Salamaua To Wau

Road Plan Awaiting Final Reports

JTIHE Australian Minister for Pacific X Territories (Mr. Perkins) stated on November 20 that the construction of the road between Wau and Salamaua must depend upon the final reports of the engineers and surveyors—and these had not yet been received.

“There has been no unnecessary delay”, said Mr. Perkins, commenting upon com plaints that had been received from New Guinea. “The survey of the route has been a difficult job. One section was surveyed four times before a through route could be found. The survey is now practically complete”.

The “Pacific Islands Monthly”, up to the end of November, had seen no reason to alter its frequently-expressed opinion —namely, that the construction of this road probably will not be undertaken un til the financial problem is solved, and that it will be very difficult to provide the necessary finance under war condi tions. It is not certain that funds, which were to be made available as subscrip tions to the loan, a year ago, are still available.

It is possible, however, that the “Trust Fund”, now to be created by the new tax on gold, will provide money for the road, and allow the work to proceed. The tax should provide at least £250,000 per annum.

It will be remembered that the “tax” is provided by the decision of the Aus tralian Government to seize one half of the war-time rise in the price of gold; but, as this is likely to infringe the terms of the Mandate, it was decided to leave the money in the Territory, in a “Trust Fund”,