New Guinea Aerial

Merger

Letter to the Editor I REFER to an article published in your January issue, entitled “Protest in N.G.,” and dealing with the proposed aerial merger.

Pacts have been revealed that some months ago all smaller aerial organisations were approached with a view to transfer ring, for a consideration, of course, their interests to one company (Guinea Airways Limited). The majority of companies at that particular time were in agreement with the proposals put forward, but during the months which followed they wisely revoked their acquiescence.

Nothing further was heard until Janu ary, when it was made publicly known that proposals for a merger were to come before Cabinet on Wednesday, January 22.

Immediately this was circulated, a public protest meeting was convened, and at

tended by representatives of all sections of the community. A representative com mittee was elected to protest against a monopoly being granted to Guinea Air ways Ltd.

The prologue to this politically-con trolled merger was rehearsed when the Minister for Home and Territories (Sir Geo. P. Pearce) visited the Territory some months back, when he was the guest of Guinea Airways Ltd., which company are the sponsors of the merger.

The investigations said to be made by the Minister were not in any degree rep resentative and, up to within two days of the protest meeting, even the Government officials of the Morobe District did not have any knowledge of what was going on.

It therefore appears that the discussions referred to were confined to the one direc tion only. Such an action leads to the belief that all was not above-board.

As is usually the case with anything savouring of politics, many flowery epistles and orations have manifested them selves, but all the whitewash concerning defence in a Mandated Territory, and safety and efficiency, will not dry on us.

Competitive freight rates bring increased business, and increased business necessi tates a greater measure of efficiency to cope with the demands; and when you come to consider the consistently large dividends paid by aerial companies charging the existing favourable freight rates, all the “hot sand and ginger” expounded concern ing efficiency is in effect ridiculous.

In conclusion I would state that the publication commented upon by you was based on facts and authentic evidence and this is backed by communications subse quently received.

I am, etc.,

A. Neil Proud.

S.M.H. Correspondent.

Wau, T.N.G., 25/2/1936.