Votes at 18 may bring a radical influence

radical influence to P-NG

From DENIS FISK in Port Moresby A whole new group of Papuan and New Guinea voters, with a much higher percentage of education than the rest of the territory’s voters (and probably more “radical”), are practically certain to be at the polls for the next House of Assembly elections in 1972.

A commission of inquiry into Sectoral procedures has recommended hat 18-year-olds should get the vote n national elections, and already here are predictions that a big pro jortion of the older uneducated mem >ers of the present House will be ipped out in favour of new blood.

Eighteen-year-olds already vote in he 145 local government council Sections, and in many tribal areas lave assumed adult responsibilities in he village by that age.

That youth will have a big say is n no doubt: the Statistics Bureau n Port Moresby estimates there will >e 1,293,100 voters aged 18 and ibove in June, 1972; those aged be ween 18 and 20 will total 125,000, >r near enough 10 per cent.

Papua-New Guinea will become inly the 28th country in the world 0 give universal franchise to 18- 'ear-olds.

At least as important is the recom nendation to stay with the “optional inferential system” of voting. The ;ommissioners found that tribesmen vould always vote for the man from heir own clan or ethnic group first, hen make their real choice of the nan they believed would represent hem best as their second preference.

The main alternative, “first past he post”, was rejected outright, even is a “temporary expedient”, as being 1 retrograde step which would be in Tave danger of becoming permanent, ind “perpetuate the tribal schisms” low existing.

The commissioners held meetings n all districts at which they quizzed 'eople, young and old, in all stages if development.

They were “impressed by the 18 to !0 years age group, finding young educated people well informed. They mrticipated in discussion to a far neater extent than the elderly i eople”.

The commissioners could turn up io evidence that most voters could lot intelligently cast preferences or lot understand their value. The

native people were much like Aus tralians in that they could see the value of preferences, even if they had no deep understanding of the optional preferential voting system.

The commissioners were en couraged to recommend sticking to the system because the people trusted it, believed in its fairness, and said time and again they wanted it to re main, “Rejection of ‘first past the post’ by the majority stemmed from their very real fear that the ‘big line’ or preponderance of one particular ethnic group would always win the

election and ‘boss them’,” the five commissioners, led by Chief Electoral Officer, R. R. Bryant, said.

The noticeable drop in voter numbers despite a bigger population at the last election (1968) came out in the commissioners’ warning that unless there was a new stimulus to interest people in voting (which is not compulsory) there was danger of the decline of interest continuing.

They urged a long-range, persistent effort to give voters, especially illiterate ones, a better understanding of their part in elections. A 16 mm film, they said, should be made show ing voting procedures, especially for illiterates who have to use the “whisper ballot” (ballot paper marked by the presiding officer, witnessed by a literate friend if possible, other wise the polling clerk).

There was logic seen also in the view that the new young voters would like to choose one of their own as a candidate. But the com misisoners found too many reserva tions by the people on this one, and recommended retaining a minimum age of 21 for the next elections (1972), and a review afterwards per haps.

It’s now up to the Administrator, D. O. Hay (or Canberra) to agree.

Perhaps there will be more inclina tion to do so with a commission which came up with the same main recommendations which Mr. Bryant made not long ago and had turned aside in favour of the commission.