Salamaua-Wau Road

N.G. interests Resent Suggestion That Rian May be "Forgotten"

STRONG feeling on the subject of the Salamaua-Wau road in New Guinea is shown in a number of communi cations received from the Territory during the month.

Members of the New Guinea Mining Association—the name of a large organ ised group of Morobe gold-miners—are particularly resentful of the statement, made in this journal and in other places, that the Commonwealth Government and the Administration of New Guinea probably will “forget” about the road plan, on the ground that the financing of the project is not practicable under war conditions.

Correspondents point out that early in 1939 the bill authorising the construc tion of the road passed through the Commonwealth Parliament; that the Administrator received instructions from Canberra to carry out the construction work; and that the Administrator stated before the Legislative Council in Rabaul on April 2, 1940, that tenders would be called for the first section of the road.

It is pointed out also, on the ground that it was necessary to provide funds for the construction of a road, the royalty on gold produced in New Guinea was increased in 1927 from 1 per cent, to 5 per cent. The Mining Association says that if the road is not to be built, and is to be forgotten, then that 4 ner cent, additional gold royalty collected for 12 or 13 years, should be returned to the miners.

The miners undoubtedly have justice on their side. Justice is usually shown blindfolded: and in any event what chance has the poor lady of surviving in this war-tom world?

It was reported from Nairobi on July 23 that the Government of Kenya has taken over the Kenya coffee industry.