Copra—But No

Ships

PCB Operations in Madang District Criticised

rE Production Control Board in the Madang area of New Guinea is treating the plantations there in the same way as the bureaucrats are treating plantations in the British Solomon Islands—that is, the places most easily handled and cleaned are being dealt with, while others are ignored.

Some of us have asked what is to be done with certain other plantations. The answer is either “We don’t know”; or “Those places will take a lot of cleaning up, first.” This policy seems unfair to the absent owners, still held compulsorily in Australia.

However, even if the backward planta tions could be brought into production, the Board still would be handicapped by inability to obtain shipping and supplies.

There are large stocks of copra lying at some of the plantations, but no transport.

It is no use taking it to Madang—there are no stores available there, and no ships to take it away.

The world is crying aloud for vegetable oils, and Australia urgently needs copra; but, although Mr Curtin broadcasts that he can supply ships to bring maize from America, if America can supply it, he cannot find ships for this equally essen tial commodity.

There is a great shortage of all kinds of building material, and of tools—and there is much waste of native labour.

Much native labour seems to be held in the Government compounds, and used for unnecessary work like grass-cutting, instead of being made available for plan tation clearing and maintenance.

Mr. Curtin’s broadcast claim that the Australian Army is well and sufficiently equipped was badly received here. The men along this coast say that it is not true —and they should know. — Contributed.

Rev. Cecil Gribble, of the Methodist Mission, Tonga, hopes to return perman ently to Victoria in 1946.