The Move To Lae
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Rabaul, Nov. 4.
THE Lands Department and a section of the Public Works Department whose officers left Rabaul last month, now are functioning at Lae, the new capital on the mainland.
Work is proceeding apace with the erection of standard-type huts for office accommodation of the various depart ments. Quarters for the staffs are being built by contractors. It is not expected that any permanent buildings will be put up until after the war, when the canital will be properly laid out.
Sir Walter McNicoll (Administrator of New Guinea) visited Lae at the end of October and intimated that he would take up residence there late this month The Government hopes to transfer the Central Administration and the Trea sury Department across to the mainland at the end of December. Other depart ments should all be settled there by February.
No official announcement has been made concerning the Administration personnel who are to remain here—cur rent rumours, however, sav that they will be shifted to Kokopo. Incidentallv, there has been much comment locally upon the Administration’s omission to inform the public of its plans relating to Lae. So far. nothing at. all has been said about business sites there.