Note By The Editor

I fully understand and sympathise with the Mining Association’s demand for a direct road to Salamaua; but, right from the beginning, I have urged that the bigger consideration —that of provid ing arterial roads for the development of permanent industries in New Guinea should take precedence over the smaller plan of building merely a local road, for the benefit of the goldfield only. I con cede Mr. Dickson’s point that it is ne cessary to keep the gold industry alive in order to establish other industries; but I do not trust politicians, and poli tician-administrators, and I fear that if the Mining Association’s organised and timely clamour is stilled by the building of a local road, that will be the end of developmental road-building in New Guinea.

However, I do agree that, if the choice is between a direct Wau-Salamaua road, or no road at all, then we fnust have the local road, and hope for the best.

I am just as much entitled to say that the direct road may be a super expensive and dead-end liability, and the roundabout Markham Valley road a first step in a worth-while developmental plan, as Mr. Dickson is entitled to argue in the opposite direction. However, I am glad that the “P.1.M.” has been given a chance to publish his pointed and pithy letter. We both, I hope, are seeking the same thing—the greatest good of New Guinea.

Surely, the Australians in New Guinea must realise that, if Australia does not do something worth-while to develop New Guinea as a whole, Australia in evitably will lose New Guinea —no mat ter how much hot air may be belched by Mr. Hughes.

I get very weary of the insinuation contained in the first paragraph of Mr.

Dickson’s letter. At intervals, ever since I established this journal, I have been told that I am owned and controlled by the big firms”—this, presumably, be cause I refuse to attack the big firms at the behest of every man with a griev ance. I am indebted to principals of all the big firms operating in the Paci fic for courtesy, encouragement and practical help in the shape of advertis ing; but (I repeat it here for about the twentieth time) I have never been com pelled or even asked to surrender my independence, editorial or financial, in any shape or form, and any man who doubts my assurance is invited to exam me the share register of Pacific Pub lications Pty. Ltd. It is a private Com pany, and I hold 601 out of 607 issued shares.—R.W.R.