1961 Papua New Guinean general election

General elections were held in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea on 18 March 1961.[1] Indigenous members were elected for the first time, although on an indirect basis. The territory's first political party, the United Progress Party, won three seats.[1]

Papua New Guinea
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Papua New Guinea

Background

In September 1960 the Australian government announced that the Legislative Council would be expanded. Having previously been a 29-member body with 17 officials (civil servants), nine appointed members and three elected members, the new council was to have 37 members, of which 15 were officials, 10 were appointees (of which at least five would be indigenous members) and twelve were elected. The twelve elected members would consist of six Europeans elected directly from single-member constituencies, and six indigenous members indirectly elected from the same constituencies.[2]

The indirect elections for the indigenous members saw 220 representatives nominated by 39 Native Local Government Council and 144 representatives nominated by 33 special electoral groups, covering areas where no Native Local Government Council existed.[3] The 364 representatives subsequently elected the six indigenous members of the Legislative Council.

Campaign

A total of 108 candidates contested the six indigenous seats, whilst only nine ran in the six European seats, leaving three candidates elected unopposed.[4]

Constituency European candidates Indigenous candidates
New BritainDon Barrett (incumbent, UPP), John Chipper12
New Guinea CoastalLloyd Hurrell (incumbent)7
New Guinea HighlandsIan Downs (UPP)40
New Guinea IslandsW. Meehan (UPP), Paul Mason25
Western PapuaCraig Kirke (incumbent, UPP), Ron Slaughter13
Eastern PapuaJohn Stuntz (UPP)11

Results
Constituency European elected member Indigenous elected member
Eastern PapuaJohn Stuntz (UPP)John Guise
HighlandsIan Downs (UPP)Kondom Agaundo
New BritainJohn ChipperVin Tobaining
New Guinea CoastalLloyd HurrellSomu Sigob
New Guinea IslandsPaul MasonNicholas Brokam
Western PapuaRon Slaughter (UPP)Simoi Paradi
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

Nominated members
Position Member
Assistant AdministratorJohn Gunther
Chief Collector of CustomsK.M. Chambers
Chief Native Lands CommissionerIvan Champion
Director of Agriculture, Stock and FisheriesFrank Henderson
Director of EducationGeoffrey Roscoe
Director of Lands, Surveys and MinesDouglas Macinnis
Director of Native AffairsJohn Keith McCarthy
Director of Posts and TelegraphsWilliam Frederick Carter
Director of Public HealthRoy Scragg
Director of Public WorksJ. Glen
District Commissioner, MorobeHorrie Niall
District Commissioner, New BritainJohn Rollo Foldi
Secretary for LawWalter William Watkins
Treasurer and Director of FinanceHarold Reeve
Appointed membersRoma Bates
Basil Fairfax-Ross
Ephraim Jubilee
Bonjul Korogo
Maneto Kuradal
John McGhee
Philip Strong
Reuben Taureka
Kinuki Wabag
Alice Wedega
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

Aftermath

Following the elections, the Administrator appointed the Administrator's Council, the territory's cabinet.[5]

Position Member
Assistant AdministratorJohn Gunther
Director of Native AffairsJohn Keith McCarthy
TreasurerHarold Reeve
Unofficial membersBasil Fairfax-Ross
Ian Downs
John Guise
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References
  1. New Faces in P-NG Council Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1961, p18
  2. Papua-New Guinea On The Road To Autonomy Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1960, p17
  3. Native Election Procedure in P-NG Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1961, p131
  4. 108 Natives Will Contest First P-NG Election Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1961, p19
  5. P-NG's New "Cabinet" Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1961, p18
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