DARWIN'S DOINGS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3332, 10 November 1919, Page 7

DARWIN'S DOINGS.

A ‘ ‘ B.‘LO.ODLESS ” REVOLUTION. SSELF-DEPORTED ‘GOVERNMENT. DARWIN, Oct. 21. Now that the temporary heat of the last ten days in Darwin is past, events can be reviewed with calm deliberation. For six years discontent grew against the admin‘istra.tion. The people last December unmistakably and forcibly demonstrated against the Northern Territory system of Government, and {demanded representation on if similar status to the rest. of Australia. One noticeable feature, apparently justifiying that demand, was that the present Commonwealth Government never seariously attempted to prose~ cllte the leaders, and never succeeded in gaining a single prosecution, but, instead withdrew the Administrator and gave the citizens quasi-representation -on the Council of Advice, with the Government ‘reserving and retaining their right of having the majority of the -Council composed of Government appointees, comprising civil servants. It was scarcely coneeiveable that the citizens would accept this Council. When this measure came before Parliament last September for endorsement, the Seuate had an even vote, } which vote was not cast‘ on partyx lines, Ebut both Nationalists and Labour con- } demned it as a travesty on justice and Tdemocraey. “Hansard” makes inter‘esting reading on this Council Ordin- , ance_

' GIVING IT A TRIAL. D Despite this important fact, the people stated that they would give it an honest. trial in the interests of law and o‘,rdel',A and the ,'development‘\of the i Territory. They informed the Minister l of Home and Territories of their childlike’ faith. ‘ ~ The Advisory Council met about ten times inside two months, and by majority agreed on various matters, such as inquiry into the feasibility of continuing the Government experimental farms. A commission comprising two nominees and two elective members, was ordered by Council to report. The commission commenced touring the farms, visited two and unanimously condemned ‘them in ‘a progress report. _ VVhen the report was tabled for discussion, the director of the Council, Mr Carey, who was Governnient Secretary toithe previous Administrator, stated that discussion was unnecessary. He had acted on‘ the commission’s findings and closed them. Public feeling reached its height on Friday, October 10, when the Council met for the last time. Mr Nelson, one of the elective members, read a portion of a letter" said to have been Written by the director, Mr Carey, to the late Arlministratcr, Dr. Gilriith, which caused a sensation. THE MASS MEETING.

l The people held a mass meeting in the Town Hall, and carried a resolution endorsing the resignation of the elective members of the Council. They also decided that they could place no further confidence in the Advisory Council, and resolved to agitate until they received adult franchise. A further deputation waited on the Director (Mr Carey), Judge Bevan, and the Government Secretary, Mr Evans, and requested them to hand in their resignations to the Minister. Those officials telegrapltefd to the Federal Minister, Mr Glynn, who refused to accept their I'esignatien's, and Mr Carey informed the Mayor accordingly last. Friday, On Saturday afternoon the Citizens hold another meeting, and issued an ultimatum that those ofiieials had to be on board the Government passenger; steamer Bambi-a. (then in harbour)‘ that evening. at S o’clock. They com-3 plied, in the interests of law and order; to the citizens’ request to go west by} the Bambra. The steamer sailed on Sunday morn-: ing for Freemantle. No Idenionstration; was made. The oiiicials went quietly on board. . i The town is in -at normal conditionThe people are peacefully discussing‘ the second Territ'l)ry’g “bloodless revolution,” and are confidently of opinion that the Federal Government will: use eommcn—sensc. and grant the same rights as are enjoyed by the rest of Australia. * As the naval and military fm-ee sent: to Darwin ‘over the last trouble‘ achieved nothin§_,>', and as no disordert existed, it is held that the (‘rovernmenti J will be wise not to repeat the aeti<m.l but endeavour to foster a spfi-it of. Australian nationhood. Vlrg Evans‘ desired to tvsavel by the Bambra. but Mrs, Carey elected to travel _hy a later steamer.