Demand For Land

Madang Progress Association

Prom Our Own Correspondent.

Madang, June 21.

WE thought that, as a visit by a Min ister for the Territories, is a rare thing, but Mr. Hughes would have stayed here long enough to have allowed residents to have come in and discussed many matters with him. But Mr. W. M.

Hughes, although he interviewed several residents, did not make any attempt to meet the planters in conference, and hear any suggestions or complaints that they may have desired to offer; and there were many.

It would seem that, having no vote and no representation, we are compelled to lead an existence dictated by legisla tors from Canberra, whose knowledge of tropical regime is minute. The time is certainly ripe for a general reorganisa tion of the Administration of New Guinea, giving the residents at least equal representation within the Terri tory, and thus foster that civic spirit that at present is being strangled by bureaucracy.

It has been decided that the Citizens’

Association of Madang be disbanded, and in its place the “Madang and District Progress Association” has been formed, to function as a civic body, and endeavour to co-operate with the Administration in matters affecting the future development of Madang. The president is Mr. C.

Rouse, the secretary Mr. B. G. Hall, with a sub-committee consisting of Mr.

V. Maxwell and Dr. Mac Queen. Mat ters in which the Association is cb-oper ating with the District Office are: The beautification of Madang and the main tenance of present tropical growth; the construction of baths: the appointment of a permanent Nursing Sister to the Madang Hospital.

A matter that will be given attention, even to the extent of taking it to Can berra, is the making available of resid ential and business areas in Madang. At present, the only people who may en gage in business or reside in the town are Chinese, as all other land is in the hands of a few people, and they are

making none available, with the result that the business of Madang is more or less a monopoly held by a few, and the Administration will make no move to relieve the situation.

This matter is causing concern to many who desire to engage in business but not being Chinese, and not being entitled to an area on the Asiatic reserve, must of necessity keep out. This state of affairs is untenable in a British country, and we consider it the first duty of any Ad ministration to see that the settlers are given access to residential areas.

There is quite a large amount of development work being done in Ma dang by the big firms. Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. have just completed a new mess for their staff, and work is in hand with the extension of the freezer. We understand that plans have been drawn up for additions to be made to the store.

W. R. Carpenter & Co. Ltd. have com pleted an addition to their store, and it is stated new bungalows will shortly be under way.

It would seem from the foregoing that either these firms are convinced the new Capital will not come to Madang, or else have been given some inside information as yet not available to the general pub lic.

The Island Exploration Co., searching for oil, have extended their operations over the whole district, but nothing is known as to what indications have been found of oil.

The Race Club holds regular meetings, and has become well established, mainly through the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Jack Reid, our A.D.O. When a race meeting is near, all thought of copra prices is superseded by horsey talk, which is perhaps all for the good, as the pre sent price of copra is enough to give anyone a “pain in the kneck”.

A former Fijian resident. Ben Valen tine, who is about 27 years old, is earning fame in Europe as a boxer. He was a notable boxer in Fiji in 1934, when he joined the crew of a yacht on a world cruise. He arrived in London in 1935, and since has steadily climbed the ladder of sporting fame. A newspaper recently nraised his “courteous bearing and clean living”. He is a Fijian half-caste.