Puns For Development Of New
pp. 9-10 · Read in the full issue
Guinea And Papua
Expert Committee To Be Set Up—Goldfields Rood Plan Meets Difficulties
VERY little progress appears to have been made by the Commonwealth Government, during the month, in its plans for New Guinea and Papua.
The promised advisory committee can not be appointed before the Federal Cab inet meets in Hobart about January 30.
After that, there should be quick action.
There has been one important develop ment, however. It is known, unofficial ly, that expert engineering opinion con demns the proposed road direct from Salamaua to Wau, on the ground that it would cost much over £200,000 to build, and would be very costly to maintain.
The longer route, via the Buangs, is said to be regarded as more practicable; but the estimate of cost is about £400,- 000.
Under the Hughes plan, the Wau- Salamaua road was to be built for £150,- 000, which was to be provided as a loan by the big companies, and financed, as to interest and maintenance, by a toll on the road. This seemed a final decision; but, apparently, Mr. Hughes—in charac teristic fashion —did not check up on his financial estimates. The necessary legis lation, based on £150,000, went through the Commonwealth Parliament and the New Guinea Legislative Council. Now, if £150,000 is insufficient, a loan from the Australian Government will be necessary —a thing probably impossible to ar range.
The plans of the Australian Govern ment were set out, thus, in the Decem ber issue of the “P.I.M.”:—
Unified Control
I.—There is to be the largest practicable measure of “unified control” for Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea, in place of the present system, under which the adminis tration of the two Territories are kept com pletely independent of each other. A committee of experts in international law will examine the constitutions of the two territories, and espec ially the obligations and implications of the Mandate, and ascertain what measure of “uni fication” is possible.
Capital Site
2—Subject to the report of the expert com mittee, it is proposed to have one administrative centre for the two Territories; and, in view of defence needs, and the desirability of a cool climate, a position on the inland plateaus of New Guinea is favoured
Rabaul
3. —The report of the volcanologists, relative to the danger of another eruption at Rabaul, has been re-examined, and the decision to move the administrative establishment has been con firmed.
Salamaua
4. the meantime, while an inquiry about “unified control” is proceeding, Salamaua is to be regarded as a “temporary capital”: and the Departments of Customs and of Public Works are to be moved there Immediately.
Fortification Of Port Moresby
5. —Port Moresby is to be fortified, and to be come an “important air base and sub-naval base” for units of the Australian navy and air force.
No details were given in the official announce ment, published on December 7, except that, through Port Moresby, Australian defence will be linked with Britain and New Zealand.
Agricultural Council
6. —The appointment of an “Agricultural Council”, to foster the development of primary industries, and steps to “encourage the growing of tropical crops, timber-cutting and reaffores tation”, and the encouragement of the oil search, are planned.
Advisory Committee
In order to implement these decisions, the Federal Government, early in Febru ary, will appoint an important commit tee. It was intended, at first, that there should be two committees. One, a “legal committee”, was to consider the most suitable means of combining the admin istrations of the two Territories and the situation of a capital, and the other, an
“agricultural committee”, would discuss
means of fostering the development of primary industries in the Territories.
But, later, it was decided that one committee would suffice. It will com prise one representative of each Terri
tory, and an experienced, independent
chairman; and it will report fully on the
whole of the questions involved in amal gamation of the Territories, choice of a capital, system of defence, improved transport and increased settlement and development.
To discuss the personnel of the com mittee, the Minister in charge of Terri tories, Mr. Harrison, conferred with the Administrator of New Guinea (Brigad ier-General Sir Walter McNicoll) in Sydney in December and January, and later in January he will meet the Lieutenant-Governor of Papua (Sir Hu bert Murray. Later this year he may visit the Territories himself.
It will be seen, however, that all these matters are closely linked, so far as the Federal Government is concerned, with a wide variety of questions. Here are some of them:— What amount of fortification, and what strength of armed forces, can be placed at Port Moresby? And to what extent can these protect New Guinea?
Assuming that a considerable degree of “unified control” is possible, would it be practicable to govern both Territories from Port Moresby, or from a point in the Mandated Territory, unless the two Territories are connected by road? (At present, although they adjoin, the only way of communication is by sea and by air.) Is it possible even to consider Wau as a capital (for the two Territories) un less there is a road between Wau and the coast?
If a road cannot be built for £150,000, would Australia provide funds to cover the extra cost? And, if so, should Aus tralia then insist upon a developmental road, rather than a road constructed only to serve the Morobe goldfield?
If roading is to be so very expensive, is it possible to return to a consideration of a plan of developing the country agri culturally by subsidised aeroplane trans port?
Are the Territories to be self-support ing in future? Or will Australia for de fence reasons, continue to subsidise Pa pua and find a subsidy, if necessary, for New Guinea? Or would an amalgama tion of the Territories mean that Pa pua’s usual deficit would be taken care of by the surplus which New Guinea usually gets from her gold royalty?
Consideration of these questions, one in relation to the other, may be clari fied if a really competent committee is appointed, and sets to work, at an early date.
"Short" Versus "Long"
Route
Wau Miners Want Independent
Report
THE New Guinea Mining Association held a general meeting in Wau on December 23, and the road position was discussed in the light of knowledge that the Government engineers regarded the Bitoi route (the “shortest and most di rect route”) as very difficult, and likely to cost much more than £150,000.
The belief was expressed that the Ad ministration favoured “the long route” (via Buangs, or via Markham and Wam pit); whereas the only route which would be fair to the Goldfields communities was the direct route.
On the motion of Mr. Harold Taylour it was decided that a licensed surveyor should be obtained to take a close sur vey of the Bitoi route, with particular regard to the “gorge” portion, and that later a qualified engineer should be ob tained to give expert advice as to the possibility of putting a road through the gorge section and assessing the cost.