General elections were held in Papua and New Guinea on 2 October 1954.

Electoral system

The 29-member Legislative Council consisted of the

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, 16 civil servants, nine members appointed by the Administrator (three representatives of the indigenous population, three representing European settlers and three representing missionaries) and three elected Europeans. The

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were also given the right to vote alongside Europeans. However, although there were around 13,000 Europeans and 2,000 Chinese in the territory, only around 2,700 people registered to vote.Territorians Show Disinterest In Local Politics
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', October 1954, p12 The three elected members were elected from three single-member constituencies, New Guinea Islands, New Guinea Mainland and Papua by preferential voting.P-NG Legislative Council: Election of Three Members
Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1951, p11 Voting was not compulsory.P-NGs Second Council Elections, October 2
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', June 1954, p31

Campaign

Nominations for the three elected seats closed on 9 August, with five candidates put forward. The New Guinea Islands seat was contested by the incumbent Don Barrett and John Stokie, a plantation manager. In New Guinea Mainland, the incumbent

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did not run, resulting in a contest between the theatre owner Harry Starr and optometrist and planter George Whittaker. Incumbent MLC Ernest James was the only candidate in Papua.Only Few Seek PN-G Voters' Favour
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', August 1954, p16

Results

Appointed members

Aftermath

In March 1955 Frank Lee was replaced by Thomas Grahamslaw. Later in the year missionary representative Frank George Lewis left the territory and was replaced in the Council by Philip Strong.His Lordship the Bishop of New Guinea
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', September 1955, p9

References

{{Papua New Guinean elections Elections in Papua New Guinea Papua 1954 in Papua New Guinea Politics of Papua and New Guinea October 1954 events in Oceania