District Commissioner

1963, 26 Minutes

The Territory of Papua New Guinea was administered by Australia from 1949 until 1975, when it became an independent nation.

In 1963, Tom Ellis was the District Commissioner of the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. In this film Tom describes how the Territory Administration is helping the people to adapt to a new 'Western' way of life, as the area develops socially and economically. Patrol officers in the field preside over trade negotiations, introduce new ways of agriculture and supervise the building and maintenance of roads and aerodromes. Children and their teachers learn and teach in their new school classrooms; mothers and babies seek advice about modern hygeine methods and nutrition at community health clinics - all the necessary prerequisites of a successful, modern society.

An Australian National Film Board Production. Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit with the co-operation of the Department of Territories and the Department of the Administrator, Territory of Papua and New Guinea.
© 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.