Government Competition
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
In Papua.
[To the Editor.] Sir, —In the December number of “The Pacific Islands Monthly,” on page 22, in an article entitled, “Vigorous Papuan Company,” it is stated that, ‘‘The Administration trades and runs coastal vessels in direct competition with private enterprise.”
You are mistaken; the Government does nothing of the kind, nor has it ever done so.
I am, etc.,
H. W. Champion.
Pt. Moresby,
January 5, 1932.
EDITORIAL NOTE: We are sorry, if we have inadvertently misrepresented the position.
But Papuan residents certainly do refer, in conversation to the freight service supplied by Government vessels on the coast of Papua. And in the last gazetted statement of the Territory’s accounts, under the heading of "Miscellaneous receipts,” we find: “Earnings of Government vessels, six months to December 31, 1930, £217/10/3; to December 31, 1931, £53.” So there is some excuse for our error.