Big Plans Afoot in New

Guinea and Papua Minister Goes North on July Macdhui

THE Minister in Charge of Australian Pacific Territories, Senator Sir George Pearce, will leave by the Macdhui on July 25 on a visit to Papua and New Guinea, where he will personally examine various matters connected with the administra tion. It is intended that the Minister shall spend as much time as possible on the Morobe goldfield: and he will fly over from the goldfield to Port Moresby to re join the Macdhui there, arriving back in Sydney about August 27.

Among the matters which will have the personal attention of the Minister are: Amendments of the ordinances relating to prospecting for oil in New Guinea and Papua—certain strong interests have in timated that they will spend large sums in prospecting for petroleum in the Terri tories provided they are assured of the right to profits made by the exploitation of their discoveries. It is contended that the- present ordinances do not sufficiently safeguard private prospecting interests.

The whole question of assisting the de velopment of Papua and New Guinea by giving increasing facilities to the aviation services—co-ordination of services will be sought, and an extension of the services to provide an aerial link with Australia may be arranged.

The question of continuing the Govern ment subsidy to the shipping services con ducted by Messrs. Burns, Philp and to.

Ltd., between Australia and Papua, New Guinea and Solomons. The five years contract between the firm and the Govern ment expired in March, 1934, and has not yet been renewed— merely extended from half-year to half-year.

The Minister’s visit to the Territory is to be a very short one, unfortunately, and he will have to display an extraordinary amount of industry if he is to deal ade quately with even half of the problems which will be thrust upon him by hopeful planters and miners during his visit.