N.G. Capital.
pp. 8-9 · Read in the full issue
Committee's Search For New Site.
Rabaul, Mar. 14.
THE Federal Government Committee (Brigadier-General T. Griffiths, and Messrs. C. W. Thomas and L.
Thornton) which is making inquiries with a view to recommending to the Commonwealth Government a particular site for the future administrative centre of New Guinea, has been busy during the past fortnight taking the evidence of various interests and persons, and visiting many places. It is not expected that the inquiry will be complete before the end of this month, if then.
About 30 business men and property owners met on March 11 and decided to recommend Bitapaka (the high country southwards of Kokopo, which was the original site of the wireless station).
Their second preference was a sito hearer Rabaul than Bitapaka; and their third was Kavieng.
The meeting expressed the opinion that the Morobe towns (Wau, Salamaua,
Lae ’ etc> ) are most unsuitable for the new capital. A committee of seven was appointed to place the views and argu e?ts ? f^ the business people before the federal Committee. It will be pointed the Administration is removed fTom Rabaul, the business houses would have to move also, and should be assisted by the Government, either by loans at a * ow rate °f interest, or by compensation.
Neither Bums, Philp and Co., nor W.
Car P € nter and Co., was represented at the m eeting.
Meanwhile, meetings of residents in other parts of the Territory have been held to P re P ar e evidence to place before the Federal Committee, in support the claims of their respective districts, There is a strong argument in favour of merely moving the administrative establishment out on to the high country about 20 to 25 miles west of Rabaul, to which port it would be connected by a good motor road. The Administration tbus WOU H be clear of the volcanic danger; and the re-arrangement could be carr ied out comparatively cheaply.
EDITORIAL NOTE: We have received a good deal of material defending the claims of various places in New Guinea to be the new capital. This argument
could go on interminably—much can be said in favour of several rival claims.
It is better that the whole matter be left in the hands of the Federal Com mittee, the constitution of which guar antees that the whole inquiry will be impartially made and that the final recommendation will be based on evidence and practical knowledge of the country.