Better Roads.

New Policy In Mandated Territory.

It is reported that one of the first de cisions of the new Acting-Administra tor in New Guinea (General Griffiths) was to order immediate repairs to the Territory’s roads. This action will be welcomed by the white population, who had been suffering much inconvenience from pot-holed highways.

In this connection, it may be noted that the following statement was made to “The Pacific Islands Monthly” re cently by an old resident of the Terri tory : — “The New Ireland road is not in nearly such good condition as it was in the German time. The Australians have lengthened the road considerably at the southern end; but they have not main tained it in good order. The same ap plies to the Kokopo road —it is not nearly in such good order as it was ten years ago.

“It is not that road-maintenance is expensive, or that there is not sufficient labour —it is just that no one seems to care.”

We forecast that road maintenance will receive all necessary attention under the new regime.