NEW GUINEA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1843, 25 August 1906, Page 3

NEW GUINEA.

TRESS ASSOCIATION COI'YRIOIIT Melbourne, August 24 Mr Watsoa attacked the Gsvecmnsut over the oppoin.m mt of a R >y»l Cammis eion so inveibigitj (he uliiirs of New Guinea. The ac.ion of the Governmint was hardly such ta oculd give public satisfaction. The possession has been slowly drifting in a wrorog direction, Io Sir Wm. MiGicgor’s time a policy of development had been carried on, and Iho natives were locked after. Since then Shore had been a pokey of drift. Iho white settlors had been consietsutly bicoked. Tho responsibility for failuro in the administration res.od first wiih Sir Giorgo Ls Hunt and then with Captain Barton. Tuo latter had treated the natives well, but had not tho knack of managing men and affairs, Mt Deakiu said iho whole tiisloy of tho posseefcicu Wes marked by iil-fortuns. Tue territory had been Lhru.-t on tt o Coinmonwoalh by tho Colonial Office at a t rue when other responsibilities prevented this Parliament from giving the aiteuticn to New Guinea it morited. Now, however, tho constitution for tho territory was preoiaimod, and would come mij farce in September. Nu Minister could spate the time to go to Now Guinea for throe cr four months ta imostigato tho affairs thero. Au investigation was necessary. Information was needed, and tho Government prcposrd to got it by sending a Royal Commission. Whon tho report of the 1 Commission had been received, an onergetio pokey could b 9 initiated.