District Commissioner (3-Day Rental)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS RESIDING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ANY ORDERS FOR THIS PRODUCT THAT ARE PLACED FROM OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED.

PLEASE NOTE: If paying via purchase order, your 3-day rental period will begin when we approve your order. (Approvals are usually processed regularly during trading hours, but please allow up to two business days.) If paying up-front via credit card or PayPal, you will have access to stream the file in a matter of minutes, and your 3-day rental period will begin straight away.

You will receive an email (separate to your tax invoice) with a link to watch this video once your payment is received (or when we approve your purchase order).

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 adjust to a new way of life in the social and economic development of the area. We see patrol officers in the field presiding over trade negotiations, introducing new ways of agriculture and supervising the building and maintenance of roads and aerodromes. We observe children and their teachers in their new school classrooms, mothers and babies at community health clinics – all the necessary prerequisites of a successful, modern society.

(1963, 26 mins) 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.

© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.