Lecture 6 - Politic and Independence BY YAMSOB MOSES

HHI 223 – PNG National History
Lecture 6
Politics of Independence
Lecture 6: Politics of Independence
• Between the year 1945, when the Japanese occupation

and Pacific war ended, and September 1975, when
Political and constitutional independence from Australian
formally began.
• In those thirty years, gradually at first and more rapidly,
what was the territory of Papua and New Guinea moved
from complete dependence upon Australian control to
become independent state of Papua New Guinea.
• This lectures sketches out broadly and very briefly a

particular historical interpretation about the growth of
independence, how Michael Somare and others have
thought and said about issue of independence in years
leading up to independence in 1975
• In essence, these interpretations argues that

independence has roots
• in pre-colonial political communities
• peoples response to the coming of colonial rule;
• the modern states grew from the institutions planted in
the colonial era,
• the growth independence was a product of the second
World War and its impacts.
Administration 1944 -1949
• In 1942 war brought Papua and New Guinea unexpectedly into
the modern world. The country experience Japanese
occupation and bitter military campaign. After the war, the
Australian government would re-establish and extend political
control, and began to prepare the people for eventual self-
determination. It provided extensive economic, educational
and political developments to ensure country is well prepared
to move forward towards self-determination with all the
institutions ready to operate a new modern nation state.

• Australia felt grateful to Papua New Guineans for their
assistance during the war. This gratitude was expressed
politically in July 1945 by Mr. EJ Ward, the labour minister
for external territories. In an important policy speech he
refer to the depth Australians owed to Papua New
Guineans and announced the government’s intention of
speeding up the development of Papua New Guinea.

• E.J. Wards own radicalism was partly the cause of the
dramatic nature of his speech, for it implies change of
speed and extent horrifying to many Europeans who had
lived in pre-war Papua and New Guinea.
• Only labour government in Australia would have been
prepared to bring such a sweeping programme of change.
But once the chain of events have started it is difficult to
stop
The Post War Administrators
• 1945 – 1952 Lieutenant Colonel Jack K Murray
• 1952 – 1967 Sir Donald Cleland
• 1967 – 1970 Mr David Hay
• 1970 – 1973 Mr Les W Johnson
• Only Labour Party would have appointed JK Murray as first post
war administrator
• JK Murray was not related to Sir Hubert Murray, but, like him
he wanted to reduce discrimination against Papua New
Guineans, and to increase their participation in all activities.
• Murray became symbol of rapid change and would find
himself bitterly attacked by Australian old hands, who
thought themselves well versed to deal with the natives.
For example they would nick name him “Kanaka Jack”, a
contemptuous nick name, when he invited two Gulfs war
heroes to meal at Government house.
• This was first time Papua New Guineans have eaten there,
and among Europeans many would be left in state of
shock by the event.
• Murray was not popular with the expatriate’s because they
thought he favored Papua New Guineans too much.
• Liberal Country Party came to power in Australia and Murry
was replaced by Sir Donald Cleland.
• Cleland was administrator from 1952 to 1967
• Cleland was succeeded by David Hay from 1967 to 1970
• Hay was succeeded by Less Johnson from 1970 t0 1973
• Johnson handed over to Michael Somare as chief minister in
December 1973.

• Papua New Guinea was heading for self-government and
independence but that was not clear in 1945.
• Only in the 1950s Australia accepted United Nations
assumption that Papua New Guinea should be prepared
for self-government.
• Neither Australia, nor United Nations nor any Papua New
Guinean, thought that self-government, let along
independence would be coming soon.

• The war led to the change and increase, increase
emphasis on the rights of Papua New Guineans.
• Two different approaches to Papua New Guinea by
Australian Labor government after the war
• spent more money
• Built more comprehensive and detail bureaucracy.
Administration - ANGAU
• The ANGAU (Australia New Guinea Administrative Union),
the civilian administration set up during the war.
• ANGAU handed over the administration to the civilians
under Murray in October 1945 and was legally confirmed
by the passing of Papua and New Guinea Act by
Australian Parliament in 1949.
• This was the first time in the history of the two colonies,
that they had been administered as one entity.
• With respect to health, ANGAU built 35 hospitals and
employed ten doctors, 113 European medical assistants,
and 453 native medical orderlies by 1944.
• In education ANGAU did less, but it began a school in Port
Moresby, and a teachers training school at Sogeri which
had 97 pupil in 1944 (Where now Sogeri National High
School).
• Similarly ANGAU built roads, though not all of them
useful after the war; they were used to maintain
plantations in allied areas, and extended exploration and
contact, particularly in the highlands. And no doubt one
reason why Port Moresby is PNG’s capital today is
because; it was the war time capital for the whole
country.
Administration 1949-1973 – Extension of Government
Influence
• The basic aim of the administration was to spread European to
every part of Papua New Guinea as quickly as possible.
• Health
• The administration’s high priority was expand health services.
• Programme against particular ailments, TB, leprosy, Malaria, etc.
• Training of locals to sustain the health services. In Port Moresby.
Since 1967 Papua New Guineans would train to become doctors at
UPNG.
Administration 1949-1973 – Extension of Government
Influence
• Education
• No detailed education policy was worked out for some years in
PNG, until 1954
• mission intervene teachings.
• Teachers colleges begin in 1949,
• There were few schools before the war, but number of schools
increased rapidly in 1950s and 1960s.
• IN 1960s, international pressure to prepare for independence
caused the expansion of secondary and tertiary education.
Labor
• On 22nd September 1945, EJ Ward told all Papua New
Guinean workers that they could go home, regardless of
time they still had to spend on their indentured labour
contracts. He brought to an end the prewar Contract
system
• The labour department began trades men training
courses in 1946, gradually number of skilled personnel’s
increased.
Politics and Independence

• From 1950 local government councils were introduced at
area level, gradually replacing village Luluais, and village
constables. This would give Papua New Guineans practice
in local area politics with central government keeping
control.
Politics and Independence

• At national level, by 1972 there would be three basic
political institutions involving Papua New Guineans:
• the House of Assembly (before 1964, it was known
as Legislative Assembly),
• the Executive (ministers, policy, and public service),
• and political parties.
House of Assembly 1964
• The 1964 house of assembly was the first parliament in PNG,
with an elected majority.
• Until 1970 no one in PNG had a real say in Papua New Guinea
politics. Anything of importance was decided in Canberra, yet
• Political party’s first appeared in 1965 election, 1966, and
1967. Some did not survive long, while others still exist today.
Politically, the most significant was the Pangu party, which first
demand self-government for Papua New Guinea.
The Pangu Party 1967
• Pangu Party was formed when a group of Papua New Guineans at
the Administrative college in Port Moresby, calling themself the
Bully Beef club, secretary with the study group of members of
house of assembly, led by Tony Voutas. From the core of this group
Pangu was formed.
• Early members include Michael Somare, Albert Maori Kiki, Tony
Voutas, Ces Abel, Paul Lapun, Barry Holloway, and Pita Lus.
• Pangu contested 1968 elections, but refused to join ministry of
house of assembly because it was heavily controlled by the
administration, as such Pangu went into opposition and as a result
shrink to only 10 members.
• The Pangu PPP National Coalition 1972
• After the April 1972 elections, Pangu was still minority party,
but it formed a government in coalition with People’s
Progressive Party, and National party, and some independents.
• In December 1972 a labour government came to power in
Australia and declared that Papua New Guinea would be given
both self – government and independence within five years.
This suited Pangu and within three years PNG was
Independent.
• Between 1970 and 1975, there would be rapid transfere of
political power from Canberra to Port Moresby to prepare
Papua New Guinea for Independence.
Achieving Independence, 1972-1975

• Michael Somare formed his government in April 1972,
whilst Charles Barnes resigned as minister for external
Territories in Australian government in January 1972, and
was replaced by Andrew Peacock.
• Despite initial doubt about Peacock he proved capable
and progressive in difficult job of smoothing the handover
of the government.
• Conclusion
• The wind of change comes for Papua New Guinea quite early,
in any case, no one in PNG around that time would have
seriously thought, or for that matter envisages independence
to materialize too soon. Though Papua New Guineans advocate
for self-determination, no one knows exactly when it is
coming.
• Integral to Papua New Guineas independence would be the
change of attitude by Australians toward PNG after the war,
the UN report and the change of government in Australia, in
1972 election.
Tutorial Activities
• Explain how war influences Australian opinion towards
PNG
• Identify and discuss factors that make ANGAU different
from pre-World War Two colonial administration
• Jack K Murray often nick named “Kanaka Jack “by
expatriates. Explain
• What is “New Deal “under EJ Ward

Lecture 6 - Politic and Independence BY YAMSOB MOSES

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lecture 6 - Politic and Independence BY YAMSOB MOSES

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

HHI 223 – PNG National History

• Between the year 1945, when the Japanese occupation

• This lectures sketches out broadly and very briefly a

• In essence, these interpretations argues that

Administration 1944 -1949

Administration 1944 -1949

The Post War Administrators

The Post War Administrators

Politics and Independence

Politics and Independence

Achieving Independence, 1972-1975

You might also like