With "Expedition"
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Construction of Arterial Road in N. Guinea
IN the House of Representatives, Can berra, on May 30, Mr. Wilson asked: In view of the fact that the surveys of the Salamaua-Wau road, in New Guinea, have advanced to a stage where construction can proceed, I ask the Minister for External Territories why the Government does not instruct the Administration of New Guinea to pro ceed with the construction of the road and so reduce the cost of gold produc tion and enable low-grade deposits to be worked?
Mr. Collins: Portions of the survey have been completed, and construction of the road has been commenced in cer tain places; but, owing to the necessity for surveyors on important defence works, they have been withdrawn from the road survey for the time being. I assure the honourable member that construction of the road will proceed with the greatest possible expedition.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The foregoing should not be taken too literally, nor hopes built upon what appears to be a Ministerial promise. There is no indica tion whatever —1. That the road’s route has been finally decided upon; 2. That it has been decided to build the whole of the road ; 3. That any method of finan cing the job (which will cost not less than £250,000) has been discovered.