Shipping Difficulties

In Papua.

[Letter to the Editor] Kindly allow me space in your valuable magazine to air a few of the problems the planters, traders and European shipmasters have to contend against in this Territory.

Some time ago the shipping com panies reduced their staff salaries, and increased fares and freights. As all the Pacific knows, low prices are rul ing for copra and rubber, and this action was a severe blow to traders and planters.

In September of last year the com panies made an arrangement to work their vessels on a pool account basis.

Again, this hits the struggling pro ducer, as he can only rely on the monthly subsidised mail steamer to get his produce in, or send his family to port in case of illness (a not uncom mon occurrence in these lands). On the Western coast the steamer is un able to cross the Kerema and Vailala Bars, from which ports most of the copra is shipped.

The next blow has “knocked” the European masters. To my certain knowledge two of these men have been sacked, and now all the smaller ves sels trading on the coasts are skip pered by Papuan aboriginal natives.

One wonders what the port authori ties are up to in permitting such things.

On June 11, 1930, a motor vessel (Viviri) foundered, causing great loss of life, both European and native, in cluding a Resident Magistrate and his four young children. This vessel had been on the same run for some years, and was under the command of certi fied masters, until a month or two prior to her loss. On this occasion she was skippered by a native Papuan.

In the meantime, the struggling pioneers are between the devil and the deep sea, owing to low prices for all produce and the terror of travelling on vessels skippered by natives just emerging from the stone age.

I am, etc., Port Moresby, Papua, 12/3/33.

Battler.