boramilat To Liman, formed the United Niugini Party and became its first pre sident. Later, following his transfer to a teachers’ job in the Madang District, he withdrew from the pre sidency of the new party, and was succeeded by Martin To Vadek.

Both these parties were formed in Rabaul.

Nicer than "party"

Over in New Ireland, yet another unsuccessful candidate. Perry Kwan, formed the United Islands Political Society (so much nicer than a “party”).

Mr. Kwan, who is of Chinese descent, is a commercial artist and the son of a well-known Kavieng business man. The UIPS advocates a united New Guinea, but favours a federal system under which it would consist of several autonomous regions or states.

And now, apparently, the UNP and the UIPS have amalgamated to present a United front against the Front. The new organisation has adopted the name of the New Ire land body—United Islands Political Society. It has Perry Kwan as the president of its New Ireland branch and Martin To Vadek as the pre sident of its Rabaul branch.

Presumably, this means that the UNP has accepted the UIPS policy of federalism. Although this was not a feature of the original UNP pro

gramme, it may well be one which will appeal to many Tolais as a more attractive alternative to separatism than a unitary New Guinea.

Both the MIF and the amalgamated UNP-UIPS claim membership run ning into several thousands but it is fairly clear that MIF support comes almost exclusively from the Tolais, and that its aims are opposed by most of the non-Tolai people of New Britain. In fact, it is a fresh out break of a kind of Tolai “national ism” that is by no means a new phenomenon.

The surprising thing is that Yin To Baining has allowed himself to be drawn into what looks like being a lost cause. Perhaps for him it is a last bid to retain the leadership which he feels is slipping from his grasp.

In the meantime, what of Bougain ville? A recent assessment of the situation suggests that there is wide spread support in Bougainville for a referendum, that the idea of joining the British Solomons is dead, and that the result of a referendum could be a fairly evenly split vote, with South Bougainville substantially in favour of independence and North Bougainville largely against it.

Will Perry Kwan having gained significant support in New Britain, be able to win support for his programme in Bougainville? If he can pull this off, the United Islands Political Society may yet become a power in the land.

Most of the parties which were formed in 1966 and 1967 and un successfully contested the 1968 elec tions appear to have become mori bund, but one of them, the National Progressive Party (NAPRO), hit the news again recently by calling for the setting of target dates as an aid to forward planning, and the com plete localisation of the Public Ser vice in 20 years.

NAPRO membership is mainly

confined to Port Moresby and the Papuan coast. It put up several can didates in 1968, but none was suc cessful.

Pangu Pati, weak as it is in the House, is still the only party formed so far which can claim to have a territory-wide following.

Meanwhile, not to be overlooked is another party which says it isn’t a party at all—the House of As sembly’s Independent Group, which has been described in PIM as “the party without a platform.” Long be fore Papuan Assembly member Paulus Arek recently put the cat among the pigeons, rumours were rife that this group was working in very close liaison with expatriate big business in Port Moresby.

So Paulus Arek’s revelation that big business was prepared to put up a substantial sum of money to estab lish a “research service” for MHA’s caused no surprise, although it may have caused embarrassment in some quarters.

There is no doubt that such a service is badly needed, and behind the scenes Speaker John Guise has been working hard to get one established as part of the service provided for members by the staff of the House. It is understood that the green light has been given for the recruitment of additional staff for this purpose.

However well-meant the gesture by Port Moresby’s expatriate business community, and however “unslanted” the service it provided might actually be, it wouldn’t, human nature being what it is, get the credit for being unslanted.

But who are the prime movers

(Continued on p. 155)

Ron Neville, spokesman for the "Independent Group".

behind the activities of the large but amorphous “Independent Group”?

They are reputed to be Ron Neville, Wally Lussick, John Middleton and John Watts.

Ron Neville is the group’s official leader and its principal spokesman in the House, while Wally Lussick appears to have been functioning lately as its public relations officer.

Ron Neville, member for Southern Highlands Regional and the only one of the four to have been in the first House, is a former ADO, now managing director of a company, with 20 years in the territory behind him.

Wally Lussick, member for Manus and New Ireland Regional, was born in Samoa. He is a planter and a member of the Planters’ Association, and takes a vigorous part in com munity activities in New Ireland.

John Middleton, member for Sumkar Open, reputedly wealthy owner of a plantation on Karkar Island, was born in New Guinea and has spent most of his life here.

John Watts, member for West Highlands Regional, has been in the territory for 13 years. A coffee planter, he is a member of the Mount Hagen Chamber of Commerce and of the Highland Farmers and Settlers Association.

It would be natural to expect that men with this sort of background would be significantly concerned with obtaining a good deal for expatriate enterprise, and no doubt they are.

However, it should be noted that their ages range from 39 to 48, and one may guess that they hope to remain in the territory, and perhaps to take an active part in its political life, for many years to come.

Even if they were not genuinely concerned for the welfare of the indigenous people, and there is no reason to think that they are not, it would obviously not be in their best interests to let the impression get around that they are being un duly influenced by Port Moresby’s business community.

The next meeting of the House, which starts on March 3, should show some interesting developments in the fortunes of its groups and parties, especially if there is any truth in the rumour that Paulus Arek is thinking of starting one of his own.

A group genuinely started and led by a New Guinean will be an interesting novelty.