Papuan Finance
pp. 45-46 · Read in the full issue
A Balanced Budget and increased Exports
From Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, Aug. 20.
THE statement of the Territory’s finances for the year ended June 30. 1939, gives the following:— Total Revenue £165,823.
Total Expenditure £166,330.
Trust Funds on hand £69,955.
Public Debt of the Territory £54,601.
Total Exports for the year £490,158.
In the previous year (1937-38) the revehue was £182,808, and the expendi ture was £183,102.
The exports of the Territory for 1938-39 (which show an increase of £54,565 over those of the preceding year) were:—
The increase is, due to larger exports of gold, and the new item of export, copper matte. Gold showed an increase of £42,057 over the previous year. Both copra and rubber showed a substantial de crease compared with the previous year’s exports. Copra in 1937-38, showed export of 11,249 tons valued at £91,166, and rub ber, 1,243 tons, valued at £129.448.
The draft estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Territory for 1939-40 show estimated revenue at £175,788; esti mated expenditure at £176,003. The Trea surer budgets for a surplus of £l5l.
Quantity.
Value.
Copra .. 9,357 tons £57.999 Rubber 1,290 tons £114.949 Gold .. 64,622 oz. £150,198 Copper 266 tons £29.614 Des. C’nut tons £48.140 Total Exports £490.158
Ratu Alipate Lagivala, paramount chief of Namosi, died in Suva War Memorial Hospital, Fiji, on August 13, aged 64. Educated at the Roman Catholic school at Cawaci, Ovalau, he entered the Civil Service as a clerk in the Native Secretariat. In 1910, he was appointed Buli Namosi—a post which he held for 27 years, being succeeded in July, 1937. by his eldest son. Ratu Imanueli Qere qeretabua. . P av *d Wood, of Wau, recently mar ried Miss Stella Peacock at St. Augustine’s Church, Wau. New Guinea. Mrs. W.
McDonald was Matron of Honour and the bridegroom’s brother Mr. Ted. Wood was best man.
Mr. Francis L. Bell, an anthropologist who carried out scientific work in New Guinea in 1933. has been appointed Librarian of the Sydney Municipal Coun cil’s Library.