New Guinea
p. 64 · Read in the full issue
New Industries For New Guinea
AUSTRALIA’S new Minister for Ter ritories (Mr. Nock), has thrown himself wfth energy and interest into the problems surrounding the future of Papua and New Guinea. If his activities during April are any indi cation, he may prove to be the Minister for whom the neglected Pacific Terri tories have been looking for 20 years.
He told the Sydney newspapers, on April 4, that the Commonwealth Gov ernment recognised that the future of New Guinea’s gold industry is limited
and that, therefore, it is important to encourage the establishment of new agricultural industries. He referred to the possibility of New Guinea becom ing an important producer of cocoa, coffee, rubber, and tea, in addition to copra; and he suggested, also, that pig raising might have a future in New Guinea, because tropical products were suitable for feeding pigs. He said that information was being gathered for con sideration by the Federal Government.
The future possibilities of New Guinea also were the theme of a maiden speech delivered in the Legislative Council on April 2 by Captain Harold Taylour, who has just been appointed as the repre sentative of the goldfields community.
Mr. Taylour urged that an economic survey of the Territory be made, and also a geological survey, to ascertain if there is any new country suitable for gold prospecting.