New Guinea Taken Over

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1921, Page 4

New Guinea Taken Over

MILITARY OCCUPATION CEASES. SYDNEY, May 10. Yesterday .Monday, May f th—-the military occupation of German Now Guinea by the Australian troops came to an end, and administration of the mandated territory by a, newly-con-st ructcd civil oganisation commenced. The civil administration will be carried out under a new Act—-the New Guinea Act —and, according to ordinances framed by the Government iindc that Act. During the military occupation, the German laws were apolYti with some slight modifications to meet the different conditions. The new code of laws, on which the civil admnistr-i----tion will he based, have been taken from the laws of England, Australia Queensland and Papua. All titles, certificates, and records now in existence relating to Gorman New Guinea, shad continue subject to ordinance, but the right of title to all Crown lands in the territory passes to the Commonwealth. It is provided however, that all estates and interests within the 4 '"•rito’y hold bv any person from the German Government, and subsisting at the date of the commencement of civil administration, shall continue to be so. h<ld until other arrangements are made. This means that all such oroperties are to be dealt with, in due :ourse, by the Expropriation Board which is nc.v sitting in the territory and deciding :.s to the disposal of the German property The interests possessions, and rights cf the natives are to be protected, a.nd nn tive usages and customs will lie allowed to continue. The many new officials of the civil government are already in residence r the territory—which, presumably, is te l>e given some better name than “Late Gentian New Guinea”—and everything is in readiness for the new regime.