THE TROUBLESOME TERRITORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1921, Page 11

THE TROUBLESOME TERRITORY.

RROBLEiL ®HE 'GENTLE IuABORTTES. Sydney, June 21. The new Administrator (Mr. Urquhart) and the Minister controlling the Northern Territory (Mr. Poynton), have recently had some experience of the manner and methods of militant laborites in Darwin. One of the first duties Mr. Urquhart was called upon to perform as Administrator was to present a testimonial to the retiring Mayor of Darwin, who is also a prominent unionist, and was for a long time President of the Darwin branch of the A.W.U. The presence of the new Administrator at this function did not prevent strong statements being made as to what would happen if the Mayor were sued for his taxes, and not allow’ed to leave the Territory until he had paid them. The Government was warned that no taxes would be paid by any self-respecting unionist until the people of the Territory had direct representation in the Federal Parliament. The taxation authorities decided to take no action at the time and the Mayor duly left Darwin on hl* holidayHe was subsequently sued in Sydney ior the amount of tax due, and has either to pay or go to gaol. The apparent inaction of the taxation authorities in the case of the Mayor seems to have convinced the labor clique in Darw’ln that the Government did not dare to take any action, but disillusionment set in when a series of prosecutions were begun against many of the prominent unionists.

About the time the prosecutions were to begin, the Minister for Home and < Territories who controls the Territory was due to arrive in Darwin. A day or two before his arrival a public meeting was held, at which resolutions were passed calling upon all residents to resist the tax, if needs be to go to gaol rather than pay it. and warning the Government that dire consequences would follow any such imprisonment. This meeting was presided over by the newly elected Mayor, who in his private capacity is a railw’ay fattier in Commonwealth employ, and at a meeting of the Town Council (in which the majority are members), a similar resolution was passed. On the Minister’s arrival in Darwin the Mayor was on the wharf to greet him. To the astonishment of His Worship, Mr. Poynton refused to have anything io do with him! until the Council withdrew its -disl«yaf| resolution. From then on the Minister s; visit wes banned and boycotted by; Some Unionists, ’including a for-' mer President of the A.W.U., were and sent to ganl far nonpayment of! taxes. This led to mure indignation meetrags, and it was thought wise to have-H.M.AnS. Geranium a.t Darwin :urftil ; the Minister left,. TowTirfla “the iclose of ■his visit, the Administrator gave ar * : Ati Home” at 'Government House, Darwin,' to give residents a chance .of meatiug itn.:'! Minister. The daborhes rettt/uitea dry J pick<?tting the entrance to .House grounds, and calling upon aH'trui)*! citizens fto ignore tire “At Home!” 3n-‘ eiderrttflly their belief in the :<r Whitc;l Australia” policy did. not prevent ttruelj unionists from utilizing abotiginies 'to'* , distribute anti-tax literature. Tfere is ai sample of the handbill dianded Uo jgiteats of the Administrator. “BLACK -THURSDAY. | History again xepeats ‘ltself Men? j Women! Prefer sacrifice tto dlisLoiror. ‘ Can you sit and sip tea “At‘Home’ while men are being consigned io a; Capitalistic Hall for defending ytnui IBrithriglrt.'? While you sip anflj smile, just remmnbor jrou are fSlavesi; —Aung your heads in er—- I be Men, Full (Citizens and _Austra-;l •lians.” On hearing of this picketting the ad ■! rainistrator (Mr. Urquhart), requested.; the Lahar deader .(Nelson), to keep away ; from tire precincts >of Government House, and to cease interfering with residents I proceeding to the ‘At Eonje ’’ In doing. this, the Administrator is alleged to' have laid hold of Mr. Nelson’s arm.. Result, a summons by Mr. Nelson against the Administrator for assault. As this case is before the Court, nothing more •can be said of at at present.

On the Minister’s leaving Darwin another demonstration was made on the wharf by the laborites, but H.M.A.B. Geranium was there also, and the MiaAter got away in safety. It will be interesting to hear Mr, Poynton’s opinion of Darwin on his return. He was the Minister who dismissed the officials who nearly two years j ago, having no warship nor any other means of checking a riot, thought it better to accept the inevitable and leave the Territory until an adequate force to prevent rioting was available.

As the official eases against the Federal Government have yet to come before the High Court, the Minister will hardly perhaps express any further opinions in regard to their action. He probably is quite certain, however, that militant laborites in Darwin are not the angel victims of autocratic officials described in Commissioner Ewing’s report last year, but something very different. He will also probably be willing to admit that a warship can be a “very present help in time of trouble,” and tin excellent support of Ministerial dignity and personal safety.