Fees and Taxes In Papua.

Two statements about Papua, re cently published in “The Pacific Islands Monthly,” have been mildly corrected by a valued Port Moresby corre spondent.

It was stated recently that the Papuan Administration had greatly re duced the duties payable on the regis tration of companies. Actually, says our correspondent, the amount has been increased. Formerly, the cost of registering a foreign company had a maximum of £50; but recently 4 per cent, primage was added and all stamp duties doubled.

We also recently commented upon the ease and cheapness with which tele phone communication might be given in the Territory, owing to the Admin istration’s success in training natives as telephone mechanics. Our corre spondent quotes a case in which a firm applied for a telephone to be attached to a building two miles from the Trea sury. The quotation for the work was some £200 cash down and five years’ rent in advance. The firm did not put in the telephone!