NEW GUINEA AFFAI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81831, 25 August 1906, Page 3

NEW GUINEA AFFAI.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

pkited pekss association*— nt ELECTRIC TELSQEAPH, —COPVUIUIIT,

LIVE POLICY WANTED. Melbourne, August 24. Mt Watson attacked the Government over the appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate affairs in New Guinea. The action of the Government was hardly such as could give public satisfaction. That possession had been slowly drifting in the wrong direction. Sir William MacGregor's time a policy of development had been carried on, and the Natives had been looked after. Sir.L.: then there had been a policy of dr ft. White settlers had been consistently blocked and the responsibility f,.r failure in administration rc-ted first with Sir George Le Ilunte, and then with Captain Barton. The latter had treated the natives well, but had not the knack to manage affairs.

Mr Deakin (Federal Premier) said the whole history of the possession was marked by iil-fortune. The territory had been thrust on the Commonwealth by the Colonial Office at a time when other responsibilities prevented this Parliament from givng attention to New Guinea. It merited now, however a constitution, for the territory was proclaimed, and would come into force in September. No Minister could =pare time to go to New Guinea for three or four months to investigate iffairs there. Ah investigation was accessary and information needed, ind the Government proposed send'ng a Royal Commission. When :he report of the Commission was received an energetic policy would :e initiated.