Finances Of New Guinea

Quarter's Figures Show an Unusual Position

IF the figures published in the “New Guinea Gazette”, No. 535, covering the three months ended September 30, 1938, are a true indication of the financial position of the territory, it is time that Canberra had a look at the state of affairs there.

According to those figures, the total revenue received during the three months was £108,165, while the total ex penditure in the same period was £120,- 240. The Territory, on July 1, 1938, started with a surplus of £59,691, and on September 30 the surplus was £47,616 —a reduction within the period of over £12,000.

An analysis of the figures shows that, during the three months, compared with the same three months of 1937, the re venue from every source except one showed a substantial decrease; while, on the other side, the expenditure in every department except one showed a sub stantial increase. The one which show ed a decrease was the one department which could properly have shown an in crease—namely, New Works.

This seems an extraordinary financial condition, and we can only assume that there is some special reason for it. But if there is no reason—if all sources of revenue decreased, while expenditure in creased, so that the finances went to the bad over £12,000 within three months — then the outlook is not satisfactory.

Mr. Willie Houng Lee, an old identity of Suva, died in Fiji on December 22, aged 52.