· ~~ ~ CJdl_~;aVl ICf?J.. .6' "1---( TD t)bSe,,u,L 'tz:l
UNITED NATIONS Distr. TRUSTEESHIP GENERAL T/1732 COUNCIL 19 May 1972
ORIGINAL : ENGLISH
Thirty-ninth session Item 6 of the provisional agenda
REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS TO THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972
CONTENTS
Paragraphs
Letter dated 19 May 1972 from the Chairman of the Visiting Mission to the Secretary-General. 3 CHAPTER I. GENERAL 1 - 19 4 A. Terms of reference 1 - 5 4 B. Itil'lers,ry 6 - 11 5 C. Land and people 12 - 19 6
CHAPTER II. ELECTIONS TO THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY , 1972 20 - 90 - 8 A. Organization of the elections ...... 20 - 64 8 Electorates 23 - 26 8 Administration of the Electoral Ordinance 27 - 28 9 Electoral system ..... 29 - 34 9 Date of the elections 35 - 36 10 Qualification of electors . 37 11 Enrolment 38 - 42 11 Qualifications of candidates 43 - 47 12 Nominations .... . 48 12 Scrutineers .... . 49 13 Identification tribunals 50 13 Election officials .. ... 51 13 Voting arrangements and procedures for voting 52 - 56 13 Scrutiny ...... 57 - 61 14 Return of the writs 62 16 Court of disputed returns 63 16
12-09961 I . .. T/1732 English Page 2
CONTENTS (continued)
Paragraphs Page
B. Political parties ...... 64 - 85 16 United Party ...... 68 - 71 17 Pangu Pati (Papua New Guinea Union Party) 72 - 75 18 People's Progress Party 76 - 79 19 Underdeveloped Districts Party 80 20 New Guinea National Party 81 20 Mataungan Association 82 20 New Guinea Labour Party 83 20 United Political Society. 84 20 Peli Association .. 85 20 C. Results of the election. 86 - 90 21
CHAPTER III . PROGRAMME OF VISITS AND MEETINGS OF THE MISSION . . 91 - 154 23 A. Central District 91 - 94 23 B. Milne Bay District 95 - 98 24 C. Bougainville District 99 - 104 24 D. East New Britain District 105 - 111 25 E. New Ireland District 112 - 114 26 F. Manus District 115 - 116 27 G. Madang District 117 - 119 27 H. East Sepik District 120 - 125 28 I. Morobe District 126 - 130 29 J . Eastern Highlands District 131 - 135 30 K. Chimbu Distri ct . 136 - 141 31 • L. Western Highl ands District 142 145 32 M. Southern Highlands District 146 - 149 33 N. Western District 150 - 153 34 0. Me etings in Canberra 154 35
CHAPTER IV . OBSERVATIONS BY THE VISITING MISSION 155 - 175 36
ANNEXES I. ITINERARY OF THE VISITING MISSION II. MAPS A. Papua New Guinea electorates Elections to the House of Assembly in 1972 B. Itinerary of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House ·of Assembly in 1972 T/1732 English Page 3
LETTER DATED 19 MAY 1972 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VISITING MISSION TO THE SECRETARY- GENERAL
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in accordance with Trusteeship Council resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 21 June 1971 and rule 98 of the rules of procedure of the Trusteeship Council, the report of the United Nations Visiting ·Mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972.
This report is subscribed to unanimously by all four members of the Visiting Mission.
(Signed) W. TAPLEY BENNETT, Jr. Chairman of the Visiting Mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972
' •
I ... T/1732 English Page 4
CHAPTER I
GENERAL
A. Terms of reference 0
1 . At its thirty- eight session, the Trusteeship Council had before it a letter dated 11 June 1971 f rom the Permanent Representative of Australia inviting the Council to send a visiting mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972. 1/ The Australian Government suggested that the composition of the mission ;hould be determined in accordance with paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 2590 (XXIV) of 16 December 1969 in which the Trusteeship Council was requested to include non-members of the Council in its f Priodic visiting missions to the Trust Territory of New Guinea, in consultation with the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Impleme:itation of the Dec l aration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Administering Authority, in accor dance with the Charter of the United Nations.
2 . At its 1387th meeting, on 18 June 1971, the Trusteeship Council adopted resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) in which it decided to send a visiting mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972. The Council further decided that the Visiting Mission should be composed of members nominated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain .and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and two other States to be designated by the President of the Council on the basis of consult ations with the members of the Council, the Special Committee and the Adm i nistering Authority. Subsequently, the President of the Council designated Afghanistan and Yugoslavia as the two States to nominate the other members of the Visit ing Mission.
3. The composition of the Mission was as f ollows: Mr . W. Tapley Bennett (United States), Chairman; Mr. Mohammad Hakim Aryubi (Afghanistan); Sir Derek Jakeway (United Kingdom; and Mr. Aleksandar Psoncak (Yugoslavia).
4. In its resoluti on 2156 (XXXVIII), the Trusteeship Council directed the • Mission to observe the elections to the House of Assembly in Papua New Guinea in 1972, i ncluding electoral arrangements, the activities of candidates and political parties, the casting of votes, the closure of voting , the counting of ballots • and the declaration of results. The Council also requested the Mission to submit to the Council, as soon as practicable, a report on its observations of the elections containing its findings, with such observations, conclusions and recommendations as i t might wish to make .
5 . On 20 December 1971, the General Assembly adopted resolution 2865 (XXVI) in which, inter alia, it welcomed the invitation extended by the administering Power to the Trusteeship Council to dispatch a special mission to observe t he elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972 and the fact that the mission would be composed as recommended in General Assembly resolution 2590 (XXIV) ; and recommended that the report of this special mission and those of future missions should be submitted both to the Trusteeship Council and to the Special Committee. 1/ Official Records of the Trusteeship Council Thirt. - eighth Session Annexes, agenda item 1, document T 1725. I ...
I\ T/1732 English Page 5
B. Itinerary
6. The Visiting Mission assembled in Port Moresby on 17 February 1972, and remained in Papua New Guinea until 15 March. In the course of its tour of ... Papua New Guinea, the Mission was accompanied by the following officials of the United Nations Secretariat: Mr. Felipe Antonio Pradas, Principal Secretary; Mr. Nour Eddine Driss, Political Affairs Officer; Mr. Neil Carlberg, Jr., Administrative Officer, and Miss Norma Young, secretary.
7. Upon its arrival in Port Moresby, the Mission met to discuss its programme of visits, and held discussions with the Acting Administrator, Mr. A. P. J . Newman; the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Simon Kaumi, and senior officials of the Administration. After observing the commencement of polling on 20 February, the Mission departed from Port Moresby and began its visit of the other districts of Papua New Guinea. On 11 March, the Mission returned to Port Moresby where it observed the beginning of the counting of votes, attended the public tabulation ceremony, visited the electoral office, and had further discussions with the Acting Administrator, the Chief Electoral Officer and other senior officials of the Administration. Throughout the Mission's stay in Papua New Guinea, it had the benefit of the local facilities made available by the Director of the United Nations Information Centre, Mr. N. Oda. A detailed itinerary of the Visiting Mission while in Papua New Guinea is given in the annex to the present report.
8. The Mission departed from Port Moresby for Canberra on 15 March, for discussions with the Minister for External Territories, Mr. Andrew Sharp Peacock; the Administrator of Papua New Guinea, Mr. L. W. Johnson, and senior officials of the Department of External Territories and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. On 17 March, the Mission completed its consultations in Canberra.
9. During its visit to Papua New Guinea, the Mission was accompanied by Mr. William Granger of the Department of External Territories; Mr. Robin Ashwin, Minister, Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations; Mr. Terry White and other members of the Department of the Administrator in Port Moresby .
• 10. Throughout Papua New Guinea, the Mission met district commissioners and their staffs, members of the Administrator's Executive Council, members of the Second House of Assembly, members of local government councils, candidates, electoral officers, representatives of the religious, educational, professional, agricultural and business communities, as well as labour leaders, nurses, students and others. The Mission wishes to express its sincere appreciation for the courtesy and helpful co-operation extended to it, as well as for the many forms of hospitality it received.
11. The Mission wishes to place on record its gratitude to the Minister for External Territories, the officials of that Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Acting Administrator, the Chief Electoral Officer and the officials who accompanied the Mission and assisted it in Port Moresby. No effort was spared to facilitate the Mission's visit. I ...
, . ' T/1732 English Page 6
C. Land and people
12. Papua New Guinea lies to the north and north-east of Australia, less than 100 miles across the Torres Strait. It consists of t he eastern half of the island of New Guinea , the s econd largest island in t he world; the islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Manus in the Bismarck Ar chipelago ; the two northernmost islands of the Solomons group, namely Buka and Bougainville; the Trobriand, D'Entrecasteaux and Louisiade islands groups ; and a great number of small islands between the Equator and 12 degrees south latitude. Over-all, Papua New Guinea stretches more than 1,500 miles from east to west and 750 miles from north to scuth. The total land area covers 178,260 square miles.
13. The central core of the island of New Guinea is a massive cordillera which extends the length of the island. This cordillera is one of the great mountain systems of the world, reaching in several places to a height of over 14,000 feet. Although the cordillera forms a complete divide between north and south-flowing drainage, it does not consist of a single chain but forms a complex system of ranges separated in many cases by broad upland valleys. The width of the main ranges vary from 50 miles at its narrowest part to 150 miles at its widest. Running parallel to the main ranges, but separated from them by a central depression, are the northern mountains. The central depression includes the Sepik River basin and the valleys which contain ' the Ramu and Markham rivers. The Fly River, in western Papua, is over 700 miles long and 33 miles wide at the entrance to the estuary or 10 miles at the mouth proper, beyond Kiwai island.
14. The cordillera of New Guinea continues to the south beyond the Papuan peninsula as a series of small islands which fall into two district groups, the D'Entrecastaux Islands and the Louisiade Archipelago. A belt of off-shore volcanic islands stretches along the north coast of New Guinea from the mouth of the Sepik to the west coast of New Britain. At the western end of New Britain, the largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, there is a cluster of volcanic mountains; the low relief of the north coast of the island is broken by many sharp volcanic peaks and catastrophic eruptions have occurred in recent times. On the Gazelle Peninsula, near Rabaul, there is also an area of recent volcanism. New Ireland, which has a length of some 200 miles and a maximum width of 30 miles, is • exceedingly mountainous. Bougainville is the largest island in the Solomons group, being about 127 miles in length with a maximum width of 49 miles. A massive mountain range runs the length of the island. It contains two active volcanoes. • 15. Papua New Guinea, lying within the tropics between the continents of Asia and Australia, has a monsoonal climate. The north-west monsoon season lasts from December to March and the south-east trade winds season, from May to October. In April-May and October-November transitional periods occur. Both the north-west monsoon and the south-east trade winds reach Papua New Guinea heavily laden with moisture. Some areas have an average annual rainfall of 250 inches, but enclosed valleys in the highland regions have a relatively low rainfall. In some areas, rainfall throughout the year is generally uniform, but most places have a definite seasonal distribution, receiving their greatest rainfall in one of the two main wind seasons. I ... T/1732 English Page 7
16 . For administrative purposes, Papua New Guinea is divided i nto 18 districts : 5 is land districts (Bougainville, West New Britain, East New Britain, New Ireland and Manus), 12 on the mainland (West Sepik, East Sepik, Ma dang, Morobe, Western Highlands, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands, Western, Gulf, Central .. and Northern) and one which is mainly an island district, although it includes the extreme south- eastern section of the mainland (Milne Bay).
• 17, The people of Pa pua New Guinea, numbering a pproxi ma t el y 2 , 5 million, may i n general be grouped with the Melanesians who occupy the gr eater part of the We s tern Pa cific, a lthough there is a great diversity of physical types an_d linguistic groups among them. In the north-western islands of Manus District are small groups of people who have been classified_ as Micronesians, and a few Polynesian groups are found on the i s lands of Bougainv ille District .
18 . More t han 700 languages and dialects are spoken in Papua New Guinea, most of them by a comparatively small number of people . Very broadly speaking, a div ision may be made between l a nguages of the Melanes i an t ype and those which are often called non-Melanesia n. Melanesian Pidgin has become a lingua franca for large areas of Papua New Guinea . Its vocabulary includes a large number of·words of English derivation, some Melanes ian terms and a few Ge rman, Malay and Po lynesian terms. Its gramma r is based on Melanesian. Motu has also become a lingua franca in large ar eas of Papua .
19. In the educational system of Papua New Guinea, emphasis is pl aced on literacy in English. English is the language of instruction i n adm i nistration schools, and the primary school syllabus requires Engl ish to be the medium of instruction from Standard 3. In the House of Assembly, simultaneous interpretation is provided in English, Melanesian Pidgin and Motu •
•
•
I ... T/1732 English Page 8
CHAPTER II
ELECTIONS TO THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 1972
A. Organization of the elections
20. General elections to the House of Assembly of Papua New Guinea are held every • four years. The first general election took place in 1964. Following the second general election, in 1968, the composition of the House of Assembly was as follows : (a) 69 persons elected in the 69 open electorates; (b) 15 persons elected in regional electorates; and (c) 10 official members appointed by the Governor-General on the nomination of the Administrator.
21. On 4 March 1971, the House of Assembly Select Committee on Constitutional Development submitted its final report, which contained recommendations on the composition of the Third House of Assembly, to be elected in 1972.
22. The Committee's recommendations, as agreed to by the House of Assembly, were accepted by the administering Power and the necessary legislative measures to give effect to those recommendations were adopted. According to the new legal provisions, the Third House of Assembly was to be composed of not less than 104 members and not more than 107 members, as follows: (a) 18 elected members to represent regional electorates; (b) 82 elected members to represent open electorates; (c) up to 3 members nominated by the House of Assembly for special purposes; and (d) 4 official members, appointed by the Governor-General on the nomination of the Administrator.
Electorates
23. Following adoption of the legal provisions concerning the new composition of the House of Assemb ly, and in pursuance of the Papua New Guinea Electoral Ordinance, 1963-1971, section 16, the Administrator appointed a five-member Electoral Boundary Distribution Committee. The Chairman of the Comm ittee was • Mr. Simon Kaumi, the Chief Electoral Officer.
24. The Committee was directed to take the following into account: (a) Papua New Guinea was to be divided into 82 open electorates and 18 regional electorates; • (b) the 18 regional e lectorates should generally be contained within boundaries of the administrative districts; (c) each regional electorate should contain a number of open electorates, as applicable; and, as a guideline, each open electorate should contain a popv:ation of approximately 30,000.
25, The Committee submitted its report to the Administrator in August 1971. On t -he basis of a population of approximately 2 .4 million to be distributed among 82 open electorates, the Committee used as a guideline the recommended figure of approximately 30,000 for each open electorate. The Committee pointed out, however, that, owing to other factors which were taken into consideration, it had not found it possible to follow the quota of 30,000 persons per electorate rigidly. These factors, as specified in the Electoral Ordinance, 1963-1971, section 18, were: (a) community or diversity of interests; (b) means of I .. . T/1732 English Page 9
communication; (c) physical features; (d) existing electoral boundaries; and (e) local government boundaries. The Committee, as directed, took into consideration the existing administrative district boundaries and also the predictable movement of people into other electorates . • 26. The report of the Electoral Boundary Distribution Committee was approved by the House of Assembly at its August-September session. In October 1971, the t Electoral (Regional Electorates) Ordinance, 1971, was published. Its schedule lists the 18 regional electorates and the open electorates comprised within each regional electorate. The regional electorates are: (1) Bougainville, (2) Central, (3) Chimbu, (4) Eastern Highlands, (5) East New Britain, (6) East Sepik, (7) Gulf, (8) Madang, (9) Manus, (10) Milne Bay, (11) Morobe, (12) New Ireland, (13) Northern, ( 14) Southern Highlands, ( 15) Western, ( 16) Western Highlands, ( 17) West New Britain, and (18) West Sepik. Information on the open electorates within each regional electorate are given in chapter III below.
Administration of the Electoral Ordinance
27. The administration of the Electoral Ordinance is the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer. Under his authority, a returning officer is responsible I for the proper conduct of the election within his electorate. An assistant returning officer may be appointed for a portion of an electorate.
28. On 15 November 1971, the Administrator appointed returning officers for the l 18 regional and 82 open electorates. Subsequently, the Chief Electoral Officer appointed 65 assistant returning officers for the regional electorates and 128 for the open electorates.
Electoral system
29. An optional preferential system was used in the general elections held in 1964 and 1968. Voters had to indicate their first choice among the candidates listed on the ballot papers, and they could show their preference for some or all • of the other candidates, but were not required to do so. It was not considered possible to introduce in Papua New Guinea the preferential system in its entirety, as is the case in Australia, where ballot papers on which the order of preference is not marked for all candidates in the electorate are declared informal (invalid). It was felt that the application of a strictly preferential system in Papua New Guinea would result in an extremely large number of ballot pa,pers being rejected as informal,thus possibly making the result of the poll unrepresentative.
30. Doubts have been expressed about the suitability of the optional preferential system to Papua New Guinea. It has been criticized on the grounds that not many electors would understand it, and the introduction of the 11 first-past-the-post 11 system has been considered.
31, The question was considered by the 1968 United Nations Visiting Mission, which stated in its report: "While the Mission felt that there were drawbacks in the preferential system, it felt bound to acknowledge that it is probably the better system to use in the circumstances prevailing in the Territory. Loyalty to I ... T/1732 Engl ish Page 10 the clan or linguistic group is so strong in New Guinea that, if the ' first-past the- post' system were used, it could be expected that the largest clan or language group would succeed in having its candidate elected in every election, even though that clan or language group could constitute only a small minority of the total electorate." ~/
32 . The Commission of Inquiry on Electoral Procedures which was appointed by the Administrator in 1969, at the request of the House of Assembly, recommended, in view of the majori ty of the people ' s wishes, that the opti onal preferential system t appl ied i n Papua New Guinea remained unchanged . In the view of the Commission, 11 the understanding of the method of distri buti ng preferences under the optional preferenti al system by the average Papuan and New Guinean was anythi ng but cl ear11 . However, the Comm i ssion beli eved that 11 the maj ority of Papuans and New Guineans underst and the value of distri buti ng preferences 11 • The Commiss ion further stated: 11 the people trusted the system and beli eved in its fa i rness , even though no deep understanding existed of its detailed functioning11 • The Commission stated in i ts report that the rejection by the majori ty of the people of the 11 f i rst- past- the- post11 system stemmed from the fear of the preponderance of one particular ethni c group.
33 . The Commiss i on of I nquiry recognized that the optional preferential system could at times lead to a 11 first- past- the- post11 result . In 1968, out of 82 contested e l ectorates, the outcome was decided on an outr ight majority in 22 electorates and preferences decided it in 60 e l ectorates; in 50 of these , the final result was the same as the result that would have been obtai ned in a 11 first- past- the- post11 system; i n the reamining 10 electorates preferences changed the final result.
34. Followi ng the recommendation of the Commiss i on of Inqui ry, the optional preferential system was used in the 1972 elections to the House of Assembly.
Date of the elections
35 . On 29 November 1971, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Ordinance, part X, the Adm i nistrator fixed the date for the general election and writs were issued to the returning officers for the regional and open electorates instructing them to hold elections accordi ng to the law of one member of the • House of Assembly for each electorate .
36 . The following dates for the purposes of the election were appointed:
(a) 29 November 1971, beginning of the nomination period for candidates .
(b) 29 December 1971, closing date for nominations .
(c) 19 February 1972, commencement of polling throughout Papua New Guinea.
(d) 11 March 1972, completion of the polling and beginning of counting of primary votes .
(e) On or before 3 April 1972, return of the writs to the Chief Electoral Officer . ~/ I bid. , Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No . 2, para . 193 . I ... . T/1732 English Page 11
Qualification of electors
37. All persons, whether male or female, other than aliens, as defined in the Citizenship Act, 1948-1969 of the Commonwealth, who are 18 years of age or over • are entitled to enrol and to vote at the elections (since the 1968 elections the minimum age has been reduced from 21 to 18). Each elector is entitled to vote both for the open and for the regional electorate for which he is enrolled • • Enrolment
38. Voting in Papua New Guinea is not compulsory, but registration on the com.mon roll is compulsory for all persons entitled to vote. In previous elections to the House of Assembly, a person who had a home in an electorate, or had lived continuously in an electorate for at least 12 months, was entitled to have his name placed on the roll for that electorate. If an elector was entitled under the Ordinance to have his name placed on one of two or more rolls, he could select the roll on which his name was to be placed.
39, Following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Electoral Procedures, the Electoral Ordinance now provides that a person who has his real place of living in the area of an electorate for more than six months of the preceding twelve months must enrol for that electorate. The real place of living of a person includes the place to which a person living temporarily elsewhere has a fixed intention of returning for the purfose of living there. An elector who is absent from his electorate because of statutory contract employment is deemed to be only temporarily living at the place of employment. The provision of the Ordinance under which a person could choose to enrol for his home electorate has been repealed.
40. Under section 124 of the Electoral Ordinance, an elector who is temporarily absent from the electorate in which he is enrolled may cast an absentee vote in any other electorate in Papua New Guinea. The elector who wishes to cast an absentee vote must answer the questions put to him by the presiding officer in accordance with section 117 of the Electoral Ordinance and, if the answers show that he is entitled to vote, he may be allowed to do so on making a declaration in the prescribed form, addressed to the returning officer for the electorate in which he claims to be enrolled. " 41. Where the name of an elector has been incorrectly omitted or struck from, or cannot. be found by the presiding officer, in the certified list of voters of his electorate, the elector may be permitted to vote in accordance with section 130 of the Electoral Ordinance, if he makes a declaration in the prescribed form before the presiding officer. Upon receiving a ballot paper from a person voting under this section, the presiding officer, in the presence of the voter and of such scrutineers as rray be present, and without unfoldirg the ballot paper, must endorse it and place it in an envelope bearing the declaration of the voter and addressed to the returning officer for the electorate in which the elector claims to be enrolled. Similar provisions are contained in section 131 of the Electoral Ordinance for the casting of votes by electors against whose names on the certified list of voters a mark has been placed, in accordance with I ... T/1732 English Page 12 section 120, indicating that a ballot paper had already been handed to them, but who declare that they have not voted.
42. Under section 80 of the Electoral Ordinance, voting by post is allowed by an elector who: (a) will not be in Papua New Guinea throughout the polling period, or will be 10 miles by the nearest practicable route from a polling booth; (b) will be travelling or away from his residence under conditions which will t preclude his voting at a polling booth; (c) is seriously ill or infirm, and by reason of that illness or infirmity will be precluded from attending a polling • booth to vote; or (d) by reason of his membership in a religious order or his religious belief is precluded from attending a polling booth.
Q,ualifications of candidates
43. Section 66 of the Electoral Ordinance provides that a candidate for election to the House of Assembly must: (a ) be an elector of Papua New Guinea; (b) have attained the age of 21 years; (c) be enrolled for, or entitled to have his name transferred to, the roll of the electorate for which he is a nominee; (d) be born in Papua New Guinea and have resided in the electorate for wh ich he is a nominee for a period of s ix months; or, if he was not born in Papua New Guinea, have resided in Papua New Guinea for a continuous period of five years; or have been an elected member of the House of Assembly.
44. A person is entitled to have his name transferred to the roll of the electorate for wh ich he is to be nominated if he has at any time had his real place of living in the area of the electorate for a continuous period of five years.
45. A person is not qualified for nomination if he holds an office in the public service. Formal resignation must be made and accepted before a public servant may be a nominee.
46. A person is qualified to be a nominee for a regional electorate if: (a) he is qualified for nomination for an open electorate within that regional electorate; and (b) he possesses the educational qualifications as specified by, or determineg under, the regulations.
47. The educational qualifications required for the regional electorates at the • 1972 ele ctions were the attainment of the Papua New Guinea Intermediate Certificate or its equivalent. More than half of the candidates standing for an open electorate in 1972 possessed these educational qualifications.
Nominations
48. A candidate may be a nominee for only one electorate at each election. A nomination requires a deposit of $A 100 and may be lodged at any time after the issue of the writ until noon on the closing day of' nominations.
I ... T/1732 English Page 13
Scrutineers
49. Under section 110 of the Electoral Ordinance, candidates may appoint scrutineers to represent them at polling places during the polling. Not more than one scrutineer is allowed to each candidate at each polling booth . • Identification tribunals • 50. The appointment of voter identification tribunals for polling booths during the 1972 House of Assembly elections was approved. Returning officers were directed by the Chief Electoral Officer to appoint for each polling booth of their respective area a voter identification tribunal composed of three members who should be respected persons in the community. Returning officers were directed to consult local government councils, candidates, political parties and any other interested persons or organizations before making the appointments, to ensure that those who were selected to sit in the tribunal would be acceptable to all parties concerned. The main task of the tribunal was to certify the intending voters eligibility to vote at the particular polling place, should there be any doubts as to his eligibility.
Election officials
51. Under the provisions of section 101 of the Electoral Ordinance, the returning officer is responsible for the appointment of a presiding officer for each polling place and all necessary assistant presiding officers and poll clerks. In a circular addressed to all returning officers on 6 January 1972, the Chief Electoral Officer pointed out that the national election in 1972 was likely to be contested on party lines and emphasized the need to appoint election officials who would be completely impartial in carrying out their duties during the election.
_Voting arrangements and procedures for voting
52. Under section 25 of the Electoral Ordinance, the Administrator may, by notice in the Papua New Guinea Government Gazette: (a) appoint a chief polling place for each electorate; (b) appoint such other polling place for each electorate as he thinks necessary and practicable; and (c) abolish a polling place. Section 104 of the Electoral Ordinance provides that polling booths must have one or more • separate voting compartments, constructed so as to screen the voter from observation while he is marking his ballot paper. According to section 113 of the Electoral Ordinance, the poll shall open at each polling place at 8 a.m. of each day (other than Sunday or a public holiday) during the voting period, and shall not close until all electors present in the polling booth at 6 p.m. and desiring to vote have voted.
53. Section 96 of the Electoral Ordinance provides that, subject to any directive given by the Chief Electoral Officer, the returning officer shall, as soon as practicable after the close of nominations, prepare a polling schedule showing the anticipated dates and times, within the voting period for his electorate, during which the polling booths will open in each polling area in such manner as he considers will give all electors a reasonable and sufficient opportunity to vote. A copy of the polling schedule for an electorate must be forwarded to each candidate in the electorate. T/1732 English Page 14
54. In a circular dated 2 November 1971, the Chief Electoral Officer, recalling that polling booths throughout Papua New Guinea would open on Saturday, 19 February 1972, and that the vote would continue until 11 March, directed the returning officers to make arrangements to keep their polling booths in main town centres open after 19 February. They would be open until 11 March unless the returning officers were satisfied that all those desiring to vote had already done so at an earlier date. In the rural and more remote areas, polling would be conducted in accordance with the polling schedules prepared by each returning officer for each electorate. Once the polling schedules had been published they f should be strictly adhered to. The polling schedules showing the polling places, time and dates on which the polling would take place were published in the Papua New Guinea Government Gazette on 3 February 1972.
55 , The Electoral Ordinance provides that the presiding officer or a poll clerk shall, at the polling, hand to each person claiming to vote a ballot paper initialled by the presiding officer. Ballot papers used i n an election must be in the prescribed form . The names of all candidates standing for election at the electorate are printed on the ballot paper. The order in which the names are printed is determined by casting lots. For the 1972 House of Assembly elections, the Administrator's Executive Council approved the inclusion of photographs of candidates on ballot papers. The square for indicating preferences appeared alongside the candidate 's photograph and, next to it, the name of the candidate. This new form of ballot paper was not expected to eliminate the "whisper ballot" system but was intended to help an illiterate voter to mark his ballot paper in accordance with his wishes.
56 . Provisions for the so-called "whisper ballot" are contained in section 123 of the Electoral Ordinance which prescribes that if a voter satisfies the presiding officer that he is so illiterate that he is unable to vote without assistance, the presiding officer, in the presence of: (a) a person appointed by t he voter for such purpose; or (b) in the absence of any such appointment, the poll clerk, shall mark, fold and deposit his ballot paper for him.
Scrutiny
57. Part XIV of the Electoral Ordinance provides for the course to be followed in ascertaining, by means of a scrutiny, the results of the voting at an election. The scrutiny takes place in counting centres appointed for that purpose by a returning officer, and is conducted by a returning officer or by an assistant • returning officer . Candidates may appoint scrutineers to represent them at the scrutiny.
58 . The scrutiny commences as soon as practicable after the end of the voti~g period. As regards the first count of votes, the officer conducting the scrutiny shall, in the presence of a presiding officer, poll clerk or officer of the public service and of such authorized scrutineers as may choose to attend:
(a) Open all ballot boxes received from polling places within or for the electorate. I .. . T/1732 English Page 15
(b) Reject all informal ballot papers, and arrange the unrejected ballot papers under the names of the respective candidates by placing in a separate parcel all those on which a first preference is indicated for the same candidate.
(c) Count the first preference votes given for each candidate on all • unrejected ballot papers.
(d) Make out and sign a statement, which may be countersi gned by the scrutineers, setting out the number of first preference votes given for each candidate and the number of informal ballot papers.
In the 1972 general elections, the first count of votes began on 11 March at 6 p .m.
59. In the event that a candidate has the necessary majority of votes on the first count and the returning officer is satisfied that the result cannot be changed by the outstanding absentee and postal votes, the Chief Electoral Officer may authorize the returning officer to declare that candidate elected by an outright majority. If no candidate has obtained an outright majority on the f irst count , a period of 14 days after the last day of the polling is allowed before proceeding to a second count so that absentee and postal votes may be received.
60 . The scrutiny of absentee and postal votes as well as of votes cast under sections 130 and 131 of the Electoral Ordinance is also conducted by the returning officer or an assistant returning officer in the presence of scrutineers. Special provisions ensure that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained. In the case of votes cast under section 130 of the Ordinance, the returning officer shall examine the voter 's declaration to verify whether he was entitled to vote under that section.
61. Section 162 of the Electoral Ordinance contains provisions for the mode of determining the result of the scrutiny, as follows:
(a) The returning officer shall ascertain the total number of first preference votes given for each candidate.
(b) The candidate who has received the largest number of first preference votes shall, if that number constitutes an absolute majority of votes, be elected.
(c) If no candidate has received an absolute majority of votes, a second count is made.
(d) On the second count, the candidate who received the fewest first preference votes shall be excluded and each ballot paper counted for him shall be counted for the candidate next in the order of the voter's preference.
(e) If a candidate then has an absolute majority of votes, he shall be deemed elected.
(f) If no candidate has received an absolute majority of votes at the second count, the process of excluding the candidate who has the fewest votes and of counting each of his ballot papers for the candidate next in order of the voter 's preference shall be repeated until one candidate has received an absolute majority. I .. . T/1732 English Page 16
(g) If, on any count, two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, the returning officer shall decide who shall be excluded, and if in the final count two candidates have an equal number of votes, the returning officer shall cast the deciding vote.
Return of the writs
62. After the result of an election has been ascertained, the returning officer • shall: (a) publicly declare the result of the election; (b) certify on the writ the name of the candidate elected; and (c) return the writ through the Chief Electoral Officer.
Court of Disputed Returns
63 . TPe validity of an election or return may be disputed by petition addressed to the Court of Disputed Returns. The Supreme Court is the Court of Disputed Returns.
B. Political parties
64. Att~he ~imep of thNe 1G97~ general elections, the following political groupings _, .i_• 1 were ac ive in apua ew uinea:
Mataungan Association I New Guinea National Party 1 New Guinea Labour Party, Pangu Pati (Papua New Guinea Union Party) · Peli Association People's Progress Party Under-Developed Districts Party United Party United Political Society
65 . By a decision of the Administrator's Executive Council, the United Party, the Pangu Pati and the People's Progress Party, the three parties wi.th the largest number of members in the Second House of Assembly, were allocated time on the administration radio stations and the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Programmes were broadcast in English, Pidgin and Motu. No broadcast time was given to candidates for individual campaign speeches. It was stipulated that the time should be devoted to party policies.
66 . The newspaper Post- Courier, circulated throughout Papua New Guinea, allocated free space to the three parties for publication of their party platforms . The platforms were published each Wednesday over a six-week period, from 12 January to 16 February 1972.
67 . The aims and policies of these three parties were published by the Department of Information and Extension Ser vices in a booklet entitled House of Assembly Elections 1972, which appeared in January 1972. The parties were invited to I ... T/1732 English Page 17
submit for pub l ication policy statements up to a maximum of 2,000 words in the ori ginal language of their choice, together with translations into the two other official languages . The statements had to be signed by the parliamentary leader of the party concerned.
United Party
68 . Forty- three members of the Second House of Assembly declared themselves to be members of the United Party. They included five ministerial members, two ass i stant mini sterial members and the spokesman for the Administrator's Executive Council. The parli amentary leader was Mr. Tei Aba l , who was ministerial Member for Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries.
69 . The aims of the United Party, as stated i n the Department of Information booklet, were to:
(a) Develop a strong system of government at local, area, regional and central level s with laws that expressed the true wishes of the people of Papua New Guinea.
(b) Develop a strong economic system by which an independent Papua New Guinea could support such a system of government . . , (c) Raise the living standard of all people.
( d) Strengthen law and order, and promote respect for the Government, so that all people would be safe from harm and would receive fair and equal treatment ·under the laws of the country regardless of their race, colour or religi ous or persona~ ·bel iefs.
(e) Develop an educational system that would enable the people of Papua New Gu i nea to participate fully in all affairs of the country.
70 . According to its policy on political development, the Party:
(a) Regards the development of a strong political party system as essential.
(b) Considers that political development from village level through to • nati onal level must be pursued strongly.
(c ) Stands for village participation in local government counci ls; area authori t i es; regional participation in a form of regional control; and one central Government elected by the people of Papua New Guinea.
(d) Consider s that self- government should be given to Papua New Guinea immediately after the people decide they want it .
(e) Believes that the final decision for independence and the date for i ndependence should be decided by the House of Assembly, after it has ascertained the des i res of the people of the country. I ... T/1732 Engli sh Page 18
(f) Believes t hat more attention must be given to the village people of Papua New Guinea in the form of political education, so that all people will be aware of the signifi cance of each step taken in political advancement .
(g ) Believes t hat a prerequisite for independence is the development of .. experienced politica l leaders at council, area, regional and national levels, and delegation of more r esponsibility to each institution charged with control at these levels .
71. No official l i st of candidates was published, but the United Party unofficially claimed to have 315 candidates in 94 electorates .
Pangu Pati (Papua New Guinea Union Party )
72 . The Pangu Pati had 12 members in the Second House of Assembly. Forty- seven candidates in the 1972 electi ons were included in the list of the party candidates . Although they were not included in the list, two other candidates declared themselves to be members of the party. The parliamentary leader was Mr . Michael Somare.
73. The party' s published statement declared for self- government now because thi s was how people would learn to govern themse l ves . To prepare for self- government, it was necessary: (a) to have better political education; (b) to give many more important pos iti ons in the public service and business to Papua New Gu i neans as rapidly as possible; and (c) that the Government promote strong politi cal parti es.
74 . The Pangu Pati a imed to do the following:
(a) Solve land problems and , to this end, form an expert committee to look into all land problems . This committee should find a way to determine the proper payment for l a nd that had already been taken and to enact better land laws and provide better land courts.
(b) Make it pos sible for all children to go to s chool up to Form 2 or higher, and to have more high, vocational and technical schools .
(c ) Develop agriculture and find bet ter ways to s e ll agricultural products ; Papua New Guineans should produce their own food instead of buyi ng it from other • I countries ; it should be made easier for Papua New Guinea farmers to obtain loans .
(d) Give more help to Papua New Guineans to obtain loans and training to start their own busines s ;
(e) Help workers ' unions to obtain better pay and conditions of employment for workers i n business and in the public serv i ce.
(f) Make villages better places to live in and to this end provide more t r a ining for bus i nes s a nd f arming i n the village and provide roads and electricity for the v illages. I ... T/1732 English Page 19
75. Accord.in,"'. to the statement, the narty was for national unity and would help all the people of all the districts of the country. Self-government woul d promote economic development and, consequently, self-government should come first. When the party talked about self-government it meant the right of the people to run their country except in regard to defence and foreign affairs.
People's Progress Party
• 7r,_ The People's Progress Partv had 10 members in the Second House of Assembly. They included one rninisteria,l member and two assistant ministerial members. T1,'renty--nine other candidates were endorsed by the party for the 1972 elections. The Chairman of the party is Mr. Julius Chan.
77. The statement of the People's Progress Party called for a strong, stable and ~rogressive svstem of government. These aims were to be achieved by seeking the views and aspirations of the people rather than by laving down a do e;matic platform, and by co-.. operating both inside and outside the House of Assembly with any person, group or party with similar objectives for the orderly and progressive development of Pauua New Guinea.
78. The stated objectives of the party were to:
(a) Preserve democracy through the parliamentary system of government and the rule of law.
(b) Build a nation, dedicated to political and religious liberty and freedom and digni:.v of rran , in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
(c) Promote and maintain a system of responsible government in which co- operation , control and authority can be exercised on ooth the local and central government level.
(d) Create a balance of growth whereby opportunities are equally distributed between the towns and rural areas.
(e) Recognize , encourafoe and protect private ownership and its security, as well as the advancement of free enterprise through individual participation.
(f) Provide opportunities for full employment by means of balanced industrial expansion with population growth.
(g) Strive to ensure that every person receives an education suited to his abilities and suited to each successive stage of the country's development.
(h) Preserve the traditional places, arts, cultures and languages of Papua "Tew Guinea and at the same time press for scientific and technological research to better the uav of life of future generations . I ... T/1732 English Page 20
(j_) Align Papua New Guinea's defence arranp;ements with those of Australia and her allies , and specifically work for greater regional co-operation within the Australasian,. Asian and Pacific Re gion.
79- The People's Protsress Party would ensure that the Reuse of Assembly becomes and re:nains the most important body in the Government and would resist anv attempt to concentrate the power of the Government in the hands of a few men. The party ,muld nress for the establishment of area authorities in all districts, and for the prop;ressive and flexible development of these institutions to suit the differinn: • wishes and needs of the neople of each district. The People's Progressive Party was not concerned about the timing of self--sovernment. Its concern was that Papua
New Guinea gets the type of self-government its people deserve: strong, stable 0 progressive govern~ent.
Under --Developed Districts Party
80. The Under .. •Developed Districts Party had two members in t he Second House of Assembly.
~Tew Guinea Nationa l Partv
81. The New Guinea National Party had as its leader Mr. Thomas ICavali. He was the party's only member in the last House of Assembly.
82. The Mataungan Association had one member in the last House . At the 1972 elections , it had four candidates in ~ast New Britain, including the president of the Association, Mr. Damien Kareku.
New Guinea Labour Party
83. The New Guinea Labour Party had no incumb ent member, but its leader, Mr . T
8ho Tl1e United Political Society ·Hith headquarters at Kavieng~ ~Tew Irelanc1 9 had as its President . Mr. Perry Kwan, who was a candidate for Kavieng Open :::;1ectorate in 1972.
Peli Association
85. The Peli Association was led by Mr. Mattias Yaliwan Wab i ,n;an, who was a candidate for Yan.o;oru--Saussia Open Electorate in East Sepik District in 1972. T/1732 English Page 21
C. Results of the Elections
86. The total number of candidates for election in 1972 was 611, of whom 553 stood for open electorates and 53 for regional electorates; 4 candidates were women. Of the total number of candidates, 74 were members of the Second House of Assembly (10 members of the Second House did not stand for the 1972 elections).
87. In accordance with section 78 of the Electoral Ordinance, Mr. Mi chael Somare and Mr. Brere Awol were declared elected for East Sepik Regional Electorate and West Sepik Coastal Open Electorate respectively as unopposed candidates. In Middle Rama Open Electorate, in Madang District, the election failed in consequence of the death of one of the candidates; pursuant to the provisions of section 79 of the Electoral Ordinance, a supplementary election will be held after the general elections.
88. The total number of voters enrolled was 1 , 384,780. Except for the Chimbu and West New Britain regional electorates and the Talasea open electorate, preliminary figures were made available to the Mission on 10 May show that the total number of votes cast in the electorates where the elections were contested was : 685,996 (of which 76,555 were informal) in the regional electorates; and 818,736 (of which 18,508 were informal) in the open electorates.
89. The number of newly elected members of the House of Assembly whose political affiliation was known at the time of the election was as follows:
Mataungan Association
New Guinea National Party
Pangu Pati
Peli Association
People's Progress Party
United ?arty
United Political Society
Information available at the time of writing the present report indicates that a large number of independent and other candidates have decided to join or support specific political parties. On 26 April, the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly approved a new 17-member coalition Ministry. The senior partner is the Pangu Pati, with seven portfolios, headed by the Assembly's Chief Minister, Mr. Michael Somare. The People's Progress Party and the New Guinea National Party each have four portfolios and the independents have two.
/ ... T/1732 English Page 22
90. Of the 74 members of t he Second House of Assembl y who contested the elections, 38 were returned . A l ar ge number of newly elected members had been membe rs of local government councils. Many members are agriculturalists or teachers ; others are interpreters , businessmen , traders , health and administrative personnel, clerks , me chanics or labourers . One of the women candidates was elected.
I ... T/1732 English Page 23
CHAPTER III
PROGRN~1E OF VISITS A.WD .MEETINGS OF THE t1ISSION
A. Central District
91. The Mission arrived in Port Moresby in Central District on Thursday , 17 February. This district extends for a distance of some 260 miles along the south coast of the mainland east and west of Port fforesby. Back from the coastal section, the country rises to the Wharton ranp;e and the Owen Stanley 11ountains . Along the seaboard there are fertile coastal flats . The district covers an area of 12 0 600 square miles. It has a population of over 167,000 inhabitants . Port ' foresoy is the headquarters of the Administration of Papua New Guinea and of Central District . A valuable rubber growing industry has been established on the low plateaux and slopes between the central coast and the mountains. Village copra production Has started in pre-war years, and a start has been made in establishing cattle herds. Income from shipments to Port Moresby of market garden produce, fish, fruit an~ other village products is also of importance.
92. The Central Regional Electorate includes within its boundary five open electorates . Seven candidates stood for election for the regional electorate. The number of candidates for the o-pen electorates was as follows: Goilala, 4~ Kaikuru-Hiri, 9 ; Moresby Coastal, 11 ; Moresby Inland, 4; and Rigo-Agau, 11.
93. The Mission's activities during the first two days of its visit to the district are mentioned in paragraph 7 above. On Saturday 19 February, the Mission began its observation of the polling in Papua New Guinea, visiting several polling places appointed for the Moresby Coastal and Moresby Open Electorates. The Mission discussed electoral procedures and observed votin~ at the following polling places in Moresby Coastal : Port Moresby Town Council office ; Koki Centre; Public Health Clinic , Tatana: and the former council chamber , Hanuabada. The Mission then visited the pollir.g places of Moresby Inland located at the Administrative College Hall, Wai gani and the Hohola Primary School. At all t hese places , the Mission observed the polling and had talks with voters , electoral officers and members of identification tribunals . On Sunday , 20 February , the Mission departed by plane from Port Moresby for Alotau , in ~rilne Bay District.
94. On its return to Port Moresby after the tour of t hP. other districts, the l1ission held two private meetings to discuss matters concerning the p~eparation of its r eport , and visited the House of Assembl y, the headquarters of the Papua New Guinea Cow.rnand, the Pacific Islands Regiment, the museum and the University of Panua New Guinea , where it held a meeting attended bv a large number of students and other participants. T11e Mi ssion also held conversations with Mr. John Guise, a candidate for Alotau Electorate, and Speaker of the Second House of Assembly.
I ... T/1732 English Page 24
B. Milne Bay District
95. Milne Bay District comprises the extreme south-eastern section of the mainland and extends over 300 miles eastward into the Coral Sea. The district includes D'Entrecasteaux, Lusiade, Woodlark and Trobrianc archipelagos, and covers a land area of 7,800 square miles and a sea area of some 70,000 square miles. The district has a population of 109,000 inhabitants. Alotau, a new town, is now the district headquarters. Copra is the basis of the district's economy. Coffee output is small but provides a valuable cash crop for people of the mountainous inland regions.
96. Two candidates stood for election for the re~ional electorate. Candidates for election for the three open electorates within the boundary of the regional electorate were: Alotau, 3; Esa'ala, 8; and Kula, 7.
97. On Sunday, 20 February, the Mission arrived in the district at Gurney airstrip where it was met by the Acting .District Commissioner, ~/fr. W. J. G. Lambden, and senior officials, and was then driven to Alotau. On 21 February, the Mission proceeded by trawler across Milne Bay to Gwavili, a polling place in the Alotau Open Electorate. The Mission observed the polling and had talks on voting procedures with electoral officers and local people who were present at the polling places. It also visited the local primary school and boat-yard. On 22 February, the Mission proceeded by car to Bubuleta, in the Alotau Open Electorate, and observed the polling.
98. Other places visited in Milne Bay District included the Alotau Primary School, Koeabule Vocational Centre , Cameron High School, Ahioma Welfare Training Centre, Ahioma Co-operative, Bubuleta Agricultural Training Centre, and Alotau Hospital. In the course of its visits, the Mission met with teachers, students, doctors, nurses and welfare workers from whom it received valuable information. On Wednesday , 23 February, the Mission departed from Alotau for Port Moresby and Kiete,.
C. Bougainville District
99. The district comprises Bougainville Island, the largest island in the Solomons group , the smaller island of Buka to the north and many small islands and atolls, including the isolated Mortlock Islands and Tasman Atoll, inhabited by Polynesian communities. Two mountain ranges with peaks rising to 8,000 feet extend from north to south of Bougainville Island. The interior is jungle and inaccessible. Along the coast there are extensive areas of rich volcanic soil. The district has an area of 4,000 square miles. Kieta is the district headquarters. The district has a population of about 80,000 inhabitants. Plantation develor:ment was started before the First World War, when Bougainville was under German administration. Copra and cocoa are the main agricultural rrcducts. A dominant economic factor, however , the one which has transformed the life and economy of central Bougainville, is the copper mine at Panguna) with its investment of more than $A 400 million. I ... T/1732 English Page 25
100. The Bougainville Regional Elector ate includes within its boundary three open el ector at es. Two candidates stood f or el ecti on for the regional el ectorat e, and 15 for the open electorates as follows: No rth Bougainville, 6; Central Bougainville, 5; and South Bougainville, 4.
101 . The Mission arrived in Kieta on Wednesday, 23 February, and was met by the Acting District Commissioner, Mr . R. F . Hearne, and senior Administration officials. On the same day, the Mission held a private meeting to consider a number of points relating to its visits to the various districts, such as nu_mber of polling places to be visited, contacts with candidates and indigenous people, and publ icity in the newspaper and over the radio. The Mission then met informally with candidates and political leaders.
102. On Thursday, 24 February, the Mi ssion separated into two groups : one departed by plane for Buin, in the South Bougainville Open Electorate, and the other flew to Wakunai, in the northern area of the Centr al Bougainville Open Electorate . The first group observed the polling places located at Arnio and Kanauro and discussed a number of points with the electoral officers concerning voting arrangements. The second sroup observed the elections at the polling place of Numa Numa. Mission members had the opportunity of talking to voters from mainland electorates voting at Numa Numa as absentee voters. I n the course of the day, members of the Mission visited a primary and a secondary school in the area.
103 . On Friday, 25 February, the 11ission drove to Arawa and observed the polling at the North Na.ssioi Society. In Arawa , the Mission held a meeting with local people at the request of Mr. Raphael Niniku, a candidate for the Central Bougainville npen Electorate, and Messrs. Narug and Ari Suisa , political leaders from the village of Arawa.
104. After the meeting, the Mission drove to Panguna, visited Bougainville Copper Fty., Ltd. and attended the ceremony of the granting of certificates and awards to trainees who had completed their courses . At the Sub-District Office, at Panguna, the Mission met with indigenous political leaders. Present were Mr. Henry Moses, a candidate for Bougainville Central, and Mr. Peter Stamoe and other members of the Panguna Local Government Council.
D. East New Britain District
105. The district consists of the northern and eastern parts of the crescent-shaped island of New Britain and also includes the Duke of York Isl ands . Vol canic activity is particularly evident in the north, near Rabaul, where two volcanoes , }1atupit and Vulcan Island, erupted in 1937 . The island covers an area of 14,000 square miles, of which 6,000 are included in East New Britain. The district is one of the most productive in Papua New Guinea because of the early establishment of coconut plantations in the rich volcanic soil of the Gazel le Peninsul a. The district has a population of about 105,000 inhabitants. Some 80 per cent of the total population is concentrated in the Gazelle Peninsula where the Tolai people numbering over 60,000 live . I ... T/1732 English Page 26
106. Within the boundary of East New Britain there are a regional electorate and four open electorates. Two candidates were contesting the regional seat. The number of candidates standing for election for the open electorates were: Gazelle, 4; Kokopo, 6; Pomio, 4; and Rabaul, 4.
107. The Mission arrived at Rabaul on Saturday, 26 February 9 and was met by the District Commissioner, Mr. T. T. Carey, and senior officials of the Administration. The Mission had a meeting with the District Commissioner and his staff and visited polling places in the Gazelle, Kokopo and Rabaul Op en Electorates to observe the election. The Mission drove first to the polling place at Nonga Base Hospital in Rabaul Open Electorate, then proceeded to the village of Bitagalip, in the Kokopo Open Electorate and Vunapalading and Kerat Hall in the Gazelle Peninsula Open Electorate. On its return to the Rabaul area, the ~ission visited the polling place at Katava Plantation in the Rabaul Open Electorate. At the polling places, the Mission met candidates, electoral officers and scrutineers.
108. On Sunday , 27 February, the Mission held separate meetings with candidates for election of various political affiliations. One group was composed of members of the United Party: Mr . Mattias Taliman, Mi nisterial Member for Education and a candidate for Gazelle; Mr. Joseph Tolau, a candidate for Rabaul ; Mr. Nason Tokiala, a traditional Tolai leader and a candidate for Gazelle ; Mr. Samson Patiliu, a candidate for the East New Britain Regional Electorate; and Mr. Josiah Wartovo, a candidate for Rabaul.
109. The Mission next met Mr. Oscar Tammur, a leader of the Mataungan Association, an incumbent member of the House of Assembly and a candidate for Kokopo.
110. The Mission then met a group of four independent candidates and one from the People's Progress Party. They were: Messrs. E. Tade, M. Tomakala and L. Tarum, candidates for Kokopo ; Mr. J. Tarutia, a candidate for Gazelle; and Mrs. Nellie E. Lawrence, a candidate for Kokopo who had declared to be for the People's Progress Party.
111. Before its departure from Rabaul on 28 February, the Mission visited Rabaul High School, the Volcanological Observatory and the recently established War Museum.
E. New Ireland District
112. The district comprises the long, narrow island of New Ireland, New Hanover Island, the San Mathias group to the north and some other smaller islands. A mountain range extends almost the full length of the main island. The district covers an area of 3,800 square miles and has a population of over 50,000 inhabitants, most of whom live in the coastal areas. The district headquarters is at Kavieng. New Ireland is one of the major copra producing districts in Papua New Guinea. Cocoa production and fishing are on the increase. Rubber is a comparatively new crop for the district. / ... T/1732 English Page 27
113. In addition to a regional electorate, the district includes two open electorates. At the 1972 general elections , two candidates sought election for the regional electorate , four in t he Kavieng Open Electorate and four in the Namatanai Open Electorate .
114. On Monday, 28 February, the Mission departed from Rabaul and, on its way to other districts of the mainland, stopped at Kavieng where it was met by administration officials. The Mission held conversations with two candidates for the Kavieng Open Electorate , Mr. Perry Kwan , President of the United Political Society, and Mr. Sirenda Apasi. The conversations centred on the current political election. Mr. Kwan criticized the publicity facilities made available by the Administration to the three major political parties . However, he expressed general satisfaction with the way in which the elections were being conducted. Afterwards the Mission departed for Manus.
F . Manus District
115. The district, situated two degrees south of the Equator, comprises the Admiralty islands, of which Manus is the largest, and other groups of small islands scattered over an ocean area of 80,000 square miles. Manus Island has a central range of hills rising to over 2,000 feet. It is heavily timbered but has poor agricultural potential. Most of the small islands are low-lying atolls. The land area of the district is 800 square miles and has a population of about 23,000 inhabitants, most of whom live on Manus island. They are excellent seamen and fishermen and earn a cash income from copra. The district headquarters is at Lorengau.
116. The district includes the Manus Regional Electorate and the Manus Open Electorate. Four candidates sought election for the regional electorate and six for the open electorate. The Mission arrived in the district at Momote, on Los Negros island, adjacent to Manus, and was met by administration officials. It held talks concerning the elections with Mr. Joel Maiah , a Pangu Pati candidate for the Manus Open Electorate~ and Mr. Silas Pokupen, an independent candidate for the regional electorate. The Mission then departed for Madang .
.. G. Madang District 117 . Madang District extends along the northern coast of New Guinea from just east of the mouth of the Sepik River to the western border of Morobe District, a distance of about 220 miles. It includes a narrow coastal plain, where copra is grown , rugged inland mountains, swamp areas in the lower Ramu Valley, tropical grass l ands and ranges of the central cordillera rising t o nearly i5 , 000 feet. It also includes several off-shore islands. The district covers an area of 10 , 800 square miles and has a population of about 177,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live on the coast or in the coastal hills. The district headquarters is a:t the t own of Madang . Copra is the major export of the district and timber is becoming of great importance. Aviation , trading, construction, engineering, ship repairs and tobacco are the major industries.
I ...
t 'r ' T/1732 English Page 28
118. The district includes the Madang Re r, ional Electorate and six open electorates~ Three candidates contested the regional seat. The candidates for the open electorate were : Bogia, 6; Madang, 6; Middle Ramu , 8 (as stated in paragraph 88 above, a by-election is to be held in this electorate) ; Rai Coast, 7 ; Sumkar, 4~ and Usino- Bundi, 6. ... 119 . Jl_t Madang , members of the Mission held informal conversations with senior administration officials, the Chairman of the Madang Town Council, the returning officer of the Madang Open Electorate and the following candidates: Mr. Angrnai Bilas, Ministerial Member for Trade and Industry, United Party candidate for Madang ; Mr. Rawad R. Mayun, an independent candidate for Sumkar , Mr. Kaukesa Kamo, a People's Progress Party candidate for Madang ; and Mr. Jerry Kaan, a Pangu Pati candidate for the Hadang Regional Electorate. Following these conversations, the Mission departed for Wewak.
H. East Sepik District
120. East Sepik District extends for some 120 miles along the northern coastline of the mainland and covers an area of approximately 17,000 square miles. The district consists of a narrow coastal strip rising abruptly to the relatively low, but rugged, Prince Alexander Range. Beyond and to the south lie the plains and swamps of the central depression which also form the flood plain for the Sepik River. The depression separates the low coastal hills and ranges from the central ranges. Wewak is the district headquarters. Coffee and rice are the two main agricultural products. The production of both these crops is entirely in the hands of indigenous farmers and is grown mainly in the Maprik and Wewak sub-districts. Cattle production is being fostered on the coastal plain in conjunction with coconut farming. Promising samples of copper have been discovered near the southern border of the district.
121. The district has a population of approximately 207,000 inhabitants. About half the population is concentrated in the Maprik Sub- district. Some 90 different languages are spoken in the district , but Pidgin is also spoken by the majority of the people.
122. Within the boundary of the East Sepik Regional Electorate, there are six cpen electorates. The only candidate for the regional electorate, Mr. Michael Somare, was declared elected unopposed. The number of candidates for the open electorates was : Angoram, 6; Dreikikir, 5; Maprik, 9 ; Wewak , 10; Wosera-Gaui, 8; and Yangoru-Saussia, 7.
123. The Mission arrived at Wewak airport in the evening of 28 February and was met by the District Commissioner , Mr. E.G. Hicks ; the parliamentary leader of the Fangu Pati, Mr. Somare; the President of the Wewak -But Local Government Council, Mr. H. Bevi; and other officials.
124. On 29 February, the Mission departed by road for Maprik. On its way to !Iaprik, the Mission visited Paparum, a polling place for the Yangoru-Saussia Open Electorate. At Maprik , the Mission had discussions with the Deputy District I ... T/1732 English Page 29
Commissioner, Mr. J. Young-Whitford; the incumbent members of the House of Assembly, Messrs. Pita Lus, Kokamo Ulia and Naui Saumambi ; and the President of the Local Government Council, rnr. Kaisman.
125. At the Maprik local government council chambers , the Mission held a public meeting attended by election candidates , members of the Maprik Local Government Council , and some 150 people. Speakers expressed satisfaction with the process of the elections but some showed concern about the difficulties resulting from a cargo cult , which was causing people to stay away from the polls in some electorates of the district. After the meeting, and following a visit to the exhibition of Sepik handicrafts at the Council Haus Tambaran, the Mission returned by plane to Wewak. Later that day, members of the Mission held further conversations with Mr. Somare.
I. Morobe District
126. r.lorobe District is divided by the Markham River Valley running down to the port of Lae. It includes the mountainous Huon Peninsula to the north of the Markham, and in the south the semi•-highland valleys of the Bulolo-Wau area and the mountains of the Menyamya region. The district also contains coastal swamps, dense rain forests, dry grasslands and productive valleys. It covers an area of over 12,000 square miles. Lae is the district headquarters. The Highlands Highway has made Lae the port for the highlands districts. Coffee is an important village crop in many parts of the district and cocoa i s also grown. The main products in the coastal areas are copra and peanuts. Village interest in cattle raising is being encouraged. The forest industries in the Bulolo Valley and at Lae are among the most highly developed in Papua new Guinea. The district has a population of 253,400 inhabitants.
127. The Morobe Regional Electorate includes eight open electorates. Two candidates stood for election for the regional electorate. The number of candidates for election in open electorates was: Bulolo, 12~ Finschhafen, 11 ; Huon Gulf,, 5; Kabwun, 6 ; Lae, 5; Markham, 5; Menyarnya, 4 ; and Nawae, 5.
128. The }1iission arrived in Lae in the morning of 1 March and had a briefing session with the District Commissioner, Mr. R.T . Galloway, and members of the district administration. Messrs. Stephen Ahi , Eki Vaki, and Luther Karo Ahi, .. independent candidates for the Lae Open Electorate , and Mr . Toni Ila, a Pangu Pati candidate, met members of the Mission and had conversations with them. In the course of the day , the Mission visited the sub district office, a polling place of the Lae Open Electorate.
129. On 2 March, the Mission departed from Lae by car and observed the election at the polling place located at Situm, in the Huon Gulf Open Electorate . After returning to Lae, the Mission flew to Finschhafen where it held conversations with the returning officer and with Messrs. Linage Hebaumu, Hesingut B. Wa ngu , and Zibang Situyu Zurenuo, independent candidates for the Finschhafen Open Electorate, at the headquarters of the Finschhafen Local Government Council. The Mission then
I .. . T/1732 English Page 30 proceeded by car to Malasiga and observed the voting at the polling place located in that village. On 3 March, the Mission flew to Kabwum, in the mo untainous region of the north , where it met the Assistant District Commissioner and Mr. Rauke Garn , a candidate for the Kabwum Open Electorate and incumbent member of the House of Assembly. From Kabwum, the Mission proceeded by plane to Yalumet , in the same open electorate, and observed the polling.
130. Wh ile in Morobe District, the Mission held a meeting at Lae to discuss matters concerning the preparation of its report. It also visited the Papua New Guinea Institute of Technology and the Bugandi High School in Lae , and talked with students and teachers. At Finschhafen, the Mission visited the Vocational Training Centre and Butaweng Hospital. At noon on 3 March, the Mission departed for Goroka by plane .
J. Eastern Hi ghlands District
131. The district covers an area of 4,600 square miles of the great central range of Papua New Guinea. Within its boundaries, there are mountains rising to 12,000 feet and upland valleys at altitudes varying from 5 ,000 to 7,000 feet. The headwaters of three main river systems drain the district, the Purari and Vailala, which flow southward, an_d the Ramu which flows northward. Access to the coast is by the Highlands Highway to Lae . Goroka is the district headquarters. Coffee is the main export commodity and pyrethrum is grown above the coffee belt. Other cash crops include passion fruit and tobacco. There are about 260 small village cattle projects which have received assistance from the Papua New Guinea Development Bank. The district , with a population of 239,000 inhabitants, is one of the most densely populated in Papua New Guinea.
132. The Eastern Highlands Regional Electorate includes seven open electorates . Five candidates stood for election for the regional electorate. The number of candidates within the open electorates was : Daulo, 7; Goroka, 12; Henganofi, 9; Kainantu , 7 ; Lufa, 10; Obura, 4 ; and Okapa, 11.
133 . The Mission arrived in Goroka in the afternoon of 3 1'1arch and was met by the District Commissioner, Mr. J.P. Sinclair. Upon its arrival, the Mission split into three groups. One group proceeded by car to the Daulo Open Electorate to observe the polling at Kwongi No . 2 polling place. Another group, also by car, .. visited the polling place at Liorofa in the Goroka Open Electorate. The third group flew by helicopter to Nivi, a remote polling place in the mountains which was not accessible by car, to observe the polling.
134. On 4 March , the Mission held a meeting at the Goroka local go vernment council chambers. The meeting was attended by members of the Administrator's Executive Council, several other members of the House of As sembly, candidates, members of the Local Government Council , the Chamber of Commerce, farmers and others. Members of the House and candidates present included Mr. Tei Abal, Ministerial Member for Agriculture and a United Party candidate for Wabag in the Western Hi ghlands; Mr. Sinake Giregire, Ministerial Member for Post and Telegraphs, United Party
I ... T/1732 English Page 31
candidate for Daulo; Mr. Thomas Leahy, Spokesman for the Administrator's Executive Council; Mr. Pupuna Aruno, United Party candidate for Lufa; Mr. John Akunai, United Party candidate for Goroka; Mr. Kevin Massivo, independent candidate for the Eastern Highlands Regional Electorate; Mr. Kege Yasinamo, candidate for Okapa; and Mr. Dennis Buchanan, candidate for the Eastern Highlands Regional Electorate. Subjects discussed included the question of relations of Papua New Guinea with the United Nations; self-government and independence; the electoral system and the selection of candidates; the role of clan relationshi~s; issues of economic development, including assistance from the United Nations; financial support of candidates; and the question of compulsory versus voluntary voting.
135. On the same day, the Mission visited Goroka Teachers College, which is attended by students from all districts of Papua New Guinea, and had talks with the college staff and the students. The college has had substantial assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In the afternoon of 4 March, the Mission departed for Kundiawa.
K. Chimbu District
136. Chimbu District lies in the central range system of Papua New Guinea. The topography varies from plateau country in the south to the high alpine region of Mount Wilhelm on the northern boundary. Access to the coast is via Goroka along the Highlands Highway to Lae. The district covers an area of 2,260 square miles. Kundiawa is the district headquarters. The economic development of the district is based on coffee. The pyrethrum industry was started in 1964.
137. The district, with a population of 189,000 inhabitants, is the most densely populated of Papua New Guinea. The majority of the population live in the warm valleys and on hillsides between altitudes of 4,000 and 8,000 feet. The district embraces one of the largest language groups of Papua New Guinea, where Kuman is spoken by some 120,000 people.
138. Within the boundary of the Chimbu Regional Electorate there are seven open electorates. Five candidates were standing for election for the regional electorate. The number of candidates for election in the open electorates was: Chuave, 11; Gumine, 14; Karimui-Nomane, 7; Kerowagi, 6 ; Kundiawa, 11; .. Mount Wilhelm, 5; and Sinasina, 12 . 139. The Mission arrived at Kundiawa in the afternoon of 4 March , and upon its arrival held informal conversations with the District Commissioner, Mr. L. J. Doolan, and the Deputy District Commissioner, Hr. M. D. Brown. On Sunday, 5 March, the Mission held a private meeting to consider questions related to the preparation of its report. On 6 March , the Mission held a meeting with the District Commissioner and officials of the district administration. The discussions covered a wide range of subjects, including communications, co-operatives, education, political education, simplification of the electoral system, and assistance by high school students at the polling places. The Mission then proceeded by car to Du and Ubanidiawa, two polling places in the Sinasina Open Electorate. In both places, the Mission observed the polling and held discussions I . .. T/1732 English Page 32
with local leaders. The t1ission drove to Koge Mission Station, where it visited the school, and held a public meeting at the headquarters of the Sinasina Local Government Council . Present at the me eting were 2 candidates for the regional electorate, 11 for Sinasina, 7 for Chuave, 18 membe rs of the Sinasina and Chauve local government councils and the general public.
140. At the meeting, candidates and local government councillors raised points concerning economic development, the i ntroduction of coffee as a cash crop in the area, concern over present low coffee prices and the problem of price stabilization. Other questions discussed included self-government, the role of Australia in the development of Papua New Guinea, foreign investment, assistance from the United Nations, the activities of large companies , the need for education and the importance of village opinion.
141. On the same day , the Mission held a meeting at the Kundiawa Women I s Training Centre. The meeting was attended by all the 71 candidates who stood for election in Chimbu District, members of the Local Government Council and the general public. During an extended session, many political and economic subjects were discussed. Special emphasis was placed on the relationship between the central Government and local administrations, the concepts of local autonomy and area authorities, the place of party organizations and independent candidacies, the problem of a common language and proper utilization of English, Pidgin and local languages, public information about the accomplishments and work of the House of Assembly, the existence of cargo cul ts and the need for more widespread political education, with possible co-operation between Australia and the United Nations in that regard. There were lively discussions on the requirements for individuals to resign their public positions in order to stand as candidates, and the fairness of those requirements as compared with other members of the community desiring to stand for office. Economic problems, especially the marketing of coffee, foreign investment, regulation of the activities of large companies, the treatment of profits and employment, were again stressed. Accomplishments -of the Australian Administration were favourably commented. Appreciation was expressed to the Wo rld Health Organization (WHO) for its malaria eradication progrernrr.e and to the United Nations Educatior1c!l, fJc ienti fi c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its help to the Teachers College in Goroka; the possibility of engaging other specialized agencies iL the development of Papua New Guinea was urged.
L. Western Highlands District
142. Western Hi ghlands District is situated in the mountainous centre of Papua New Guinea. It includes ranges over 12,000 feet, and has the headwaters of some of the main river systems of the country. The lower valleys are covered with rain forests but valleys at altitudes between 4 ,000 and 8,000 feet have been denuded of timber by agricultural work. The district covers an area of 9,600 square miles and has a population of over 331,000 inhabitants. Some of the largest l anguage groups are included in the district. The Highlands Hi ghway is the major link with the coast. The district headquarters is at Mount Hagen . Coffee is the chief source of income and tea is expected to grow in economic importA.nce. I . .. T/1732 English Page 33
143. There are 11 open electorates in the area of the Western Highlands Regional Electorate. Four candidates stood for election for the regional electorate. The following n-i..unbers were standing for the open electorates: Dei, 7 ; Hagen, 12; Jimi, 2; Kandep Porgera, 10; Kompian Baiyer, 10; Lagaip, 8; Mul, 5; Tambul Nebilyer, 6; Wabag, 3; Wahgi, 6; and Wapenamanda, 8.
144. The Mission arrived at Mount Hagen by plane in the morning of 7 March, and was met by the Acting District Commissioner, Mr. R. Aisbett. It then proceeded by car to Kiliga Ceremonial Ground, a polling place in the Hagen Electorate. The Mission observed the polling and had conversations with Mess rs. Ogla Makindi, Komp Dei, Pena Ou, Denbis, Namp Opa, Koim Kip, Wamp Wan and Minembi Ken, candidates for the Hagen Electorate, and with Mr. Paul Pora, candidate for the regional electorate, who were present at the polling place.
145. The Mission also had a meeting with the District Commissioner and administration officials and visited the administration radio station where it was given information on programmes broadcast by political parties. On the afternoon of 7 March, the Mission departed by plane for Mendi.
146. Southern Highlands District covers an area of 6,800 square miles , ranging in altitude from 2,800 to over 14,000 feet, and includes large areas of suitable agricultural and pastoral land. The district is surrounded by peaks of dormant volcanoes which covered the valleys in the past with volcanic deposits. The district headquarters is at Mendi. Completion of the Highlands Highway section from Mendi to Mount Hagen, which is expected in late 1972, will provide the main arterial link in the district. The district has a population of over 206,800 inhabitants. The five principal languages spoken in the district are related to other highland language groups.
147. 'There are seven open electorates within the limits of the Southern Highlands Regional Electorate. There were four candidates standing for election in the regional electorate. The number o:' candid.ates fc::· the open electorates was: I alibu- Pangia, 9; Kagua-Erave, 4; Koroba-Kopiago, 5; Mendi, 7 ; Nipa, 11 ; Poroma-Kutubu, 4; .. and Tari-Komo, 7 . 148. The Mission arrived at Mendi in the afternoon of 7 March and was me t by the District Commissioner, Mr. D. J . Clancy, and administration officials. On 8 March, two members of the Mission proceeded by plane to the area of the Ialibu-Pangia Electorate where they observed the voting at the Kero polling place and talked with candidates. They also visited the Kero Primary School and the local dispensary, and later had an informal meeting with candidates and councillors at the chambers of the Ialibu Local Government Council. The two other members of the Mission proceeded by car to the Bela polling place where they observed the voting.
I ..• T/1732 English Page 34
149. At Mendi, the Mission held a meeting with candidates for election and members of the Local Government Council. The following candidates spoke: Mr. Matiabe Yuwi, a member of the House and candidate for Tari-Komo; Mr. Andrew Andaija, a candidate for Tari-Komo and President of the Tari Local Government Council; Mr. Glaimi-Warena, a candidate for Ialibu-Pangia; Mr. Nome i Pangial, a candidate for Mendi; and Mr. Undi-Nandi, President of the Ialibu Local Government Council and a candidate for Ialibu-Panga. The need for education and economic development was stressed repeatedly at this meeting, along with views as to the relative priority of self-government. Appeals were made for road links with other areas of Papua New Guinea and questions were raised concerning the availability of various types of United Nations assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories. On 9 March, the Mission departed for Daru.
N. Western District
150. Western District covers an area of 37,700 square miles, three q~arters of which is savannah and grassland subject to drought during the dry season and to extreme flooding in the rainy period. The remainder comprises broken hills rising towards the main central range. The district has a common border of 320 miles with West Irian. The principal river systems are navigable, the Fly River for 750 miles and the Strickland River for 600 miles. The district has very limited economic resources. A small quantity of copra is produced. The coastal people are fishermen , while inland people are predominantly hunters and food gatherers. Agriculture is limited to growing subsistence crops. Major hopes are based on high-yielding Malayan rubber which was introduced in 1966. Crocodile hunting, while in decline, remains important. It is expected that a locally based fishing industry for the processing of barramundi, crayfish and reef fish will develop. Widespread mining prospecting by a number of companies has not so far realized hopes of any significant mineral exploitation, although the north-western part of the district appears to have potential.
151. The district has a population of 66,000 inhabitants. Of this number, about 30,000 live on Daru Island and in areas either close to the Fly River estuary or along the lower reaches of the Bamu and Aramia rivers. Vast sections of the district are uninhabited.
152. Within the Western Regional Electorate there are two open electorates, North Fly and South Fly. Two candidates stood for election for the regional electorate and 12 for the open electorates: six for North Fly; and six for South Fly.
153. The Mission arrived in Daru on 9 March and was met by the District Commissioner , Mr. K. A. Brown. It visited Daru High School where students of all the primary and secondary schools on the island had assembled. Members of the Mission had conversations with teachers and students. On 10 March, the Mission flew from Daru to the area of Lake Murray. It held discussions with local officials at Lake Murray and visited the Saurian Research Centre where crocodiles are being s tudied for their potential as a source of local income.
I ... T/1732 English Page 35
Weather conditions made it i mpos sible to visit the remote Nomad area. On its return to Daru, the Mission held a public meeting at the local government council charrfuers. Present were candidates, councillors, administration officials and the general public. The following persons spoke: Mr . Naipuri Maina, Pangu Pati candidate for the regional electorate; Mr. Arthur Wyborn, United Party candidate for South Fly; Mr. Samuel Kloney, Pangu Pati candidate for South Fly; Mr. G. Roakein, Superintendent for Education ; and Dr. Tatie Ol ewale , President of the Oriomo Bituri Local Government Council . Discussions involved the level of popular participation in the elections, compulsory versus voluntary voting, voting for candidates on t he basis of personality rather than politic al affiliation, voting on tribal lines , the l ength of the polling period and t he travel expenses of candidates. Economic develo~ment and the l evel of Australian assistance to Papua New Guinea after the attainment of self-government was raised. The meeting ended with several questions relating to education , particularly the facilities offered by the United Nations and its agencies. On 11 March, the Mission departed for Port Moresby.
0. Mee tings in Canberra
154. After the final meetings in Port Mo resby ( see paragraph 7 above ) , the Mission proceeded to Canberra on 15 March. The day of 16 March was spent in meetings at the Department of External Territories and the Department of Foreign Affairs for a general review of the Mission's travels in Papua New Guinea and its observations with regard to the elections. The whole range of electoral policy and arrangements was considered, as well as t he pattern of existing and anticipated future relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia. The relationship of the United Nations to these questions, as well as the emerging participation of Papua New Guinea in the world community also came under discussion. Aus tralian officials taking part in the discussion at the Department of External Territories included Mr . A. Peacock , Minister; Mr. D. 0. Hay, Secretary; and other senior officials . The meeting at the Department of External Territories was presided by Mr. K. C. O. Shann, Acting Secretary, and included senior Australian foreign policy officials concerned with the ar ea under discussion. At a reception given by the Minister for External Territories, members of the Mission had the opportunity to talk with members of Parliament, foreign diplomats, government officials and • other individuals prominent in Australian life .
I .. . T/1732 English Page 36
CHAPTER IV. OBSERVATIONS BY THE VISITING MISSION
Background. In 1969, after the previous elections, a commission was appointed by t he Administrator, at the insti gation of the House of Assembly, to inquire i nto current electoral procedures. Among its members were the then Chief Electoral Officer of Papua New Guinea and the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of the Commonwealth of Australi a. Its Secretary was the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of Papua New Guinea, Mr . S. Kaumi, who subsequently assumed over-all responsibility for the conduct of the elections. The Commission travelled widely throughout the Territory and received written and verbal submissions from the population. In its report it made a number of recommendations, amongst which were the retention of the "optional preferential" voting system, the lowering of the voting age to 18 years and a requirement that, with the exception of persons under statutory contractual employment, persons living for more than six months in an electorate should vote in that electorat e. These recommendations were adopted and incorporated into the Electoral Ordinance, 1963-1971.
155. It appeared to the Mission that the conduct of the elections by the Administering Authorit y was comprehensive, thorough and f~ir. In the view of the Mission , the Administration had taken pains to ensure that everyone was given an opportunity to vote and that generally the polling officials were properly instructed in their functions. In a Territory as widespread as Papua New Guinea, with its scattered population, its multiplicity of languages and the difficulties of communication, the expenditure of effort in time, manpowe r and money was conscientious to a degree. In some cases, mobile polling teams travelled for days over difficult terrain to collect the votes of an isolated hamlet.
156. The Mission found that these efforts were widely appreciated. Nowhere was any suggestion made that the conduct of the elections was other than conscientious and impartial , and there was general recognition of the care taken by the Administration to ensure a fair result. 'Iwo innovations in particular were universally commended - the reproduction of the candidates' phot ographs on ballot papers and the presence of identification tribunals at rural polling stations. The use of photographs was a considerable technical achievement , particularly as there were 611 candidates. The tribunals greatly facilitated l the work of election offcials and were in many pl aces a valuable safeguard against • I fraudulent voting. j
157. The electoral system in Papua New Guinea is modelled on the Australian, with some modifications, such as optional preferential voting instead of compulsory voting. It is a complicated system, particularly for an electorate only recently come to the voting process. Much of the complication derives from the preferential system of voting. The 11 first-past--the-post 11 system would be more easily understood and could be expected substantially to reduce the number of informal votes, which is high - very high in some areas. However, as described earlier in t his report (see paras. 32-34 above) the 1969 Commission of Inquiry on Electoral Procedures gave careful consideration to this question. The preferential system has now
I . .. T/1732 English Page 37 been used in t hree elections i n Papua New Guinea. Illiteracy will diminish a.nd the number of candidates contesting an electorate is likely to decrease. 'I'his process should improve the understanding of the electoral system and facilitate its operation.
158. The two-tier arrangement of electorates (regional and open) also adds to the complexity of the system and increases the risk of votes being declared informal. It was noticed that in many cases voters had placed the fi gure 11 1" against the first choice on one ballot paper and the figure 11 211 against t he f irst choice on the other, thus rendering the second ballot informal. It was also observed that substantially fewer votes were cast for the regional candidates than for the open, the regional candidates being presumably less well known locally. This point was frankly made to members of the Mi ssion by many voters . The purpose of the regional seats was to ensure that a proportion of candidates with educational qualifications was elected to the House of As sembly . The need for this precaution will diminish with time. The Mission recommends a study of the educational level of the members of t he recently elected House with a view to determining whether that time has already arrived and the regional electorates can be dispensed with.
159. The principal defe ct in the present electoral system, it seeme d to the Mission, lies in the inadequacy of the registers of voters. The compilation of these registers in a country such as Papua New Guinea i s a formidable task, and the difficulties are fully appreciated. The reliability of the registers varied considerably from place to place. In some electorates, voters could be readily identified; in others, a high proportion could not , and re.::_ourse was had to section 130 of the Electoral Ordinance (see para. 41 above). {Identification was made no easier by the fact that many Papua New Guineans use different names and spellings at different timesJ These provisions for admitting votes which cannot be reconciled with the registe r are no doubt necessary in present circumstances, but they greatly increase the risk of fraudulent or duplicate voting. It seems doubtful whether this was happening to any significant degree at these elections. Nevertheless , as political ru,areness grows, so does the possibility of abuse. It is important, therefore, that the reliability and completeness of the register should be urgently improved, onerous though the task may be. At present, there are separate registers for local government and national elections. This seems to be unnecessary duplication as the voting qualif ications do not differ. The Mission understood that the format used in the local government registers made identification easier than in the national registers . Some use might also be made of t he census enumeration without a breach of confidence. There may even be a need for a permanent registrar in each district or region charged with the responsibility of maintaining the registers and revising them periodically. Section 130 of the Electoral Ordinance could then be dispens ed with and persons temporarily absent from their place of registration could utilize the postal ballot. If there were a requirement that all postal votes must be received at the place of the count before t he first count takes pl ace , the present time lag of 14 days between the first and second count could also be eliminated and the declaration of results speeded up.
/ ... T/1732 English Page 38
160. As further safeguards agains t duplicate voting, t wo suggestions were made. One was the introduction of individual identity cards , which could be stamped when a vote was cast . Doubts have been expressed whether this would be practicable under Papua New Guinea conditions . The other suggestion was finger staining. This is practised in a number of independent countries and has recently been introduced in a neighbouring country in the South Pacific. The Mission commends it for consideration.
161 . There were some advocates for compulsory voting, as in Australia. It is doubtful, however, whether this would serve any practical purpose in the present circumstances or be enforceable. It is true that registration is compulsory , but in f act the compulsion is more nominal than real.
162. The change made in the residential qualification for voters (see para. 39 above) may have deterred some people from voting at the 1972 election, particularly in urban areas. A person who has lived in a place for no more than six months is not likely to have acquired strong local affiliations and may have little knowledge of the candidates from which he has to choose. The Mission believes that this is too short a period and suggests that consideration be given to extending the qualification period to, say , 12 months.
163. For this and other reasons , it seemed that polling was heavier in rural than in urban areas, although actual figures were not available at the time of writing this report. The care taken by the Administration to ensure that everyone, however remote, was given the opportunity to vote certainly encouraged rural polling. Then too, in the villages, going to the polling station is something of a social as well as civic occasion, an opportunity to renew contact with neighbours, an "outing". And, perhaps, the voice of authority, counselling that it is a duty to vote, was given more heed in the villages. There is also the conside ration that many town dwellers, including students, still have their roots in their home villages and do not feel politically involved in the place where they live at present.
164. The provision of polling stations in rural areas was adequate. In numbers this was true also of the towns generally , but consideration might be given to keeping the town stations open for more days during the polling period, and in some cases for longer hours (particularly in the evening). This would lessen crushes and help to build up the town vote (which is surely important for the future). There should be at least one polling place in each district centre open .. for the last two or three days of the electoral period to enable to vote those who were unable t o cast their ballots earlier for one reason or another, such as temporary absence from the district.
165. At the polling stations visited by the Mission, the procedures laid down by law and supplemented by directives from the Chief Electoral Officer appeared to be working smoothly and no complaints of malpractice were made. At booths where sections 130 or 131 of the Electoral Ordinance had been invoked, or where there was a substantial number of persons casting absentee votes, the process was necessarily slow, but this was accepted patiently by the voters. The techniques
I ...
, l T/1732 English Page 39
employed by presiding officers for handling the traffic flow varied somewhat f rom place to place - some were more effective than others. It might be useful if returning officers were asked to include their observations on this in the reports they render to the Chief Electoral Officer, so that a compendium of techniques which have worked well in practise can be prepared for use at future elections . Th
166. As at the 1968 elections, the "whisper ballot 1' was used extensively and as then seemed to cause no difficulty. The Mission noticed in some places that scrutineers were permitted to witness votes if asked to do so by the voter. No complaints were made, but as scrutineers are at the polling stations for the specific purpose of watching the interest of a particular candidate it is perhaps qu,estionable whether they should be allowed to participate in the voting process.
167. There was no territory-wide protest movement against the conduct of the elections. In a few electorates, cargo cults continued to be a factor to be taken into account. Their influence tended to disorganize the proceedings in some areas but not to any significant extent nationally. Cargo cults represent in essence a reaction to new concepts - a reversion to traditional ways of thought combined with a desire to find shortcuts to naterial wealth. It is also in part a form of political manifestation. The cult may be expected to disappear in time, but only to the extent that the new concepts prove themselves in practice.
168. A desire for greater regional autonomy was also manifest in some areas. In one area,, this went to the extent of widespread refusal to register on the electoral rolls, although in the end votes were in fact cast there in large numbers . If the unity of Papua New Guinea is to be preserved, those aspirations for more control over local affairs will require careful and understanding consideration by the next House of Assembly.
169. The Mission was able to witness the &ctual counting of votes only on the first evening in Port Moresby. It seemed to members of the Mission that in some cases strict adherence to the letter of the law led to some ballots being declared informal even though the intent of the voter was clear. Perhaps the law is a • little too rigid on this subject and wider discretion might be allowed to returning officers to decide what is a clear indicative mark. Guidelines cculd be given in the form of a handbook based on the experience of the 1972 and previous elections. The interest of candidates would continue to be represented by scrutineers as they are at present.
170. The question of allocating time on a government broadcasting network to political parties and candidates and providing government facilities for the dissemination of electioneering platforms is likely to be a controversial one in any country. At this election, the Administration gave radio time in equal quantities to the three political parties which were fielding substantial numbers
I •.. T/1732 English Page 40 of candidates , a nd t he Department of Information and Extension Services published t heir _po licies . 'l'he very l ar ge number of candidates made it difficult to allot t i ,.1e to them on the district radio network, which is, in any case, not yet country-wide . The SJ'YJ.aller parties a.nd independent candidates considered themselves at a disadvant c.:--.; e. Press covera::; e can be expected to expand in the future, and as the rezional r :::;,d i o network is enlarged, it should be possible for all candidates in each di stric~ t o be given an opport unity to state their policies over radio stations in t he area .
171 . The financial resour ces avail able to candidates varied a good deal , dependi ng on their personal means and their party affiliations. It is doubtful whet her this had any significant effect on the outcome of the el ections on t hi s occasion, but in future it Piay be desirable to set l imi ts to campaign expendi tur es and contributions and to require candidates to discl ose the source o f t heir expenses .
172, A feature of its tour which impressed the Mi ssi on wa s the r eadiness of candidates of differing political persuasions and o~posing parties to meet t ogether with the Mission and share a publ ic plat form in f reely expr essi ng the ir views. The Mission commends this developi ng spi rit of democratic gi ve 1:1,nd t ake and suggests that perhaps in future elections oppor tuniti es coul d be provided for public and radi o debates, at both the national and the di str ict l evel .
173, I n the cour se of i ts t our of the Terr itory , the Mi s sion frequently heard t hat political education was inadequate and more was needed. The Mission i s aware, however , that programmes of political education exist, and the elections to the Hous e of Assembly as well as the local govern.J'YJ.ent councils elections a.re in fa.ct a form of political educationo The Hission believes that candidates and the population in general should be adequately informed on all national issues. The Mission found that important concepts, such as self-government and independence, ".,ere not clear for many, including some candidates. The Mission would suggest that the political education prog:car.:m es should be expanded and that more participation by local governrnent councils and political parties should be encouraged.
174. The dominant issue in these elections was self- governnent, not so much whether but when it should come. All parties and most independent candidates took a position on this, ranging from ''self-government now" to "not until we are ready:' . In a sense, therefore , the elections could well be regarded as a referendum on this question, but this , perhaps, would be to attach too much • si:!; nificance to electioneering platforms. It is not part of the J'v:ission I s terms of r eference t o pronounce on the merits of this debate, so vital for the future of the Ter ritory, but simply to say that it is taking pl ace and that i t is certain to figure l ar gel y in the deli berations of the new House of Assembly . It will be important for the future t hat not only the elected member s but also t he el ector ate should be fully informed on what sel f-government and eventual i ndependence i nvolves. This is an imminent task for pol itical education of f icers and l ocal gover nment councils. Everyday pract ice must fol low offici al policy i n private act i vities , as well as in the Administration's conduct of affairs . The cur rently accel erat ing trend towards locali zation in public affair s will undoubt edl y be r eflected i n futur e el ectoral arrangements. I .. . T/1732 English Page 41
175. The Mission began and would wish to end this chapter of its report by commending the thoroughness and fairness with which t he 1972 Papua IJew Guinea el ections vere conducted , It has made some suggestions for possible improvements in the prccedures. It has done so with constructive i ntent and in the hope that they may be of assistance in the formulation of arr angements for elections to come.
L
I . . . T/1732 English Annex I Page 1 AHNEX I
ITINERARY OF THE MISSION
Date Place Remarks
17 February Central Mission assembled in Port Moresby 11,980 District Private meeting of mission members and staff Meeting wi th Administration officials 18 February Meet ing with Chief Electoral Officer Meeting with Administration officials Visited United Nations Information Centre 19 February By road to observe elections at polling places in Moresby Coastal and Moresby Inland electorates 20 February Departed by air for Alotau, 224 Milne Bay District 21 February Milne Bay By trawler for Gwavili in Alotau District electorate to observe elections; visited Gwavili Primary School and boat-yard Visited Alotau Primary School Koeabule Vocational Centre, Cameron High School and (. Alotau Hospital 22 February By road to Bubuleta in Alotau electorate to observe elections Visited Bubuleta Agricultural Training Centre, Ahioma Welfare Training Centre and Ahipma Co-operative 23 February Departed by air for Kieta, 859 Bougainville District Bougainville Meeting with Administration District ,officials Private meeting of mission mellibers and staff Informal meeting with candidates and political leaders I . .. T/ 1732 English Annex I Page 2
Date Place Remarks
24 February Mission separated into two gr oups: One flew to Buin, South Bougainville electorate, to observe elections at round trip Omio and Kahauro pol ling pl aces ; 84 the other flew to Wakunai, Central Bougainvi lle electorate, to observe el ections at f-Juma Numa polling round pl ace; also visited a primar y and a trip secondary school 100 25 Febr uary By road to Nassioi, Bougainville Central electorate to observe elections By road to Arawa; Meeting wit h candidates and general public at Arawa Proceeded by road to Panguna Visited Bougainville Copper Ptvo, Ltdo Meeting with candidat e and rnembe1·s of the Local Governm~nt Council Attended granting of awards to trainees of Bougainville Copper Pty . , Ltd. 26 February Departed by air for Rabaul, East New Britain District 290 Ea st New Me eting with Administrat i on Brit ain officials District By road to observe elections at polli~g places in Rabaul, Kokopo and Gaz elle Peninsula electorates 27 Februar y Mi ssi on hel d meetings with three groups of candidates 28 February Visited Rabaul High School, the Volcanological Observatory and the War Museum Departed by air for Wewak, East Sepik District, via:
I .. . T/1732 English Annex I Page 3
Date Place Remarks
Kavieng, New Ireland District; net with candidates 148 Momot e, Mamus District, met with candidates 237
✓ Madang , Madang District ·. met with candidates , 247 Arrived in Wewak, East Sepik District 187 29 Februa:-y East Sepik Departed Wewak by road for District Faparum, Yangoru-Saussia electorate, to observe elections Proceeded from Paparum by road to Maprik Meeting with candidates , members of the Local Government Council and the general public at the Maprik Council Chambers Visited Council Haus Tambaram Departed Maprik by air for Wewak 40 1 March Departed Wewak by air to Lae, Morobe District 317 Morobe Meeting with Administration District . officials and candidates Visited Institute of Technology and Bugandi High School Observed elections at the polling (. place located in Sub-D istrict Office in Lae Open electorate
2 March By road to Situm in Huon Gulf round electorate to observe elections trip 120 By air to Fi~schhafen
Met candidates for Finschhafen electorate Visited Butaweng Hospital and Finschhafen Vocational Centr e
I ... ' T/1732 English Annex I Page 4
Date Place Remarks
By road to Malasiga in Finschhafen electorate to observe elections Private meeting of mission members and staff 3 March By air to Kabwum ; met Administration round-trip officials and candidate 60 Proceeded by air to Yalumet in Kabwum electorate to elections Returned by air to Lae Departed Lae by air to Goroka, Eastern Highlands District 121 Eastern Mission and staff separated into Highlands three groups: District one group drove to Daulo electorate to observe elections at Kwongi No. 2 polling place; another group drove to Liorofa polling place in Goroka electorate; the third group flew by helicopter to Nivi in Goroka electorate 4 March Visited Goroka Teachers College Meeting with candidates, members of the Local Government Council, the Chamber of Commerce, farmers and others at the Local Government Council chambers By air to Kundiawa, Chimbu District 32 5 Harch Chimbu Private meeting of Mission and District staff 6 March Meeting with Administration officials By road to Du, Sinasina electorate, to observe elections Proceeded to Ubandiawa, Sinasina electorate, to observe elections Visited Koge Mission Station
I . .. T/1732 English Annex I Page 5
Date Place Remarks
Public meeting at Sinasina
Meeting with all candidates of the electorates in Chimbu District at Kundiawa Women's Training Centre
7 March Departed Kundiawa by air to Mount Hagen, Western Highlands District 52
Western By road to Kiliga Ceremonial Ground, Highlands Hagen electorate, to observe District elections and meet candidates
Me eting with Administration officials
Visited Administration radio station
Departed Mount Hagen by air to Mendi, Southern Highlands District 53
8 March Southern Mission separated into two groups : Highlands District One group proceeded by air to Ialibu-Pangia electorate to observe elections at Kero polling place ; visited Kero Primary School and local dispensary and held meetings l with candidates and councillors at Ialibu Local Government round-trip Council chambers ; 50
• the other group proceeded by road to Bela in Mendi electorate to observe elections
9 March Departed Me ndi by air to Daru, Western District
West1;:rn Meetin~ with Administration District officials
Visited Daru Hi gh School
I ... T/1732 English Annex I Page 6
Date Place Remarks
10 March By air to Lake Murray area where Mission held conversations with local officials and visited Saurian Research round-trip Centre 400
Meeting with candidates, councillors and general public at Daru Local Government Council chambers
11 March Departed Daru by air for Port Moresby 276
Central Private meeting of Mission and staff District Observed beginning of the vote count at Administration College
Visited Sir Hubert Murray Oval to observe public tabulation of votes
12 March Private meeting of Mission and staff
13 Mar ch Meeting with Acting Administrator, Chief Electoral Officer and Administration officials
Visited headquarters of Papua New Guinea Command, Pacific Islands Regiment
14 March Visited Electoral Office
Visited House of Assembly
Meeting with students and others • at Papua New Guinea University
15 March Departed Port Moresby by air for Canberra 1,865
I . . . T/1732 English Annex I Page 7
Date Place Remarks
16 March Canberra, Meeting with Minister for External Australia Territories, the Administrator of Papua New Guinea and seni or officials of the Department of External Terr itor ies
Meeting with senior of ficials of the Department of For eign Affairs
17 March Departed from Canberra t o return to Headquarters
Total 28,091*
•
'' Distance travelled by road not included.
I .. . ,,j
PAPUA NEW GUINEA ELECTORATES ELECTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972 International Boundary - . - . - . - . - District Boundary ------Open Electorate Boundary Regional Electorate Boundary -----•
MANUS NEW IRELAND
63 64 65
35 EAST
34
0 0 z 82 NEW BRITAIN 57 BRITAIN 81 80 79 GULF ·. 89 75 MILNE BAY CENTRAL '! ~ 72 MAP NO, 2080 x MAY 1972 141 ° 144 0 147° 150° 153° 156° 159° 71 --·-·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·- ·-·-·-· - ·- ·-·-·-·-·- · - ·-· oo I PACIFIC 0 C E A N ITI NERARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO OBSERVE THE j ELECTIONS TO TH E PAPUA NEW GUINEA ,· N E W I R ELAND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972 . MAN US I !------,------I . I I Itinerary I I I I ,4 G 0 • I I I I I ,---- (J JO 'I I BO UGAINV I L L E ~. ..' ; ...... - ·-p1 ·-·' < 0 NEW BRITAIN NEW BRITAIN ---= ~ 'J:=:::::::? Fin1chhafen I I ,$' I I SOLO M ON < I I I I I I I I/ ::,.,, ,,- .. -· -'··- .. - .. - .. - .. - .. I.:.:... - . -, ' ' ~, Gulf of Papua /' ' ·. go I - M I LNE BAY I I I GUllda/e,an•I I I I I ) CO R A l ', 100 200 Miles > : 100 200 Kilometres 12 ? ·-·-·-·-·- l ·- ·- · Tlw IHJu,..rln •-011 tllblMlt do,..,, ltfv,ly of/fd,11 •ndonsme11t or •c«IHCn« IJy t#N U#lled INHo,u. 147 1500 153 0 156 ' MAP NO. 2C.1 UNITl!O NATIONS MAY 1912 '-" UNITED NATIONS Distr. GENERAL GENERAL A/AC.109/407 ASSEMBLY 23 May 1972 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTING OF I NDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES LETTER DATED 22 MAY 1972 FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of the report of the Visiting Mission sent by the Trusteeship Council under resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 18 June 1971 to observe the elections to the House of Assembly in Papua New Guinea in 1972. 1./ (Signed) David LANE President Trusteeship Council 1/ The report of the Visiting Mission has been distributed under the symbol T/1732. 72-10902 UNITED NATIONS Distr. TRUSTEESHIP GENERAL COUNCIL T/RES/2158 (XXXIX) 28 June 1972 Thirty-ninth session Agenda item 6 RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL 2158 (XXXIX). Report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly in 1972 The Trusteeship Council, Having examined at its thirty-ninth session the report of the Visiting Mission dispatched at the invitation of the Administering Authority and ursuant to resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 21 June 1971 to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly,!/ Noting that the membership of the Visiting Mission, in accordance with the request of the General Assembly expressed in resolution 2590 (XXIV), included, after consultation with the Special Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Administering Authority, non-members of the Trusteeship Council, Having heard the statements concerning the report made by the representative ~ of Australia and by the Special Advisers, one of whom was the Chief Electoral Officer of Papua New Guinea, and also by members of the Visiting Mission, 1. Takes note of the report of the Visiting Mission and of the statements of the Administering Authority thereon; 2. Draws attention to the fact that, in formulating its own conclusions and recommendations on this question at its thirty-ninth session, the Trusteeship Council took into account the observations of the Visiting Mission and the statements made by the Administering Authority; 3. Expresses its appreciation of the work accomplished on its behalf by the Visiting Mission; !/ T/1732 and Corr.l 72-13298 / ••• T/RES/2158 (XXXIX) Page 2 4. Decides that it will continue to take these recommendations-, c'onclusions and observations into account in future examination of the question; 5. Invites the Administering Aut hority to take into account these recommendations, conclusions and observations as well as the statements made thereon by the members of the Trusteeship Council; 6. Decides, in accordance with rule 98 of its rules of procedure, that the report of t he Visiting Mission and the text of the present resolution shall be distributed in an appropriate form. 1404th meeting 16 June 1972 • UNITED NATIONS Dis tr. TRUSTEESHIP LIMITED T/L.1174/Rev.l COUNCIL 15 June 1972 ENGLISH ORIGINAL: FRENCH Thirty-ninth session Agenda i tern 6 , REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS TO . THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972 France: revised draft res olution .. The Trusteeship Council, Having examined at its thirty-ninth session the report of the Visiting Mission dispatched at the invitation of the Administering Authority and pursuant to resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 21 June 1971 to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly , Having heard the statements concerning the report made by the representative of Australia and by the Special Advisers, one of whom was the Chief Electoral Officer of Papua New Guinea, l. Takes note of the report .of the Visiting Mission and of the statements of the Administering Authority thereon; 2. Draws attention to the fact that, in formulatinr, its own conclusions and recommendations on this question at its thirty-ninth session, the Trusteeship Council took into account the observations of the Visiting Mission and the statements made by the Administering Authority; 3. Expresses its appreciation of the work accomplished on its behalf by the Visiting Mission; 4. Decides that it will continue to take these recommendations , conclusions and observations into account in future examination of ~he question; 5. Invites the Administering Authority to take into account these recommendations, conclusions and observations as well as the statements made thereon by the members of the Trusteeship Council ; 6. Decides, in accordance with rule 98 of its rules of procedure, that the report of the Visiting Mission and the text of the present resolution shall be distributed in an appropriate form. 72-12378 UNITED NATIONS Distr. TRUSTEESHIP LIMITED T/L.1174 COUNCIL 13 June 1972 ENGLISH ORIGINAL: FRENCH Thirty-ninth session Agenda item 6 REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO OBSZRVE THE ELECTIONS TO THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972 France: draft ·resolution The Trusteeship Council, Having examined at its thirty-ninth session the report of the Visiting Mission dispatched at the invitation of the Administering Autho1·ity and pursuant to resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 21 June 1971 to observe the elections to the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly, Having heard the statem~nts made by the representative of Australia concerning the report, l. Takes note of the report of the Visiting Mission and of the statements of the Administering Authority thereon ; 2. Draws attention to the fact that, in formulatine; its own conclusions and , recommendations on this question at its thirty-ninth session, the Trusteeship Council took into account the observations of the Visiting Mission and the statements made by_ the Administerine; Authority; 3. Expresses its appreciation of the work accomplished on its behalf by the Visiting Mission; 4. Decides that it will continue to take these recommendations, conclusions and observations into account in future examination of the question; 5. Invites the Administering Authority to take into account these recommendations, conclusions and observations as well as the statements made thereon by the members of the Trusteeship Council ; 6. Decides, in accordance with rule 98 of its rules of procedure, that the report of the Visiting Mission and the text of the present resolution shall be distributed in an appropriate form. 72- 12255 UNITED NATIONS Distr. T R U S T E E S H I ·p GENERAL T/1732/Corr.l COUNCIL 30 May 1972 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH Thirty-ninth session Agenda item 6 REPORT OF THE UN ITED NATIONS VISITING MISSION TO OBSERVE THE ELECTIONS TO THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY IN 1972 Corrigendum • ~aragraph 14 , second line For district read distinct Paragraph 25 , second line For 2.4 million read 2 . 5 million ~or reamining read remaining Paragraph 88, third line Delete were Paragraph 89 The listing of newly elected members of the House of Assembly should read as follows Mataungan Association 3 New Guinea National Party 1 Pangu Pati 19 Peli Association 1 People's Progress Party 7 United Party 28 United Political Society 1 ~,nex I , fourth columr- Delete the figures 72-11346 UNITED NATIONS Distr. GENERAL GENERAL A/AC.109/407 ASSEMBLY 23 May 1972 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH SPECIAL COMM ITTEE ON THE SIWATION WITH REGARD TO THE I MPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THE GRANTI NG OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES LETTER DATED 22 MAY 1972 FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ' I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of the report of the Visiting Mission sent by the Trusteeship Council under resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) of 18 June 1971 to observe the elections to the House of Assembly in Papua New Guinea in 1972. ');./ (Signed) David LANE President Trusteeship Council ·- 1/ The report of the Visiting Mission has been distributed under the symbol T/1732. 72-10902 NATIONS UN IE S Distr. CONSEIL GENER.ALE T/EES/2158 (XXXIX) .OE TUTELLE 28 juin ·1972 TrC!nte-neuvierne se:::;sion Point 6 de l'o:i:-dJre du jour RESOLUTION ADOPTEE PAR LE CONSEIL DE TUTELLE 21'.;;8 (XXXIX). Ranpo!'t de la Mission di? -.rislte des Hatic:-ns T.Tn~.es chargee d'obset'VAr le$ electi ons a 11'.1. Chambre d 'assP.rr.:.blee du Pap-:.i.11-N,.,uvr:: lJ.1::-r}uin:fo t::'!"1 1972 Le Ccnseil de tut el.le , .r.yan.t exeminf a sa t:J:'er.te-r;su-;ieme session 1le rapport de la, Mission de visite envoye-:) a la suite de l 1:i.nvitat.ion de .l 'Autorite adm.i.nistrruite et en a:riplicatfon de la resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) du 21 juin 1971 pour observer les elections a la Cham:b:..·e d' asse.mblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee y, Cons_!at~t que la co1n;~osition de la Mission de visit~, confor,n~ment eu souha.it de l 'Asse,nblee generale expri.m6 cl.ans la resolution 2590 (XXIV) co:11prenait, apres consult1:,tions ave~ lee meru::ires du Coraite special charge de 1 1 !'l.pplication de la De~laration sur 1 1 oct:".'oi de l I ir.depe~1dance aux pays et au::c pe1.4:plP.s colonieux et 1 1 Auterite a.dministrante, des representrurts de pays non me.--abres du Conseil de tutelle, &~lJ.L~'fteg_~~~ au sujet a.udi ~ rapport, les declai:-ations fai tes par le repre sentant de 1 'Australie et celles des conseillers specfo.i:.z dont l 'un etait • l 'o:r.gan::.sateur s::n chef dDs electionc du Pap.:.a.-i'Jouvelle-Gu.J.nee, a.insi qu.e celles faites par des lliembres Qe la Mi s sion de visite. 1. Pi'.'c:_nd acte du rapport de la Mission de visite et des declarations de l 'Autori te adminisb·ante a son r,uj et ; 2. AppellP. J. 113.ttention ::;ur ::.e fa.it que pour formulcr ses propres conclusions et recomma:ida.tiom, sur cette q_uestion a se, trente-m~uvieme s ession, il a tenu ccu,pte des o-::>serve.tfo::i.s de la Mission de vi site ainsi que cies declarations faites pa!' l 'Au tori te a.dministrante; 3. Exprime sa. sat.isf".ct.icn du travail 'accompli en son norn par la Mission de visite; 1/ T/1732 et Corr.l. 72-13299 I •... ft TiREG/2158 (XXXIX) Page 2 !r. Dec i de de continuer de tenir compte a l 'aver.ir d.e ccs recommandations • conclusions et 'Zbserva.tions lorsqu~il examinera la g,uestici1; 5. Invite 1 'Autori te a.±ministrante a tenir compte de ce:; reccmma;.1dations, conclu.sions et-cbserYations c.insi ,q1.~e des ·decla.z-a.tions faites a ce sujet par les m:.;mbres du Co::.sd). d•.! tutelle; 6. DecidP. • conformeraent it l I article 98 de s::in regle:ment interieur, de faire dfa-c;ribue:::- soustuJ.e forme r:i~propriee ·1e rapport de J.a Mission de visite et le t~xte de la presente resolution. J.!+O¼eme see,nc'.?, -16 juin i§f2. / . . . , 1 NATBONS Distr. GLilfERALE A/AC.109/407 23 mai 1972 FRAI~CAIS ORIGINAL : ArWL.AIS COMITE SPECIJ\.):,, CHARGE D 'ETUDIER U SI'I'UATION EN CE QUI CONCERNE L'APPLICN.i.'ION DE LA DECLARATION SUR L1 0CTROI r.E L'INDEPENDANCE AUX PAYS ET AUX PEUPLES COLONIAuX LETTRE D.A:J:'EE DU 22 MJ-1.I 1972, Aff.{E:SSEE AU PRESIDEE'I' DU COMITE SPECIAL PAR LE PPBSIDEN'I' DU CONSEIL DE TUTELLE J I ai l 'honneur de vous fai:c-e teni~ ci-joint un exempl.aire du rapport de la mission de visi te envoyee par le Conseil de tutelle en vertu de ls, :cesolution 2156 (XXXYIII) du J.8 juin 1971 }?ou:r observer lcs elections a la (;hem.ore d' assembJ. ,3e du F'aj_:ma-Nol,velle-Gc:i.nee en 1972 1/. Le President du ConseiJ. de tutelle, (Signe) DaYid LANE V Le rapport de la mission de visite a ete distribue sous la cote T/ 17,32 . 72-10903 NATIONS UN IE S Distr. CONSEIL LIMITEE T/L.1174/Rev.l DE TUTELLE 15 juin 1972 ORIGINAL : FRANCAIS Trente-neuvieme session Point 6 de l'ordre du jour RAPPORT DE LA ~JSSION DE VISITE DES NATIONS UNIES CF.ARGEE D'OB3ERVER LES ELECTIONS A LA C~RE D'ASSEMBLEE DU PAPUA-NOUVELLE-GUINEE EN 1972 F:::-ance pro,iet de r~solution revise Le Conseil de tutclle, Aya.nt F;Xamine a sa trente-nemieme session le rapport de la Mission de visite envoyee a le. suite de l'invitation de l 1 Auto:..-ite administrante et en application de la resolution 2156 (XXX'!III) c.u. 21 juin 1971 pour observer les elections a la Chambre u'assembl2e du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee) Ayant entendu, au sujet dudit r 2µ,port, les declarations faites par le repre senta.nt de l 'Australie et cel.J.es des ccnseillers spec:.aux dont l 'un etai t l'organisateur en chef des el ections du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, l. Prend a.cte du rapport de la Mission de visite et des declarations de l'Autorite administrante a son sujet; 2. A~~elle l'attention sur le fa.it que pour formuler ses propres conclusions et recommendations sur cette question a sa tre~te-neuvieme session, il a tenu compte des observations de la Mission de visite ainsi que des declarations faites par l'Autorite administrante; 3. Exprime sa satisfaction du travail accompli en son nom par la Mission de visite; 4. Decide de continuer de tenir compte a l'avenir de ces recommandations, conclusions et observations lorsqu' il examinera la question; 5. Invite l'Autorite administrante a tenir compte de ces recommandations, conclusions et observations ainsi que des declarations faites ace sujet par les membres du Conseil de tutelle; 6. Decide, conformement a l'article 98 de son reglement interieur, de faire distribuer sous une forme appro?rife le rapport de la Mission de visite et le texte de la presente resolution. 72-12379 NATIONS UN IE S Dist.t'. CONSEIL LIMITEE '.~/L.1174 DE TUTELLE 13 juin 1972 ORIGINAL: FRANCAIS Trente-neuvieme session Point 6 de l'ordre du jour RAPPORT DE LA VJ:SSION DE VISIT:-: llES NATIONS UNIES CHARGEE D 'O:SSERVF,R LES ELECTJ.ONL: A LA CHfli' France : ..12!'.o,iet de resolution Le Conseil de tutelle, Ayant examine a sa trente-neuvieme session le rapport d~ la Mission de visite envoyee a la suite de l'invitation de 1 1Autorite administrante et en application de la resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) du 21 juin 1971 pour observer les elections a la Chambre d'assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, Ayant entendu les declarations faites par le representant de 1 1Australie au sujet dudit rapport, l. Frend acte du rapport de la Mission de visite et des d~clarations de l'Autorite administrante a son sujet; 2. Appelle 1 1 attention sur le fai t que pour formuler ses propres conclusions et recommandations sur cette question a sa trente-neuvieme session, il a tenu compte des observations de la Mission de visite ainsi que des declarations faites par l'Autorite administrante; 3. EePrime sa satisfaction du travail accompli en son nom par la Mission de visite; 4. Decide de continuer de tenir compte a l'avenir de ces recommandations, conclusions et observations lorsqu'il exa.minera la question; 5. Invite l'Autorite administrante a teni::- compte de ces recommanda.tions, conclusions et observations ainsi que des declarations faites ace sujet par les membres du Conseil de tutelle; 6. Decide, conformement a 1 1arti~le 98 de son reglement interieur, de faire distribuer sous une forme appropriee le r~?port de la Mission de visite et le texte de la presente resolution. 72-12256 UN IE S Distr. GENERALE CONSEIL T/1732/Corr.l 30 mai 1972 FRA.NCAIS DE TUTELLE ORIGIN.AL : ANGLAIS Trente-neuvieme session Point 6 de l'ordre du jour R.\PPORT DE LA MI SSION DE VISITE DES NATIONS UNIES CHARGEE D'OBSERVER LES ELECTIONS A LA CHAM.ERE ,D 'ASSEMBLEE DU PAPUA·-NOUVE~LE-GUINEE EN 1972 ~ectificatif Para.graphe 14, troisieme .·li_fill~ Remple,cer "de districts 11 par 0 distincts". Paragraphe 25 , deuxieme lir-:ne Remplacer 11 2 ,4 millions 1' par 11 2 ,5 millions 11 • Paragraphe 33. derniere ligne San~ objet en fran~ais. Paragraphe 88, troisieme ligne Sans objet en frangais. Paragraphe 89 Sans objet en frangais. Annexe I, guatrieme colonne Sans objet en fran~ais. 72-11347 NATIONS UN/ES Distr. CONSEIL GENERALE T/1732 DE TUT EL.LE 19 mai 1972 FRANCAIS ORIGINAL : ANGLAIS Trente-neuvierne session Point 6 de l'ordre du jour provisoire RAPPORT DE LA MISSION DE VISITE DES NATIONS UNIES CHARGEE D'OBSERVER LES ELECTIONS A LA CHAMBRE D'ASSEMBLEE DU PAPUA-NOUVELLE-GUINEE EN 1972 72-08989 I ... T/1732 Franc;ais Page 2 TABLE DES MATIERES Paragraphes Pages Lettre datee du 19 mai 1972, adressee par l e Presi dent de la mission de visite au Secretaire general de 1 10rganisation des Nations Unies ••••••••·••··•••••·•·•·•••·•· 4 CHAPITRE I • GENERALITES •••••.•.•.•••••••••.•••••••.•••••••.· • 1 19 5 A. Mandat • •••••••• e ••••••••••• e • e ••••••• e ••••••• o • • ••• D • • •• 1 - 5 5 B. Itineraire • •••• •••••••••••• •••• 0 •••••• ••••••• •••• ••••• •• 6 - 11 6 c. Geographie physique et population ••·•·• ·•·•·•·•···• ·•·• · 12 - 19 7 CHAPITRE II. ELECTIONS A LA CHAMBRE D1ASSEMBLEE DU PAPUA-NOUVELLE-GUINEE EN 1972 •·•••·•••••·•••·•· 20 90 10 A. Organisation des elections••••·•·•·••••• · •·•••••••·•·••• 20 - 63 10 Circonscriptions electorales ••.•.•. ~.•.•.•.•.• .•. 23 26 10 Application de la loi elcctcrale ••••·•••••·•·•·•· 27 28 11 Systeme electoral 29 34 12 - Date des elections •. ~·•·•··••••••••••·•·•·•·•·•·• 35 36 13 - Conditions a remplir pour etre el ecteur ••·•••••·• 37 13 Inscription sur les listes electorales ··•·•·•·•·• 38 - 42 14 Conditions d 1 eligibilite •••••·•·•••~•· • · • · •·•••·• 43 - 47 15 - Declarations de candidature•••••••·••••·••·•·•·•· 48 15 - Scrutat eur s •..•....••..•••.••..••...... • ...... 49 16 Comites d 1 identification •••·•·•••·•·•·•·•·•••·•·• 50 16 \ - Responsables electoraux •·•·•·•••·•·•••·•••·•·•·•· 51 16 Organisation des elections et operat{ons de vote. 52 56 16 - Depouillement du scrutin •••• • ·• • •·•••·•••·•·•·•·• 57 - 61 18 Renvo i des actes de convocation (writs) •• .• .• : • .• 62 19 Contentieux electoral ••• · •·•••·•••·•·•·•·• · •·•·•· 63 19 B. Partis politiques ...... •.•...... •.•...... •...... 64 - 85 20 United Party ...... o ••••••••••••••• • • • ••••• • ••• 68 - 71 20 Pangu Pati (Papua New Guinea Union Party) •·•·•·•· 72 75 22 I • .• T/1732 Franc;ais Page 3 TABLE DES MA.TIERES (suite) Paragraphes Pages - People's Pro~ress Party•··•·•·•·•••••·•·•·•••·•• 76 - 79 23 Under-Developed District Party••·•·•·•••••·•••·• 80 24 - New Guinea National Party••••·•·•·•·•••••·•·•·•· 81 24 - Mataungan Association•·•·•·•••••••••·•···•·•·•·• 82 24 - New Guinea Labour Party•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•· • ·•·•·•·· 83 24 - United Political Society•·•·•·······•···•···•··· 84 25 - Peli Association ...... 85 25 c. Resultnts des elections • • " ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0 • 86 - 90 26 CHAPITRE III. PROGRAMME DES VISITES ET DES REUNIONS DE LA MISSION ••••.•.•••••••••••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•. 91 - 154 28 A. District. du centre •.•.•••.•.•.•••••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•. 91 - 94 28 B. District de la baie de Milne••·••••··••····•·•·•·• 95 - 98 29 c. District de Bougainville •·•·•·•••••·•·•••·•••···•· 99 - 104 30 D. District de la Nouvelle-Bretagne orientale •.••• . •. 105 - 111 31 E. District de la Nouvelle-Irlande ••·• · •••••·• · •·•·•· 112 - 114 32 F. District de Manus •••••.•••.•.•••.•••••.•.• . •.•.••• 115 - 116 32 G. District de Madang ••••.• . •••.•.•.•.•.•.• . •.•.•.•.• 117 - 119 33 H. District du Sepik oriental···•·••••··•·•·•·•·•·•·• 120 - 125 34 I. District de Morobe ••••••••.•••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.• . • 126 - 130 35 J. District des Hautes Terres de 1 1 Est •·•··••·•·•·• · · 131 - 135 36 K. District de Chimbu ••••.•••.•••.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.• . • 136 - 141 38 L. District des Hautes Terres de 1 10uest •·•·•·•·•·•·• 142 - 145 39 M. District des Hautes Terres du Sud••·•·•·•·•·• · •·•· 146 - 149 40 N. District occidental ...... 150 - 153 41 0. Reunions a Canberra ...... (: (' ...... 154 42 CHAPITRE IV. OBSERVATIONS DE LA MISSION DE VISITE 1S5 - 175 43 ANNEXE Itineraire de la mission CARTES A. Circonscriptions electorales du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee. Elections a la Chambre d 1 assemblee en 1972 B. Itineraire de la mission de visite des Nations Unies chargee d 1 observer les elections a la Chambre d 1assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972 I • .• T/1732 Frani:;ais Page 4 LETTRE, DATEE DU 19 MAI 1972, ADRESSEE PAR LE PRESIDENT DE LA MISSION DE VISITE AU SECRET AIRE GENERAL DE L' ORGANISATION DES fTATIONS UNIES J'ai l 'honneur de vous transmettre ci-joint, conformement a la resolution 2156 (XXXVIII) adoptee le 21 juin 1971 par le Conseil de tutelle et a l'article 98 du reglement interieur du Conseil, le rapport de la Mission de visite des ~ Nations Unies chargee d'observer les elections a la Chambre d'assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972. Je suis heureux de vous dire que ce rapport a ete adopte a l'unanimite par les quatre membres de la Mission de visite. Le President de la Mission de visite chargee d'observer les elections a la Chambre d'assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, (1971) , (Signe) W. TAPLEY BENNETT Jr. T/1732 Franr;;ais Page 5 CHAPITRE I GEJ\TERALITES A. Mandat • 1 . Asa trente-huitieme session, le Conseil de tutelle a ete saisi d'une lettre du representant ~ermanent de l'Australie datee du 11 juin 1971, invitant le Conseil a envoyer une Mission de visite en vue d'observer les el ections a la Chambre d'assembl ee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972l/• Le Gouvernement australien pr oposait que l a composition de la Mission soit determinee conformement au paragraphe 5 de la r esoluti on 2590 (XXIV) de l'Assemblee generale en date du 16 decembre 1969, dans laquelle le Conseil de tutelle etait prie d 1 inclure dans ses Mi ssions de visite periodiques des representants d'Etats qui ne sont pas membres du Conseil , en consultation avec le Comite special charge d 1 etudier la situation en ce qui concerne l 1 application de l a Dec laration sur l 'octroi de l 1 inde9endance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux et avec l'Autorite administrante , conformement a la Charte des Nations Unies. 2. Asa 138 7eme seance, le 18 juin 1971, le Conseil de tutelle a adopte la reso lution 2156 (XXXVIII), dans laquelle il a decide d'envoyer une Mission de visite chargee d'observer les elections a la Chambre d'assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972. Le Conseil a decide en outre que la Mi ssion de visite serait composee de membres nommes par le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord, les Etats-Unis d'Amerique et deux autres Etats devant etre designes par le President du Conseil sur la base de consultations avec les membres du Conseil , le Comite special et l'Autorite administrante. Ulterieurement, le President a designe l 'Afghanistan et la Yougoslavie comme etant les deux Etats qui devaient nommer les autres membres de la Mission de visite. 3. La Mission etait composee de la fa~on suivante : M. W. Tapl ey Bennett (Etats-Unis), president; M. Mohammed Hakim Aryubi (Afghanistan) , sir Derek Jakeway (Royaume-Uni) et M. Aleksandar Psoniak (Yougoslavie). 4. Dans sa resolution 2156 (XXXVIII), le Conseil de tutelle a charge la Mission d'observer les elections a la Chambre d'assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972 , notamment l' organisation des elections, les acti vi tes des candidats et des part is politiques, le deroulement, la cloture et le depouillement du scrutin, ainsi que la pr oclamation des r esultats . Le Conseil a prie en outre la Mission de lui presenter aussit6t que possible un rapport sur l'observation des elections, dans lequel elle consignerait ses constatations, accompagnees de toutes les observations, conclusions et recommandations qu 1 elle souhaiterait formuler. 1/ Documents officiels du Conseil de tutelle. trente-huitieme session, Annexes, point-16 de l'ordre du jour (document T/1725). I ... T/1732 Franc;ais Page 6 5. Le 20 decembre 1971 , l'Assemblee generale a adopte la resolution 2865 (XXVI), dans laquelle elle se felicitait notamment de l'invitation faite par la Puissance administrante au Conseil de tutelle pour qu 1 il envoie une Mission speciale observer les elections a la Chambre d 1 assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee en 1972, et du fait que cette mission serait composee comme l'Assemblee l'avait recommande dans sa r esolution 2590 (XXIV); elle recommandait en outre que le rapport de cette mifsion speciale et ceux des Missions futures soient soumis a la fois au Conseil de tutelle et au Comite special. B. Itineraire 6. Les membres de la Mission de visite se sont assembles a Port Moresby le 17 fevrier 1972, et ant sejourne au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee jusqu'au 15 mars. Au ~ours de ses deplacements dans le pays, la Mission a ete acco~pagnee des fonctionnaires ci-apres du Secretariat de l'Organisation des Nations Unies : M. Felipe Antonio Pradas, secretaire principal ; M. Naur Eddine Driss, specialiste des questions politiques ; M. Neil Carlberg Jr., fonctionnaire d'administration :, Mlle Norma Young, secretaire. 7. A leur arrivee a Port Moresby, les membres de la Mission se sont reunis pour discuter de leurs deplacements ulterieurs et ant eu des entretiens avec l'Administrateur par interim, M.A. P. J. Newman, avec le fonctionnaire responsable des elections, M. Simon Kaumi, et avec divers hauts fonctionnaires de l 1 Administration. Apres avoir observe le debut du scrutin, le 20 fevrier, la Mission a quitte Port Moresby et a commence sa tournee des autres districts du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee. Le 11 mars, la Mission est revenue a Port Moresby, ou elle a observe le commencement du depouillement du scrutin, assiste a la ceremonie publique de la centralisation des r esultats , s'est rendue au siege du service des elections et a eu de nouveaux entretiens avec l'Administrateur par interim, le fonctionnaire responsable des elections et d'autres hauts fonctionnaires de l'Administration. Pendant tout son sejour au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, la Mission a pu utiliser les installations locales mises a sa disposition par le Directeur du Centre d 1 information des Nations Unies, M. N. Oda. On trouvera dans l'annexe au present rapport un itineraire detaille des deplacements de la Mission de visite au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee. 8. Le 15 mars, la Mission a quitte Port Moresby pour Canberra, ou ses membres ant eu des entretiens avec le Ministre des territoires exterieurs, M. Andrew Sharp Peacock, avec l'Administrateur du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, M. L. W. Johnson, et avec divers hauts fonctionnaires du Ministere des territoires exterieurs et du Ministere des affaires etrangeres du Commonwealth d'Australie. Les entretiens de la Mission a Canberra ant ~ris fin le 17 mars. 9. Pendant son sejour au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, la Mission a ete accompagnee par M. William Granger, du Ministere des territoires exterieurs, par M. Robin Ashwin, ministre, representant permanent adjoint de l'Australie aupres de l'Organisation des Nations Unies, par M. Terry White, ainsi que par d'autres fonctionnaires du Departement de l'Administrateur a Port Moresby. I . .. T/1732 Franc;ais Page 7 10. Au cours de ses deplacements dans le Territoire du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, l a Mission a rencontre des cormnissaires de districts et des membres de leur personnel, des membres du Conseil executif de l'Administrateur, des membres de la deuxieme Chambre d'assemblee, des membres des conseils locaux, des candidats, des responsables des elections, des representants des cornrnunautes religieuses, du corps enseignant, des professions liberales, des agriculteurs et des milieux d'affaires, ainsi que des dirigeants syndicaux, des infirmiers ou infirmieres, des etudiants, etc. La Mission tient a exprimer sa sincere reconnaissance pour la courtoisie et la precieuse cooperation dont elle a beneficie, ainsi que pour les nombreuses marques d'hospitalite qui lui ont ete accordees. 11. La Mission tient a exprimer sa gratitude au Ministre des territoires exterieurs, aux fonctionnaires de ce ministere et a ceux du Ministere des affaires etrangeres, a 1 1 Administrateur par interim, au fonctionnaire responsable des elections et aux fonctionnaires q_ui ont accompagne la Mission et qui l'ont assistee a Port Moresby. Aucun effort n'a ete epargne pour faciliter la visite de la !1ission. C. Geographie physique et population 12. Le Papua-rTouvelle-Guinee se trouve au nord et au nord-est de l'Australie, a moins de 150 km de celle-ci, de l'autre cote du detroit de Torres. Ilse compose de la ~artie orientale de la Nouvelle-Guinee, deuxieme ile du monde par l'etendue; des iles de la Nouvelle-Bretagne, de la Nouvelle-Irlande et de Manus, dans l'archipel Bismarck; des deux iles les plus septentrionales du groupe des Salomon, a savoir Buka et Bougainville ; des groupes d 1 iles de Trobriand, d'Entrecasteaux et de la Louisiade~ enfin, d'un grand nombre de petites iles situees entre l'Equateur et le 12eme degre de latitude sud. En tout, le Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee s'etend surplus de 1 500 miles de l'est a l'ouest et de 750 miles du nord au sud. La superficie totale du Territoire est de 178 260 miles carres. 13. Le centre de la Nouvelle-Guinee est occupe par une cordillere massive qui s'etend sur toute la longueur de l'ile. Cette cordillere est l'un des grands systemes montagneux du globe, et s'eleve en plusieurs endroits a plus de 14 000 pieds (4 500 metres). Bien qu'elle constitue une nette ligne de partage des eaux entre le nord et le sud de l'ile, cette cordillere ne se compose pas d'une seule chaine montagneuse, mais forme un systeme complexe compose de plusieurs chaines, frequemment separees par de lar~es vallees. La largeur des chaines ~ principales va de 50 a 150 miles. Parallelement aces chaines principales, mais senarees d'elles par une depression centrale, se dressent les montagnes du nord. La-depression centrale comprend le bassin du fleuve Sepik et les vallees des fleuves Ramu et Markham. Le fleuve Fly, dans la partie occidentale du Papua, a plus de 700 miles de long, et sa largeur est de 33 miles a l'entree de l'estuaire et de 10 miles a l'embouchure proprement dite, au-dela de l'ile Kiwai. I . .. T/1732 Franc;ais Page 8 14. La cordillere de Nouvelle-Guinee se prolonge vers le sud au-dela de la peni nsul e du Papua en une serie de petites iles divisees en deux groupes de distr icts, les iles d'Entrecasteaux et l'archipel de la Louisiade. Un cordon d'il es volcaniques ceinture la cote nord de la Nouvelle-Guinee, de l'embouchure du fleuve Sepik a la cote ouest de la Nouvelle-Bretae;ne. L'extremite occidentale de l a Nouvelle-Bretagne, qui est l'ile la plus etendue de l'archipel Bismarck, est occupee par un groupe de montagnes volcaniques ; les basses terres qui occupent la. cote nord de l'ile sont entrecoupees de pies volcaniques, et des er uptions se sont produites recemment, avec des resultats catastrophiques. • La peninsule de la Gazelle , pres de Rabaul, a connu elle aussi des activites vol caniques recentes. La Nouvelle-Irlande, d'une longueur d'environ 200 miles et d'une largeur maximum de 30 miles, est une ile extremement montagneuse. Bougainville, l'ile la plus etendue du groupe des Salomon, a une longueur de 127 miles et une lar~eur maximum de 49 miles. Un massif montagneux compact s'etend sur toute la longueur de l'ile. Ce massif contient deux volcans en activi te. 15. Le Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, situe dans la zone tropicale entre les continents asiat ique et australien, a un climat de mousson. La saison de la mousson du nord- ouest dure de decembre a mars, et la saison des alizes du sud-est de mai a octobre. Les mois d ' avril-mai et d'octobre-novembre sont une periode de transition. La mousson du nord-ouest et les alizes du sud-est arrivent au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee charges d'une humidite considerable. Dans certaines regions, la moyenne des precipitations annuelles est de 6 m 25 ; en revanche, la moyenne des precipitations est r elativement faible dans les vallees closes des hautes terres. Il existe des regions ou les precipitations sont a peu pres re~ulieres pendant toute l'annee ; mais, en regle generale, les precipitations sont nettement differenciees selon les saisons, et la plupart des regions rec;oivent leurs plus 8rosses precipi tations, soit pendant la saison de la mousson, soit pendant celle des alizes. 16. Pour des raisons administratives, le Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee est divise en 18 districts : cinq districts insulaires (Bougainville, Nouvelle-Bretagne occidentale, Nouvelle-Bretagne orientale, Nouvelle-Irlande et Manus), douze districts decoupes dans l'ile principale (Sepik occidental, Sepik oriental, Madang, Morobe, Hautes terres de l'ouest, Chimbu, Hautes terres de l'est, Hautes terres du sud, district de l'ouest, district du Golfe , district central et district du nord) et un district insulaire nour sa plus grande part, bien qu'englobant la pointe sud-est de l'ile principale (Milne Bay). 17. t1algre une grande diversite entre les types physiques et les groupes linguistiques, la population du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, qui est d'environ 2,5 millions d'habitants, peut en general etre rattachee aux Melanesiens qui occupent la plus grande partie du Pacifique occidental. Les iles situees au nord-ouest du district de Manus comptent parmi leurs habitants de petits groupes classes parmi les Micronesiens, et les iles du district de Eou{'; ainville quelques groupes de Polynesiens. / ... T/1732 Franc;ais Page 9 18. La population du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee utilise plus de 700 langues et dialectes differents, dont la plupart ne sont parles que par un petit nombre d'habitants. Tres approximativement, on peut etablir une distinct ion entre les langues de type melanesien et celles que l'on appelle frequemment les langues non melanesiennes. Un pidgin melanesien est devenu la langue vehiculaire d'une grande partie du Papua-Nouvelle- Guinee. Son vocabulaire comprend un grand nombre de termes d'origine anglaise, uncertain nombre de termes melanesiens et quelques mots allemands, malais et polynesiens. La grammaire s'inspire de la grammaire melanesi enne. Le motu est l ui aussi utilise comme langue vehiculaire dans de vastes regions du Papua. 19. Le systeme d'enseignement du Papua met l 'accent sur l'enseignement de l'anglais. L'anglais est la langue d'enseignement dans les ecoles . publiques, et le programme des ecoles primaires prevoit que l'enseignement doit y etre fait en anglais a partir de la troisieme annee d'etudes (standard 3). Les debats de la Chambre d'assemblee font l'objet d'une interpretation simultanee en angl ais, en pidgin melanesien et en motu . .. I ... T/1732 Franqais Page 10 CHAPITRE II ELECTIONS A IA CHAMBRE D'ASSEMBIEE tU PAPUA-NOUVELIE-GUINEE EN 1972 A. Organisation des elections 20. Les elections generales a la Chambre d I assemblee du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee ont lieu tous les quatre ans. Les premieres elections generales ont ete organisees en 1964 . i\pres les deuxiemes elections generales, en 1968, la composition de l a Chambre· d I assemblee etait la suivante : a) 69 personnes elues dans les 69 circonscriptions electorales ou les candidatures sont libres; b) 15 personnes e l ues dans les circonscriptions regionales; et c) 10 membres fonctionnaires designes par le Gouverneur general sur proposition de 1 1Administrateur. 21 . Le 4 mars 1971, le Comite special charge d'etudier l'evolution constitu t i onnel le nomme par la Chambre d'assemblee a presente son rapport final, ou figuraient des recommandations touchant la composition de la troisieme Charnbre d'assemblee qui devait etre elue en 1972. 22. Les recommandations du Comite, approuvees par la Chanibre d'assemblee, ont ete adoptees par la Puissance administrante et des dispositions legislatives visant a donner effet aces recommandations ont ete prises. Aux termes de ces nouvelles di spositions , la troisieme Chambre d I asse1i1blee doi t se composer de rnembres dont le nombre ne peut etre inferieur a 104, ni superieur a 107, se repartissant comme suit : a) 18 membres elus representant les circonscriptions electorales regionales ; b) 82 rnembres elus representant les circonscriptions electorales ou les candidatures sont libres ; c) trois membres au plus designes par la Chambre d'assemblee pour exercer des fonctions particulieres : et d) quatre membres fonctionnaires, desisnes par le Gouverneur general sur proposition de 1 1 Administrateur. Circonscriptions electorales 23. A la suite de l 1 adoption des nouvelles dispositions legales relatives a la composition de la Chambre d'assemblee, et conformement a l'article 16 de la loi electorale 1963-1971 du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, l'Administrateur a nomme un comite de cinq membres charge de remanier le decoupage des circonscriptions electorales. Le President du Comite etait M. Simon Kaumi, qui est le responsable de l'organi sation des elections . 24. Le Comite a ete prie de tenir compte des elements suivants : a) le Papua ifouvelle-Guinee devai t etre di vise en 82 circonscriptions electorn,l e s ou les candidatures seraient libres, et 18 circcnscripticns r cgi cnal es; b) les 18 circonscriptions regionales devai ent En r\;le generale respecter les limites des districts adrninistratifs ; c) chaque circonscription electorale I ... T/1732 Frarn;;ais Page 11 re6ionale devait comporter uncertain nombre de ci:rconscriptions ou les candi datures sont libres (ou •1 circonscriptions ordinaires") lorsque cela est possible; et, pour fixer un ordre de grandeur, chaque circonscription ordinaire devrait compter 30 000 habitants environ. "I 25. :Cn ao-0.t 1971, le Comite a presente son rapport a 1 1 Administrateur. Sachant qu' une population d I environ 2, 4 1aillions d 1 habi tants devrai t etre repartie entre 82 circonscriptions ordinairEs, le Comite s' est effE ctivement base sur le chiffre recommande de 30 000 tabitants environ par circonscription ordinaire. Toutefois, il a fait remarquer que d 1 autres facteurs intervenaient egalement et qu 1 il n 1 avait done pas ete possible de s 1 en tenir rigoureusement au chiffre de 30 000 personnes par circonscription qui avait ete fixe. Ces facteurs qui sont enonces a l'article 18 de la loi electorale de 1963-1971, sont les suivants : a) la cornmunaute ou la diversite d 1 interets; b) les moyens de communication; c) les caracteristiques physiques , d) les limites des circonscriptions electorales existantes: et e) les limites des circonscriptions adrninistratives locales. Le Comite, cornme il en avait ete prie, a tenu compte des limites des districts adminis tratifs existants et des previsions relatives aux mouvements de populations entre les diverses circonscriptions. 26. Le rapport du Comite charge de remanier le decoupage des circcnscriptions electorales a ete adopte par la Chrunbre d 1 assemblee a sa session d 1 aout-septembre. En octobre 1971, la loi electorale (circonscriptions electorales regionales) de 1971 a ete publiee. Elle cite en annexe les 18 circonscriptions regionales ainsi que les circonscriptions ordinaires situees dans chaque circonscription regionale. Les circonscriptions regionales sont : 1) Bougainville, 2 ) Centre, 3) Chimbu, 4) Hautes Terres de l 1 Est, 5) Nouvelle Bretagne orientale, 6) Sepik oriental, 7) Gulf, 8) Madang, 9) Manus, 10) Mine Bay, 11) Morobe, 12) Nouvelle-Irlande, 13) Nord, 14) Hautes Terres du Sud, 15) 0uest, 16) Hautes Terres de l 1 0uest, 17) Nouvelle Bretagne occidentale et 18) Sepik occidental. /On trouvera au chapitre III ci-dessous des renseignements sur les circons -criptions ordinaires situees dans chaque circonscription regionaleJ Application de la loi electorale 27. C1 est au fonctionnaire responsable de l 1 organisation des elections (Chief ii:lectoral Officer) qu'incornbe la responsabilite de faire appliquer la loi electorale. Sous son autorite, un directeur du scrutin (Returning Officer) est charge d 1 assurer le deroulement normal de l'election qui a lieu dans sa circons cription. Un directeur adjoint peut etre designe pour s'acquitter de ces fonctions dans une partie de la circonscription. 28. Le 15 novembre 1971, l 1 Administ.rateur a nomme les directeurs de scrutin pour les 18 circonscriptions regionales et les 82 circonscriptions ordinaires. Par la suite, le fonctionnaire responsable de l'organisation des elections a normne 65 directeurs adjoints pour les circonscriptions rec;ionales et 128 pour les circonscriptions ordinaires. I ... T/1732 Franc;;ais Page 12 Systeme electoral 29. Au cours des elections generales tenues en 1964 et 1968, on a applique un systeme preferentiel liini te. Les electeurs devaient indiquer, parmi les candidats dont les no1i1s figuraient sur les bulletins de vote, le nom de celui auquel allai t leur preference et ils pouvaient, sans y etre tenus, indiquer l 'ordre de preference dans lequel ils voulaient voir figurer certains ou tousles autres candidats. On a considere qu'il n'etait pas possible d'appliquer au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee un systeme preferentiel integral, corm.ne c 1 est le cas en Australie ou les bulletins de vote qui n'indiquent pas l'ordre de preference complet sont declares blancs (nuls). On a estime que si l'on appliquait au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee un systeme preferentiel integr al un tres grand nombre de bulletins de vote seraient declares nuls, ce qui aboutirait eventuellement a enlever au resultat du scrutin son caractere representatif. 30. On a mis en doute l'opportunite de l'application au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee du systeme preferentiel limite, auquel on a objecte que peu d ' ele~teurs le comprendraient et l'introduction du systeme du scrutin majoritaire a ete envisagee. 31. Cette question a ete exarrunee en 1968 par la Mission de visite des Nations Unies qui a declare ce qui suit dans son rapport : 11 1a Mission a estime q_ue l e systcu preferentiEl presentait certains inconvenients, rr..ais forcE lui a ete de reconnaitrE qu ' il s' agissait probablEment du mEillsur systems o.p plicabl E etant donne les conditions qui r egnaient dans le Territoire. 1a byaute a l' e: gard du clan ou du gr oupe lin:;uistiquE est tcllemEnt profonde en Nouve lle- Guinee que si l' on appliquait le systeme du scrutin rr..ajoritaire, on pourrait s 1 attendre a ce que le clan ou le groupe linguistique le plus important reussisse a faire elire son candidat a chaque election, meme si ce clan OU groupe linguistique ne repre sentait qu'une minorite du corps electoral. 11 2/ 32. La Commission d'enquete sur les procedures electorales qui a ete nommee par 1 i Administrateur en 1969 a la demande de la Cha,'Ilbre d 1 asse1ilblee a recommande, conformement au voeu de la majorite, que le systeme preferentiel limite applique au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee ne soit pas modifie. La Commission a reconnu que al I electeur moyen du Papua-ifouvelle-Guinee avai t de la methode consist ant a indiquer un ordre de preference selon le systeme preferentiel limite une notion qui etait loin d'etre claire" . La Commission pensait cependant que 11 1a majorite de ces electeurs comprend en quoi il est important d I indiquer un ordre de preference''. La Commission a declare en outr~ que les habitants "avaient confiance dans ce systeme et croyaient en son €quite, meme s'ils ne comprenaient pas tres bien comment il fonctionnait dans le detaila. La Commission a indique dans son rapport que des electeurs s'etaient prononces contre le systeme du scrutin maj oritaire parce qu'ils craignaient qu'il ne consacre la preponderance d 'un groupe ethnique particulier. Y Ibid., trente-cinquieme session, Supplement No 2, par. 193. I .•. ( T/1732 Franc;ais Page 13 33. La Commission d 1 enquete a reconnu que le systeme preferentiel limite pouvait dans certains cas aboutir aux memes resultats qu'un scrutin majoritaire. En 1968, dans 82 circonscriptions ou il se presentait plusieurs candidats, la decision a ete emportee dans 22 circonscriptions a une large majorite;, dans 60 circons criptions il a fallu appliquer le systeme preferentiel, mais dans 50 d'entre elles, le resultat final a ete le meme que si l 1 on avait eu recours a un scrutin rnaj ori taire ; dans les 10 circons criptions rest antes, l' application du systeme preferentiel a modifie le resultat final. 34. Conformement a la recorrn..'landation du Comi te d' enquete, lors des elections de 1972 a la Chambre d 1 assemblee, on a applique le systeme preferentiel limite. Date des elections 35, Le 29 novembre 1971, comme le p~evoient les dispositions du chapitre X de la loi electorale, l 1 Administrateur a fixe la date des elections generales et adresse des actes de convocation (writs) aux directeurs du scrutin des circons criptions regionales et des circonscriptions ordinaires, leur enjoignant d 1 orga niser, conformement a la loi, des elections de maniere que chaque circonscription elise un representant a la Chambre d 1 assemblee. 36. Les dates suivantes ont ete fixees pour les operations electorales : a) Le 29 novembre 1971, debut de la periode de declaration de candidatures. b) Le 29 decembre 1971, date de cloture de la liste des candidats. c) Le 19 fevrier 1972, ouverture du scrutin sur tout le Territoire du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee. d) Le 11 mars 1972, cloture du scrutin et depouillement des bulletins de vote. e) Le 3 avril 1972 au plus tard, renvoi des actes de convocation (writs) au fonctionnaire responsable de l 1 organisation des elections. Conditions a remplir pour etre electeur 37. A l'exception des etrangers tels que les definit la loi sur la nationalite de 1948-1969 du Commonwealth (Citizenship Act), toute personne agee de 18 ans au mains, qu'elle soit de sexe masculin ou feminin, a le droit d'etre inscrite sur les listes electorales et de voter aux elections (depuis les elections de 1968, l ' age minimum a ete ramene de 21 a 18 ans). Chaque electeur a le droit de voter non seulement dans la circonscription electorale ordinaire mais egalement dans la circonscription regionale sur les listes desquelles il est inscrit. I . .. T/1732 Franc;ais Page 14 Inscription sur les listes electorales 38. Au Papua-Nouvell.e-Guinee, le vote n 1 est pas obligatoire mais toute personne qui a le droit de voter doi+, se faire inscrire sur l a "liste generale" (CoI!lJ!'lon roll). Aux precedentes elections a la Chambre d 1 assemblee, toute personne ayant son domicile dans une circonscription electorale ou ayant vecu sans interruption dans une de ces circonscriptions pendant 12 mois au ma ins avait le droit d'etre inscrite sur la liste electorale de cette circonscription. La loi electorale ,. prevoyait qu'un electeur susceptible d 'etre inscrit sur 1 1 une de deux OU de plusieurs listes pouvait choisir la liste sur laquelle il desirait etre inscrit. 39. Conformement aux recommandations de la Commission d 1 enquete sur les procedures electorales, l a loi electorale prevoit qu 1une personne qui a reside effectivement sur le territoire d 1 une circonscription electorale pendant plus de six mois au cours des douze mois precedents doit etre inscrite dans cette circonscription. Le domicile reel d 1une personne peut egalement etre 1 1 endroit ou elle a la ferme intention de retourner vivre, meme si elle reside temporairement ailleurs. Un electeur que les dispositions de son contrat de travail tiennent eloigne de sa circonscription est repute ne vivre que temporairement a 1 1 endroit OU il travaille. Les dispositions de la loi electorale qui permettaient a un electeur de se faire inscrire, s 1 il le desirait, dans sa circonscription d 'origine , ont ete abrogees. 40. L 1article 124 de la loi electorale prevoit qu'un electeur qui est temporai rement absent de la circonscription sur les listes de laquelle il est inscrit est autorise a voter par correspondance, dans n'importe quelle autre circonscription du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee. Aux termes de 1 1article 117 de la loi electorale, tout electeur qui souhaite voter par correspondance doit repondre aux questions que lui pose le president du bureau de vote et, lorsqu 1 il ressort de ses r eponses qu 1 il a le droit de voter, il peut etre admis ace faire s 1 i l adresse une declaration dans les formes prescrites au directeur du scrutin de la circonscription sur les listes de laquelle 1 1 electeur affirme etre inscrit. 41. Lorsque le nom d 1 un electeur a ete par erreur omis OU raye de la liste officielle des votants de la circonscription dont il fait partie ou que le president du bureau de vote ne trouve pas son nom sur cette liste, 1 1 electeur peut etre autorise a voter, conformement a l'article 130 de la loi electorale, s 1 il fait une declaration dans l e s formes prescrites devant le president du bureau. Lorsqu'il rec;oit le bulletin de vote d 1une personne qui vote en application de cet article, le president du bureau de vote, en presence de 1 1 electeur et de tout scrutateur qui pourrait se trouver present, doit end9sser et placer sans l'ouvrir le bulletin de vote dans une enveloppe ou se trouve deja la declaration souscrite par le votant, et qui est adressee au directeur du scrutin de la circonscription dans laquelle l'electeur affirme etre inscrit. L'article 131 de la loi electorale contient des dispositions analogues et autorise a participer au scrutin tout electeur dont le nom a deja ete cache sur la liste officielle des votants pour indiquer I •. • T/1732 Franc;ais Page 15 qu'il a rec;u son bulletin de vote, conformement a 1 1 article 120, mais qui declare ne pas avoir vote. 42. L'article 80 de la loi electorale autorise a voter par correspondance tout electeur qui : a) sera absent du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee pendant toute la duree du scrutin, ou se trouvera a 10 miles d 1 un bureau de vote par le plus court chemin praticable; b) sera en voyage ou sera absent de son lieu de residence et mis dans 1 1 impossibilite de voter dans un bureau de vote; c) est gravement malade, ou infirme, et que cette maladie ou cette infirmite met dans 1 1 impossibilite de se rendre dans un bureau de vote pour y voter; ou d) ne pourra se rendre dans un bureau de vote en raison de son appartenance a un ordre religieux ou de ses croyances religieuses. Conditions d 1 eligibilite 43. L 1 article 66 de la loi electorale prevoit que tout candidat aux elections a la Chambre d 1 assemblee doit : a) etre electeur du Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee; b) avoir 21 ans revolus; c) etre inscrit sur les listes electorales de la circons cription dans laquelle il fait acte de candidature, ou avoir droit ace que son nom soit transfere sur cette liste; d) etre ne en Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee et avoir reside dans la circonscription electorale dans laquelle il pose sa candidature pendant six mois; ou, s'il n 1 est pas ne au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee, avoir reside au Papua-Nouvelle-Guinee depuis cinq ans sans interruption; OU avoir ete membre elude la Chambre d 1assemblee. 44. Un candidat a le droit de faire transferer son nom sur les listes electorales de la circonscription dans laquelle il se presente s'il a ete domicilie dans ladite circonscription pendant cinq ans sans interruption. 45. Un fonctionnaire n'a pas le droit de se porter candidat. Il ne peut faire acte de candidature qu 1 apres avoir officiellement donne sa demission et lorsque celle-ci aura ete acceptee. 46. Un candidat peut se presenter dans une circonscription regionale si : a) il est eligible dans une des circonscriptions ordinaires de ladite circonscription regionale; b) il satisfait aux conditions exigees et spe~ifiees par la loi en matiere d 1 education. 47. Aux elections de 1972, pour se presenter dans une circonscription regionale , il fallait justifier avoir obtenu le Papua New Guinea Intermediate Certificate ou son equivalent. Plus de la moitie des candidats qui se sont presentes en 1972 dans une circonscription ordinaire satisfaisaient aces conditions. Declarations de candidature 48. Un candidat ne peut se presenter que dans une seule circonscription a la fois. Toute declaration de candidature doit s 1 accompagner du versement d'une caution de 100 dollars australiens et peut etre presentee pendant toute la periode qui I •.• T/1732 Franc;ais Page 16 part de la publication de l'acte de convocation (writ) pour se terminer le Jour prevu pour la cloture de la liste des candidats , a midi. Scrutateurs 49. Aux termes de l'article 110 de la loi electorale, les candidats peuvent designer des scrutateurs pour les repr esenter dans les bureaux de vote pendant le scrutin. Chaque candidat n'a droit qu'a un scrutateur par bureau de vote. Comites d 1 identification 50. La constitution, dans les bureaux de vote, de comites charges de verifier 1 1 identite des electeurs pendant les elections de 1972 a la Chambre d'assemble e a et e approuvee. Le f onctionna ire responsable de l'organisation des elections a charge les directeurs de scrutin de nommer a chaque bureau de vote de leur region un comite d 1 identification des electeurs compose de trois membres qui devaient etre des personnes respectees de la communaute . Ila ete conseille aux directeurs de scrutin de consulter les conseils locaux, les candidats, les partis politiques et t oute per$Onne OU organisation interessee avant de proceder aux nominations afin de s 1 assurer que les personnes choisies pour sieger au comite seraient acceptees par toutes les parties interessees. La tache principale du comite et a it de s'a ssurer, en cas de doute, que chaque electeur qui se presentait remplissait les conditions requises pour voter au bureau de vote en question. Responsables electoraux 51 . Aux termes des dispositions de 1 1 article 101 de la loi electorale, le directeur de scrutin est charge de designer, pour chaque bureau de vote, un president ainsi que taus les assesseurs et les secretaires necessaires. Dans une circulaire adressee le 6 janvier 1972 a taus les directeurs de scrutin, le fonctionnaire responsable de 1 1organisation des elections a declare que les el ections nationales de 1972 allaient probablement etre l ' occasion d'un affrontement des partis et a souligne la necessite de designer des responsables electoraux qui s'acquitteraient de leurs fonctions de fac;on absolument impartiale pendant les elections. Organisation des elect ions et operations de vote 52. Aux terme s de l'ar ticle 25 de l a loi el ectorale , l'Administrateur peut, au moyen d 1 un avis insere dans l a Papua New Guinea Government Ga zette : a ) designer pour chaque circonscription electoral e un bureau de vote principal; b) designer pour chaque circonscription electorale tout autre bureau de vote qu' il j ugera necessaire et commode de creer ; etc) supprimer un bureau de vote. L'article 104 de l a loi el ectorale prevoit que l es bureaux de vote doivent comporter un ou pl usi eurs i soloirs separes constr uits de fac;on a soustraire 1 1 electeur aux regards pendant qu ' il rempl it so~ bullet in de vote . Selan l'article 113 de la loi electorale , I . •.