Salamaua-Wau

Road

Arguments About Cost-An Apparent Stalemate

MANY months have passed since the then Minister for Territories (Mr.

Hughes) declared that a road would be built between the New Guinea gold fields towns and the port of Salamaua: but nothing yet has been done.

Mr. Hughes said the work could be carried out for £150,000, and planned ac cordingly. Mr. Field, head of the Pub lic Works Department in New Guinea, walked over the suggested route, and said the cost of the road would be at least £230,000.

That was stalemate.

The New Guinea Mining Association, sponsor of the short, direct route from Wau to Salamaua, still insisted that the road could be built for £150,000. Can berra, much embarrassed (its chronic condition where Mr. Hughes is concern ed!) could do no more than point to its engineer’s report.

Finally, the Mining Association sent out its own surveyors to estimate the cost of the Middle Bitoi road: and an agreement between this party and the Government engineers is now awaited.

The latest report is that Mr. Field still is in the Wau-Salamaua district, examining possible routes for a road, and trying to devise a means of bringing construction costs within the financial limits imposed by the original plan.

It now is possible that the whole plan will await investigation by the new Amalgamation Commission.

A Difference Of Opinion

Meanwhile, a special correspondent, writing at Wau on January 20, has sup plied us with the following summary of the position, from the Wau Mining As sociation point of view, as on that date: “The present position about the road is that we do not agree that the road will cost anything like £230,000. This estimate is for a Main Roads standard, and includes many steel bridges. Through our representation on this point the Public Works Department have now adopted the Queensland standard for mining and developmental roads.

“To explain the position, I would point out that Surveyor Bergin only ran a location survey through the Middle Bitoi, and that when he came to a diffi cult part he just went through, with out going back and running alternative location lines to see whether bridges could be avoided or easier construction costs obtained. This is no reflection unon Mr. Bergin, as he only had a lim ited time and was restricted to one grade.

“We know, from our own experience,

that a road can be put through at well under £150,000 and, if the Administra tion cannot do it. the miners are pre pared to do so, provided that some ar rangement can be made to give them a franchise for a period of years.

“The Bitoi Valley route, according to Mr. Field, is held up by a section five miles long, through a gorge. The esti mate for this is £40,000, with an addi tional £32,000 to £40,000 for bridges. Mr.

Field has told us that if this gorge can be avoided, the rest of the road is of easy construction and costs, under the new standards, will be light.

“Up to the date no attempt has been made to see whether an alternative route can be found around the gorge.

We say such a route can be found and are now out to prove our words by send ing out a survey party, which leaves Wau this morning. The party consists of Mr. Frank Thomas, licensed surveyor, and Mr. Tom Prince, both old hands, who have been here since 1926.

“Frank Thomas has wide local experi ence (including Bulolo-Bulwa road, Bu lolo power race. Slate-Surprise road Irowat and Watut and water races, etc.) and we think that he will be successful.

The Government surveyors have not got local experience in road location, al though all are good surveyors. Mr. Field has given his approval to our action and has offered all assistance. In return, we are offering him all information ob tained.

“As regards the cost of the road: the road we require definitely can be built for £150,000, and there are contractors here who will take it at that figure.

The Government estimate of £230,000 is not based on sound engineering figures, because no quantities have been taken out. We suspect that Mr. Field has

been staggered by his first experience of New Guinea (as we all were) and that he naturally is keeping well on the safe side, to protect himself.

“Our estimates are based on the jobs we have done here (paying aeroplane freight on all supplies) and also upon our knowledge of the country through which the route passes. This knowledge is very much greater than that possess ed by Mr. Field or his surveyors. At any rate, we are prepared to back our esti mates by taking on the job.

“The Administration has agreed that they will find any amount above £150,- 000 needed to build the road and that this will not be included in the toll charge.

“As regards the long route via Wam pit, 118 miles, our information is that the examination has disclosed many constructional difficulties, in spite of easy

grades—these include filling of swamps and sections in bad country, which must make the total cost very high. The di rect route (Route A) has such easy grades, and is such a short distance, that we will do everything we can to force it through. We understand that the mining companies have stated that they will not invest in a loan for the long route”.