Develop New

Guinea!

A Visitor's Recent Opinion

mHE policy followed in relation to J. development in New Guinea has been receiving sharp criticism lately, in various directions.

A member of the Victorian Legislature, Dr. Shields, after returning in June from a visit to New Guinea, declared: — “The land policy there is too conser vative. It is extremely difficult under the present Administration for a man to get land”.

Dr. Shields emphasised the great ag ricultural possibilities of the Markham and Ramu River valleys, and in this di rection said that the Administration

should subsidise settlers to cultivate cof fee, cocoa, rubber, etc.

Dr. Shields expressed the opinion that the road to be built between Salamaua and Wau should have been constructed on route “D” of the four routes exam ined (via the Markham Valley). This route, he said, while much longer than the others, would open up a great deal of good agricultural country. On the other hand the goldfield will peter out eventually, like all goldfields do, and the road built specially, for goldfield needs only, would be wasted. Some might think he was not qualified to give such opinions after spending only a short time in the Territory, but while he was there he gave close study to the numerous problems.

Agricultural Expert’S

Opinion

Mr. George Murray, M.L.C., Who

has been for some weeks in a pri vate hospital in Sydney, was inter viewed in Mav by “Sydney Morning Her ald”, and made the following state ment: — “If Australia does not make use of the wonderful unlands of the mainland of New Guinea. I do not consider she is justified in holding the country. Certain ly no broad-minded anthropologist con siders that a large tract of 90.000 sq. miles of splendid country should be kept as an anthropological zoo.

“For the natives’ own welfare, the country should be opened up. But it must be by the right type of settler.

Mining, to-day the cause of our yearly surplus, is a diminishing asset, I be lieve. We should nut every penny we can to-day into public works and agri cultural develonment: and the training of the natives should have an agricultural basis”.

Mr. Murray is Director of Agriculture in New Guinea, and he has recently re turned from a visit to Malaya. Cochin China and the East Indies, where he made a close study of certain aspects of tropical agriculture.