Northern Territory Problem.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1921, Page 3

Northern Territory Problem.

SYDNEY, Sept, ail For some time now the handful ol extremists who ave gathered in Darwin have boon having things much their own way, and have added flesh perplexities to the perennial problem which the Commonwealth (luvei amciii appears to find ill the Northern Territory. All competent authorities agree that there are immense |Missiliilities in ilie Territory, and vast resources only awaiting intelligent development. Ii is mcrelv the Coniiuoiiwealth’s misfortune, and not the Territory s lault. that the right sort ol intelligence ballot yet asserted itself at the Home and Territories Office ill Melbourne. M":'.uwhile quite tin extraordinary stale o', affairs Inis been developing ai Unrein, and the Minislei concerned hits made a remarkable anmmmvmciil of measures which are to he taken to mnmiain law and order. These mcasuies have het'ii framed as the result ol a personal visit which was recently ■lade | liv the Minister. At Darwin, he <h-1 citires, he found that a situation was rapidly developing which Mould not admit of the application of ordinary remedies. A system of tyranny and 1 no ism was taking the form ol cruel persecution. This was manifesting itsell by •"job control,” organised disturbance at public meetings, misrepresentation and vitu|XTative attacks on the authorities, and upon individuals by a. section of the press; terrorism ion '-I witnesses and juries, and the refusal to pav taxes were instances of the tactics of' the unions. It is intended to take power hv ordnance making it an uileme to disturb or interfere with public, meetings, and empowering the chairman of a public meeting to call upon the police to remove disturbers; to provide suitable means for the pun'- 1 - j mem of persons guilty ol victimise-| lion or of otherwise unlawfully acting to bring about loss or deprivation ol | emplovment to others; to suspend thcj system of trial by jury except in the 1 :,'csc of capital offences; to provide lor I the deportation to other parts of Aus-, tralia of persons prosecuted and convicted for refusal or fieglect to pay] taxes or who fail to pay or make pro., vision for the payment of taxes wills-. in a specified period after conviction. |