Tragic Muddling

Blunders of Big Trading Co. In Early Papua

WHEN the British New Guinea De velopment Company was first mooted in England in 1910, a certain nobleman criticised the methods that the promoters intended to adopt, and time has proved how wise his views were.

He was of opinion that the company would be ill-advised to hurry out the Bentinck. He pointed out that she might arrive too soon, with the possibility that there would be no building ready for the thousands of tons of cargo that she would carry. As an alternative he advocated that a three-masted sailing ship that was available should be purchased; this ves sel could, on arrival at Port Moresby, be covered in, Noah’s Ark fashion.

He also pointed out that in his opinion the company were ill-advised to take up options on a number of land areas, ex tending over many hundreds of miles of coast. A large area under one supreme head could be taken up, thus saving the cost of a dozen scattered managers, and the further cost of maintaining a small fleet of vessels with which to keep up communication. The history of the com pany during the 25 years that has elapsed has shown the wisdom of everything he advocated.

The Bentinck arrived at Port Moresby on Sunday, June 26, 1910. There was not a building of any kind ready to receive her cargo, and horse lorries were bring ing hard-wood piles to be used in build ing a small store. Space was hired under bungalows, and under the “Pagoda,” now known as the Top Hotel.

A temporary store was later made available; its floor was formed of steel rails, and the flooring of the upper storey was provided by opening cases of gal vanised iron, and using the timber in place of floorboards. The iron was stacked out in the open; tons of it were stolen, and quantities destroyed by the weather, as it was not even stacked on end. Pil fering of the more portable goods was rife.

When a suitable building was at length available ordinary business methods were conspicuous by their entire absence. Even a cash desk was not thought necessary.

The salesmen pocketed all takings and handed them in at intervals.

At one time, when the general man ager and his assistant were humping rocks to make an approach to a wharf, onlookers were amused to see a gawky Goarabari native pat the latter on the shoulder and say to him; “My word, Talbudda, you savvy too much.”

Meantime, the small vessels that had been provided to keep up communication with the numerous plantations were run without any kind of system. On one occasion the Rambler was sent on a journey of 500 miles with only a small camphorwood box and a letter.

One of the areas that had been pur chased, out on the Brown River, had never been seen by anyone representing the company. A good deal of work was done on it, all tools and supplies being carried out by natives. It was then found that the only part of the land fit for growing rubber was along the border of the river. This strip when cleared had to be abandoned because it was nine feet under water in the nor’west season.

In view of the advice given by the nobleman, it is interesting to recall that the Bentinck was eventually sold to a timber company, and a three-master

named the James Craig was taken in part payment. This vessel acted as a storage hulk in Port Moresby for some years, but was sold, and put into commission again after the outbreak of war. The Bentinck was renamed the James Craig, and as far as is known is still in the New Zealand timber trade. With her well-decks and wide hatches, she probably made an ideal little ship for the purpose.—HENßY

Dexter.