Salamaua ’Drome

Menace to N.G. Transport System

IF something is not done soon by the Administration of New Guinea to improve the condition of the Salamaua aerodrome, the Administration may have to shoulder the responsibility of a bad aviation accident.

Complaints have been made repeatedly about the condition of this important aerodrome; but nothing has been done and the landing-ground has gone from bad to worse. It is one of the most important aerodromes in New Guinea and is one regularly used by all aviation companies which carry on the vital transport ser vices between the coast and the gold fields.

The trouble seems to lie in the original arrangement which was made between the Administration and New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., under which the aero drome was leased to N.G.G. Ltd., but with the proviso that any aviation concern was free to use the aerodrome. It was assumed, apparently, that N.G.G. Ltd. would keep the aerodrome in reasonably good order; but N.G.G. Ltd. is a concern noted for strange policies and mysterious motives, and for some reason best known to itself, it has failed to keep the aero drome in good order, although much of its important freight has to pass through this station.

In wet weather, the Salamaua ’drome is simply a shallow lake; and in dry weather it is a region of dreadful ruts, and traps for young aviators.

There is plenty of material available — gravel etc. —wheiewith to patch up the aerodrome, and labour is cheap and abundant. In view of the great import ance of the place, both as a landing ground and as a unit in the transport system of New Guinea, the least the Ad ministration should do would be to expend £2,000 or £3,000 in building a concrete runaway of about 300 yards in length, so that aeroplanes using this aerodrome might maintain their regular schedules in reasonable safety.

We have received a number of com munications on this subject; and we are given to understand that the “stand-pat” attitude of the Administration is due to the lease granted to New Guinea Gold fields Limited and the latter’s refusal to accept responsibility for the deplorable condition of the aerodrome. But it does not in any way provide the Administration with an excuse.

In the public interest the Administra tion should, if no other course is possible, deal drastically with N.G.G. Ltd. in this matter. The latter company up-to-date has been a painful embarrassment to the Administration, in connection with the non-development of gold-bearing lands, and no one in New Guinea will be sorry if the Administration takes off its gloves and shows some courage in dealing with the Salamaua aerodrome.

Senator Sir Walter Kingsmill, B.A., K.B., who, for a time, was connected with Papuan Sugar Corporation, Ltd., which acquired land at Wanigela, North-eastern Papua, to develop the sugar industry, died in Sydney on January 15. He visited Papua in September, 1933, to inspect the company’s holding there.