Council

New Guinea

Various Effects of War

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Sept. 26.

THE following changes in membership were referred to when the Admini strator (Sir Walter McNicoll) form ally opened the 13th session of the New Guinea Legislative Council on September 24: A motion was adopted expressing the Council’s sense of deep loss in the death of Hon. W. E. Grose (which occurred in Melbourne last May).

Hon. Harry Adams, newly-appointed, was welcomed to the Council.

Hon. R. C. A. Ollerenshaw was granted leave of absence, as he was in camp in Australia with the A.I.F.

Hon. B. B. Perriman intimated that, as he is not now permanently resident in the Territory, he had forwarded his re signation to the Governor-General.

The Administrator said that out of the many men who had enlisted in New Guinea and been drafted to Australia, 57 were members of the Public Service.

Goldfields Road Prospects

The Administrator referred to the con struction of the Goldfields Road. Plans for certain sections had been completed and instructions were being awaited from Canberra. Up to date, the cost of the surveys and examinations had been over £17,000. He pointed out the financial aspect of the road construction, and in timated that the public loan of £150,000, which had been promised, might not now be forthcoming.

The Copra Position

Reference was also made by the Ad ministrator to the copra position, and the Commonwealth Government proposed re lief measures for planters. He spoke of the problem of 'inter-island shipping which, as a result of there being no con centration of produce at central points, has been practically abandoned.

Relief For Mortgagors

The most important Bill introduced was the Mortgagors Relief Bill, which is on similar lines to the Ordinance which was in operation in 1934, and which was ex tended in 1936. It provides that, while copra is “depressed”, repayment obliga tions under expropriated plantations shall be suspended.

The Treasurer, Mr. Townsend, intro duced the Budget. His figures showed the estimated revenue for the coming year (ending June 30, 1941) as £471,350, with an estimated expenditure of £485,355. With a surplus of some £14,000 carried from the past year, it was expected that at the end of the present year there would be a small surplus.

There was some comment on the Budget from Non-Official members, but no alteration was made in the original figures, and the estimates were passed.

It was pointed out, however, that the items “Salaries and Contingencies”, mounted to £390,000, as compared with New Works of £51,000, out of a total esti mated expenditure of £4Bs,ooo—which did not appear well in the case of a young, vigorous country.

Dr. Monfort and Dr. Lamy, of the New Hebrides Medical Service, arrived in Sydney recently from Vila, en route to England to offer their services to General de Gaulle, leader of the Free French forces. Their wives and children will re main in Australia.