Governance in Papua New Guinea (1950-60s)

1. By: Sheren Kinau
PG217 (2016)

2. Outline
 Staff Conference
 Legislative Council
 1949 Papua and New Guinea Act
 The Village Councils
 Colonial Administration

3. Staff Conference
Provided advice on draft legislation and
major decisions concerning the civil
service.
Administrator: Chairman (J.K Murray)
Heads of departments
Other officials who were added from time to
time on an ad hoc basis

4. Staff Conference
 Committee system
 Advised on matters of local concern
 Carried out the decisions of the
administrative at the local level

5. Legislative Council
 Replaced the staff conference in
November, 1951.
 The administrator (Jack Keith Murray,
replaced by Donald, Mackinnon Cleland in
1952)
 Sixteen official or administrative members
 Twelve non-official members
 The highlands were excluded because it
remained largely beyond administrative
control.

6. 1949 Papua and New Guinea Act
Allowed for a system of local governments through the
establishment of village councils.
Both men and women were eligible to vote for village
councils.
1951- village councils were established in Port Moresby
and Rabaul (people from POM and Rabaul had close
European contact since the 1870s)

7. The Village Councils
In the 1950s there were four village councils
responsible for a population of 11,900 in the country.
A decade later, the number of councils elected by the
people increased to thirty-nine for a for a population
of 265 253.

8. Colonial Administration
 The rural majority remained under the
administrative system by 1960
 Function
 Creation, staffing & organization of Public
Service
 Australian Commonwealth departments
were responsible for the appointment of
senior officers of the public sector

9. Colonial Administration
J. K. Murray was replaced by Colonel D.M.
Cleland in 1951
After the war administrative colonial districts continued
to be used

10. Summary
1949 Papua and New Guinea Act allowed for a system
of local governments through the establishment of
village councils
Legislative Counsel replaced the staff conference in
November, 1951.
Staff Conference provided advice on draft legislation
and major decisions concerning the civil service.

11. Summary
In the 1950s there were 4 village councils and a
decade later it increased to 39
The rural majority remained under the administrative
system by 1960

12. Reference
Waiko.J. (1993) A short History of Papua New Guinea.
Oxford University Press. Australia: South Melbourne