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Australian Historical Studies Volume 24, 1990 - Issue 94
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Original Articles

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

Michael Hess University of Western Australia,
Pages 83-103 | Published online: 29 Sep 2008

  • Murray , Hubert . 1931 . The Scientific Method Applied to Labour Problems in Papua , 9 Port Moresby : Government Printer .
  • Hess , M. 1983 . ‘“In the long run...”: Australian Colonial Labour Policy in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea’ . Journal of Industrial Relations , 25 ( 1 ) : 51 – 67 .
  • Metcalf , P. 1968 . “ ‘Port Moresby's Papuan Workers and Their Association’ ” . University of Auckland . MA thesis
  • Hess , M. January 1985 . “ ‘Understanding Industrial Relations in Papua New Guinea’ ” . January , Australian National University . paper presented to the Conference on Ten Years of Independence
  • Isaac , J.E. 1969 . ‘Machinery for Fixing Wages in a Developing Economy’ . Industrial Review , 7 ( 1 ) : 5 – 22 .
  • Rowley , C.D. 1968 . “ ‘The Social Background to Industrial Relations in Papua New Guinea’ ” . Port Moresby : University of Papua New Guinea . paper presented at the Seminar on Industrial Relations in a Developing Economy
  • Patterson , J. 1969 . ‘New Guinea's Trade Unions — When Workers Don't Know What They Want’ . New Guinea and Australia, the Pacific and South East Asia , 4 ( 1 ) : 26 – 34 .
  • Chapman , T. 1965 . ‘A Need for Leadership’ . New Guinea and Australia, the Pacific and South East Asia , 1 ( 4 ) : 20 – 4 .
  • Hess , M. 1982 . “ ‘The Establishment and Collapse of the Milne Bay District Workers’ Association’ ” . 67 – 74 . Port Moresby : University of Papua New Guinea . MA thesis
  • Hess , M. 1980 . ‘“Great Purpose for the Future” an Historical Note on the Establishment of the Milne Bay District Workers’ Association’ . Yagl‐Ambu , 7 ( 1 ) : 28 – 38 .
  • Milne Bay District Workers' Association (MBDWA) . 1965 . Minutes of the Public Meeting . 7 April 1965 , Samarai. pp. 1
  • MBDWA . 1965 . Minutes of the General Meeting . April 28 1965 , Samarai. pp. 1 – 2 .
  • MBDWA . 1965 . ‘Objectives’ . April
  • Perlman , S. 1949 . A Theory of the Labour Movement 281 New York
  • Johri , C.K. 1967 . Unionism in a Developing Country 14 London
  • Cohen , R. 1974 . Labour and Politics in Nigeria 120 London
  • Friedland , W.H. 1969 . Vuta Kamba: the Development of Trade Unionism in Tanganyika 18 Stanford
  • Schregle , J. 1982 . Negotiating Development: Labour Relations in Southern Asia 87 Geneva
  • 16 December 1979 . Interview with Coleman Vatuvakuta, founding member and former committee member of the MBDWA 16 December , Samarai
  • MBDWA . 1965 . Minutes , 7 28 April
  • 16 December 1980 . Interview with Sir John Guise, foundation committee member and former President of the MBDWA 16 December , Port Moresby
  • 12 December 1979 . Interview with Methuida Kamole Kigolena, committee member and former Senior Vice‐President of the MBDWA 12 December , Alotau
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 27 February
  • Wolfers , E.P. 1975 . Race Relations and Colonial Rule in Papua New Guinea 90 – 102 . 133 – 134 . Sydney
  • Hasluck , P. 1958 . “ ‘Present Tasks and Policies’ ” . In New Guinea and Australia Edited by: Wilkes , J. 77 Sydney
  • Grosart , I. 1965 . “ ‘The Milne Bay Open Electorate’ ” . In The Papua New Guinea Elections 1964 Edited by: Bettison , D.I. , Hughes , C.A. and van der Veur , P.W. 331 Canberra
  • 1980 . interview with Guise , 27 February
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 27 February
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 16 February
  • 14 December 1979 . Interviews with Anna Ireki, member of the MBDWA 14 December , Samarai
  • 18 December 1979 . Ronnie Namuri, former committee member of the MBDWA 18 December , Samarai
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 16 February
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 16 February
  • 14 December 1979 . Interview with Obedi Togo, former committee member of the MBDWA 14 December , Samarai
  • 1979 . Interview with Namuri , 18 December
  • 1979 . Interview with Kigolena , 12 December
  • 18 December 1979 . Interview with Joseph Keipouna, committee member of the MBDWA 18 December , Alotau
  • 1979 . Interview with Namuri , 18 December
  • 1979 . Interview with Ireki , 14 December
  • 1979 . Interview with Vatuvakuta , 16 December
  • 10 March 1983 . Interview with Douglas Parish, former Secretary of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, Department of Labour 10 March , Sydney
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 27 February
  • 1983 . Interview with Parish , 10 March
  • Stevenson , M. 1968 . ‘A Trade Union in New Guinea’ . Oceania , : 100 – 136 .
  • 30 June 1980 . Interview with Galen Lang, former Secretary of the Madang District Workers’ Association 30 June , Madang
  • 17 August 1981 . Interview with Fr. Norman Crutwell, Anglican priest and missionary 17 August , Goroka
  • 1980 . Interview with Guise , 25 March
  • MBDWA . 18 March 1966 . Minutes of the General Meeting 18 March , 2 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 13 July 1965 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 13 July , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 18 March 1966 . Minutes of the General Meerung 18 March , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 11 November 1965 . Minutes of the Marine Branch Meeting 11 November , 2 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 13 January 1966 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 13 January , 2 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 8 March 1967 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 8 March , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 26 April 1967 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 26 April , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 2 September 1968 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 2 September , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 18 March 1966 . Minutes of the General Meeting 18 March , Samarai
  • MBDWA . 28 June 1967 . Minutes of the General Meeting 28 June , Samarai
  • MBDWA . 27 September 1967 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 27 September , 3 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 2 September 1968 . Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting 2 September , 1 Samarai
  • MBDWA . 19 November 1975 . Report of the Senior Vice‐President 19 November ,
  • 15 December 1979 . Interview with Luke Paiteli, former Secretary/Treasurer of the MBDWA 15 December , Samarai
  • Webb , S. & B. 1901 . Industrial Democracy 161 London
  • Millen , B.H. 1963 . The Political Role of Labour in Developing Countries 9 – 11 . Washington
  • Meillassoux , C . 1972 . ‘From Production to Reproduction: a Marxist Approach to Economic Anthropology’ . Economy and Society , 1 ( 1 ) : 102
  • MBDWA . 19 November 1975 . Report of the Senior Vice‐President 19 November , 2
  • 14 December 1979 . Interview with Hilary Gorio, committee member of the Samarai Islands Union 14 December , Samarai
  • Howard , W.A. 1977 . ‘Australian Trade Unions in the Context of Union Theory’ . Journal of Industrial Relations , 19 ( 3 ) : 255
  • Isaac , J.E. 1970 . “ ‘Structure of Unskilled Wages in Papua New Guinea’ ” . 115 Port Moresby mimeograph
  • 1973 . BIO , : 1
  • 1974 . Letter M.K. Kigolena (Alotau Branch) to M. Tamur (BIO) , 22 February
  • 1973 . BIO , : 2 – 3 .
  • 1974 . BIO , : 2 – 4 .
  • 1975 . MBDWA , : 5
  • 1976 . Director, BIO to the Treasurer, MBDWA , 18 March : 2
  • 1974 . BIO , : 1
  • 1972 . BIO , : 2
  • 1974 . Director, BIO to the Secretary, MBDWA , 15 April
  • 1974 . BIO , : 1
  • 1974 . M.K. Kigolena (Alotau Branch MBDWA) to M. Tamur (BIO) , 22 February : 1
  • 1975 . MBDWA , : 2
  • 1974 . MBDWA , : 1
  • 1980 . Interview with Togo , 25 April
  • MBDWA . 2 September 1976 . Minutes of the General Meeting 2 September , Samarai
  • 1976 . Director (BIO) to the Treasurer, MBDWA , 18 March
  • 1980 . Interviews with Namuri , 26 April Togo, 25 April 1980.
  • 1980 . Interviews with Guise , 16 February and Paiteli, 15 December 1979.
  • 1979 . Interview with Vatuvakuta , 16 December
  • 1980 . Interview with Namuri , 26 April
  • ∗ 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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