A union in Papua: The rise and fall of the Milne bay district workers’ association∗

∗ The fieldwork upon which this article is based was undertaken while I was teaching in the Department of History at the University of Papua New Guinea. The research would not have been possible without the co‐operation of members of the Milne Bay District Workers’ Association and their officials. The Director of the Bureau of Industrial Organisations at the time, F.X. here, was also helpful in allowing access to non‐confidential documents held by the BIO. D.N. Denoon, and C O'Fairchelleigh, now of Griffith University, were both then at the University of Papua New Guinea and provided much valuable advice and encouragement. I am also indebted to the current and previous editor and the journal's readers, who offered many useful criticisms and suggestions.

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Notes

∗ The fieldwork upon which this article is based was undertaken while I was teaching in the Department of History at the University of Papua New Guinea. The research would not have been possible without the co‐operation of members of the Milne Bay District Workers’ Association and their officials. The Director of the Bureau of Industrial Organisations at the time, F.X. here, was also helpful in allowing access to non‐confidential documents held by the BIO. D.N. Denoon, and C O'Fairchelleigh, now of Griffith University, were both then at the University of Papua New Guinea and provided much valuable advice and encouragement. I am also indebted to the current and previous editor and the journal's readers, who offered many useful criticisms and suggestions.