General elections were held in Papua and New Guinea on 2 October 1954.[1]

Electoral system

The 29-member Legislative Council consisted of the Administrator, 16 civil servants, nine members appointed by the Administrator (three representatives of the indigenous population, three representing European settlers and three representing missionaries) and three elected Europeans.[2] The Chinese community were also given the right to vote alongside Europeans.[3] However, although there were around 13,000 Europeans and 2,000 Chinese in the territory, only around 2,700 people registered to vote.[1]

The three elected members were elected from three single-member constituencies, New Guinea Islands, New Guinea Mainland and Papua by preferential voting.[4] Voting was not compulsory.[5]

Campaign

Nominations for the three elected seats closed on 9 August, with five candidates put forward. The New Guinea Islands seat was contested by the incumbent Don Barrett and John Stokie, a plantation manager. In New Guinea Mainland, the incumbent Carl Jacobsen did not run, resulting in a contest between the theatre owner Harry Starr and optometrist and planter George Whittaker. Incumbent MLC Ernest James was the only candidate in Papua.[6]

Results

Constituency Candidate Votes % Notes
New Guinea IslandsDon Barrett40877.9Re-elected
John Stokie11622.1
New Guinea MainlandGeorge Whittaker14578.4Elected
Harry Starr4021.6
PapuaErnest JamesUnopposedRe-elected
Invalid/blank votes25–
Total734100
Registered voters/turnout1,82540.2
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

Appointed members

Position Member
AdministratorDonald Cleland
Civil servantsChief Collector of CustomsFrank Lee
Government SecretarySteven Lonergan
Chief Native Lands CommissionerIvan Champion
Crown Law OfficerWalter William Watkins
Director of Agriculture, Stock and FisheriesR.E.P. Dwyer
Director of District Services and Native AffairsAlan Roberts
Acting Assistant Director of District Services and Native AffairsJohn Rollo Foldi
Director of EducationWilliam Groves
Director of ForestsJames Bannister McAdam
Director of HealthJohn Gunther
District Commissioner for Central DistrictSydney Elliott-Smith
District Commissioner for MadangR.W. Wilson
District Commissioner for MorobeHorrie Niall
District Commissioner for New BritainJohn Keith McCarthy
Secretary of Lands, Surveys and MinesDouglas Macinnis
Treasurer and Director of FinanceHarold Reeve
Representatives of EuropeansDoris Booth
Robert Bunting
Basil Fairfax-Ross
Representatives of NativesMerari Dickson
Pita Simogun
John Vuia
Representatives of MissionariesJames Dwyer
Frank George Lewis
David Eric Ure
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly, Institute of Commonwealth Studies[7]

Aftermath

In March 1955 Frank Lee was replaced by Thomas Grahamslaw.[8] Later in the year missionary representative Frank George Lewis left the territory and was replaced in the Council by Philip Strong.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Territorians Show Disinterest In Local Politics Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1954, p12
  2. ↑ Local voice in Papua-N. Guinea administration: Legislative Council Taking Shape After Long Delay Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1951, p9
  3. ↑ Future of Chinese Communities In The Pacific Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1953, p40
  4. ↑ P-NG Legislative Council: Election of Three Members Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1951, p11
  5. ↑ P-NGs Second Council Elections, October 2 Pacific Islands Monthly, June 1954, p31
  6. ↑ Only Few Seek PN-G Voters' Favour Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1954, p16
  7. ↑ Legislative Council 1954, Institute of Commonwealth Studies
  8. ↑ Popular Promotion for Mr. T. Grahamslaw Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1955, p63
  9. ↑ His Lordship the Bishop of New Guinea Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1955, p9
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