Papua's Generous Help For

Old Residents

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, July 4.

MR. E. W. Harrison is wrong in stating in your June number that Captain Charles Whitehead, an old resident who settled in Papua in 1901, receives only £4 a month from the Government in his hour of need. I made inquiries and found that Mr. Whitehead received £4 a month from January, 1934. while living on his plantation on Fergusson Island, where he also had a trade store and kept goats and fowls. His sight failed, and in 1938 he sold his property to the late Mr. Evenett, and secured a little capital, and settled in Samarai.

When his funds became low, he not only received financial help from the kindly Samarai residents, but his Government allowance was increased to £2 a week in

October, 1939; since when it has again been increased, to £2/10/- a week, owing to his failing sight and his inability to attend to himself. He is 75 years of age.

The Government has several old resi dents on its hands, all receiving £2 a week. I believe there is quite a substan tial sum set aside for this purpose for residents of long standing, who can show cause why assistance should be given.

Mr. Harrison should not make such uninformed statements. £lO per month is an acceptable sum to receive in one’s old age, especially in such kindly sur roundings as Samarai. Mr. Harrison, on page 16, is also loose in his statements about the copra relief of £4 a month.

The relief depends on actual losses sus tained owing to the war, etc., and on the size of plantations.

Mr. “Mick.” Hayes, formerly of Bulwa, New Guinea, is now serving with the RAAF in Rhodesia, South Africa.