B.P. Services

Another Revision

New Guinea And

Papua Again

CONVERSATIONS have been

proceeding during the whole of

the past month, between the Federal

Government and Messrs. Burns,

Philp and Co. Ltd., contractors for

the Pacific Islands mail and passen-

ger services, with reference to

further rearrangements.

A general revision was brought into effect only recently; but the effects of the depression have been so severe that passenger and freight traffic has shrunk below even the most pessimistic forecast, and the shipping company’s earnings have suffered accordingly. The position became so serious that, as indicated in last month’s issue, a further revision has become necessary.

The Federal Government has finally approved of the rearrangement of the Sydney-Norfoik Island-New Hebrides- Auckland service, carried out by the Morinda, and the new timetable is published on page 18 of this issue. It will be noted that the Morinda will leave Sydney every five weeks on the following schedule: Sydney-Norfoik Island-New Hebrides-Norfolk Island-

Auckland-Norfolk Island-Sydney.

It will be noted that an important development referred to in the August issue—namely, the inclusion of Noumea as a port of call in this service—has not taken place. It appears that several considerations enter into this proposal, the effect of which has been that the company has decided to hasten slowly. It can be stated, however, that the Noumea extension is still under consideration and will almost certainly be included in the Morinda’s service when various difficulties, which now present themselves, have been cleared away.

The Federal authorities still have under consideration the rearrangement of the Papuan and New Guinea services. These, at present, are carried out by three ships—the Macdhui, the Mataram and the Marsina. The traffic has sadly decreased; and, at the same time, the residents of the various Territories are crying out for cheaper fares and freights, while the Federal Government wants to reduce the subsidy.

The company has pointed out that all this is impossible so long as it is necessary to carry on these services with three steamers, but it is under stood that the company has advised the Government that, if the New Guinea and Papuan services are combined so as to permit the discontinuance of one steamer, it may be possible to reduce fares and freights and carry on on a smaller subsidy.

There are very many points to be considered in connection with these services. If ships going to and from (New Guinea are also to work the Papuan ports, it means that two or three days will be added to the voyages. That does not seem to matter very much to Papua, which will be the first Territory to be called at and the last to be left; but it does matter to the New Guinea Administration, which must make correspondingly larger provision for travelling expenses of its numerous officials between Sydney and the Territory. One objection from Papua is the fear that, under such an arrangement, New Guinea will get the best of the available accommodation.

There is also a difficulty about working the ports in the groups east of Papua, which have no medical officers to give pratique to through ships.

These are some of the numerous points with which the Federal officials and Messrs. Burns,. Philp and Co. are now wrestling, in an attempt to rearrange the northern islands services, and at the same time maintain efficiency.

A decision, it is expected, will be reached within the next few weeks. ... ===