MANDATED TERRITORIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1919, Page 4

MANDATED TERRITORIES.

SYDNEY> November 4

The Federal Government shortly will decide what form of government shall apply to its new possessions in the Pacific—German New Guinea and adjacent islands captured by Australia during the war: A mandate from the League of Nations to administer these islands ha s already been granted to Australia, and. under this mandate the Commonwealth is left to decide the form of government.

As few months ago the Federal Government appointed a Commission to inquire into the future administration of the new territories, taking the suggested form of government as a basis for the inquiry.

This “suggested form of government” when the commission • reached Rabaul, until a few weeks ago, the commission iias been studying conditions in former German New Guinea. The gieater part of the commission’s time was spent in Rabaul,' where considerable inquiry was made. Several trips were mado inland, and ' the commission: secured a first hand 1 knowledge of tho nature of the plantation culture there. Considerable prosperity was noticed, and the commercial possibilities of the territory were very apparent. It is probable that these* will advise the adoption of the form of government in Papua. This system-prohibits the importation of labour, and also contains a provision against slavery and ' a veto on forced labour or the importation of liquor. Under the German Administration, Chinese and Japanese-immigrants were permitted entry.