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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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5PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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DRAFT PROPOSALS for the future Administration of British New Guinea agreed to by the Governments of the Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, at Sydney, on the 28th of April 1886.
•
I. The Colony of Queensland to undertake by a permanent Appropriation Act to defray the cost of the administration of the Government of British New Guinea to an extent not exceeding 15,000l. per annum for the term of five years, subject to the following conditions:-
II. The Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria to undertake by similar perma- nent. Appropriation Acts to bear equally with Queensland any amount which the latter Colony may be called upon to pay under Article I., so that each Colony shall be liable for one-third of the whole expenditure to an extent not exceeding 5,0007.
III. Any contribution made by the Governments of any of the other Australasian Colonies to be applied in reduction of the amount which the Colonies may be called upon to pay under Articles I. and II.
pay
IV. Any revenue raised by the Government of New Guinea to be similarly applied in reduction of the amount which the Colonies may be called upon to under Articles I. and II., unless in the event of a larger annual expenditure than 15,000/. being agreed to, as provided in Article XVI., in which case the excess is to be provided from the
revenue.
V. The Imperial Government to make a reasonable contribution (by way of loan or otherwise) towards the cost of efficiently starting the Government, and the necessary Government buildings, &c.
VI. Upon the proposed guarantee being given by Queensland, Her Majesty to assume Sovereignty over the Protectorate.
VII. An Administrator of the Government to be appointed with that title, to whom, with two or more other persons, legislative powers are to be delegated under the Imperial
Acts 6 & 7 Vict. c. 13 and 23 & 24 Vict. c. 121.
VIII. The Colonies, recognising the necessity for a small civil list, propose the following as probably sufficient for the first initiation of the Government :—
Administrator
Private Secretary
Judicial Officer
Secretary to Government
£
1,500
300
1,000 500
IX. No purchase of land to be allowed to be made from private persons, except from the Governinent or purchasers from it.
X. No deportation of natives to be allowed either from one part of the Colony to another, or to places beyond the Colony, except under crdinances reserved for Her Majesty's assent and assented to by Her Majesty.
XI. Trading with the natives in arms, ammunition, explosives, and intoxicants to be prohibited, except under ordinances reserved and assented to in like manner.
XII. No differential duties to be imposed in favour of any of the guaranteeing Colonies, or any other Colony or country.
XIII. The foregoing four articles to be made part of the Constitution of the Colony, preferably by Orders in Council made contemporaneously with the assumption of Sovereignty, or else by ordinances to be passed immediately afterwards under instructions to the Administrator from Her Majesty's Imperial Government. Standing instructions to be given to the Governor of Queensland and to the Adininistrator of British New Guinea to observe the conditions of these articles.
XIV. An appeal to lie to the Supreme Court of Queensland, at Brisbane, in all civil cases involving an amount of over 100%., and in all criminal cases involving a punishment greater than three months' imprisonment.
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XV. An estimate of revenue and expenditure to be submitted by the Administrator to the Governor of Queensland, and approved by him before the passing of any Appro- priation Ordinance. The Governor of Queensland to have power to disallow any item of proposed expenditure.
XVI. Any appropriation beyond the amount of 15,000l. for any one year to be agreed to by each of the three guaranteeing Colonies.
XVII. All accounts of receipts and expenditure to be audited by officers of the Queensland Government.
XVIII. The Administrator, in the exercise of his legislative and administrative functions, to be subject to the instructions of the Governor of Queensland (subject ef course to Her Majesty's power of disallowance of proposed laws).
XIX. The Governor of Queensland to be directed to consult his Executive Council upon all matters relating to British New Guinea.
XX. The Government of Queensland to consult the Governments of the other contributing Colonies in all matters other than those of ordinary administration, and to report to them all action taken.
XXI. An annual report to be furnished by the Administrator to the Governor of Queensland of the proceedings of the Government (Legislative and Administrative), and copies of such report, together with any observations which the Governor of Queensland may think fit to make thereon, to be forwarded to the Secretary of State, and to cach of the contributing Colonies.
4. If Her Majesty should be pleased to approve of these proposals, this Government will be prepared at once to ask the Legislature to pass the necessary Act for the per- manent appropriation of the agreed sum of 15,000, without waiting for any similar Acts to be passed by the Legislatures of New South Wales and Victoria.
5. This Government wishes, however, that 'it should be stipulated as between Her Majesty's Government and the Colony of Queensland that if from any cause the agreed contribution should not be paid by New South Wales or Victoria, Queensland should have a first charge upon any surplus revenue of British New Guinea for any amount which she is called upon to pay under her guarantee beyond the agreed proportion of one-third.
6. Your Excellency will observe that the term for which it is proposed that the guarantee should be given is five years. This term was agreed upon after full discussion. I do not think that the other Colonies would be disposed to join in a longer guarantee, and they prefer that the guarantee to be now given by Queensland should be for the same term for which they are willing to contribute. I have no doubt that before the expiration of that period many of the uncertainties now surrounding the matter will be removed, and that there will be no difficulty in entering into such fresh arrangements as circumstances may then show to be most expedient.
7. With respect to the proposed initial contribution from the Imperial Government, no fixed amount has been asked for. Nor is it likely that a very large amount would be required immediately. It would, however, be necessary to provide buildings of various kinds in different places, and probably also, during the five years to purchase a steamer and other vessels or boats. It has been suggested that a contribution should be made
of the same amount as was made in the case of Fiji -100,000/.
8. I have now the honour to request your Excellency to be good enough to communi- cate these proposals to the Secretary of State for Her Majesty's consideration, and I venture to express the hope that they may lead to an early settlement of the question.
I have, &c. (Signed) S. W. GRIFFITH
His Excellency
The Administrator of the Government of
Queensland.
M m 4
238
18.
JOHN DOUGLAS, Esq., C.M.G. (NEW GUINEA), to the Right Hos, EDWARD STANHOPE, M.P. (Received August 17, 1886.)
↑ TELEGRAPHIC.
*
Confidential. I have paid visit to Chief of Monglay, coast of Guinea, I can advise Her Majesty's Government on best policy [*]. Is Her Majesty's Government in tavour proposal to Australian Governments? If not, I am prepared with an alterna- tive measure.