Minister's Effective Use

of Air Travel

rE exterit to which aerial transport was used by the Australian Terri tories Minister (Mr. McDonald) in his three-weeks’ visit to New Guinea and Papua demonstrates the probable future of aeroplanes in the development of these tropical regions.

Accompanied by the Departmental head (Mr. Halligan) and his secretary, Mr. McDonald flew to Rabaul; flew backwards and forwards between the coast and the Morobe goldfield; flew from Wau to Port Moresby; flew by sea plane from Moresby to the Vailala River, and thence proceeded to the new jungle town of Kariava, to inspect the oil drilling operations of the Australasian Petroleum Co.; flew from Moresby to Dogura (north-east coast), as a compli ment to the Anglican Mission (about to celebrate its jubilee); thence flew to Samarai; flew back to Port Moresby; and then flew back to Melbourne on August 9 and 10.

This thorough inspection, in pre-aero plane days, would have taken three months.