Papua and N. Guinea

Timber Concessions in Papua and N. Guinea Government Considers Development

MEMBERS of the Pacific Territories Association who attended the March quarterly meeting, in Sydney, will' perhaps remember that Mr. Cyril Helton asserted that there was a “Forestry Unit” then at work in New Guinea and Papua making a survey of the timber resources of both Territories. It was suggested that this survey was being made on behalf of “big timber interests in Queensland.”

Territorians may, therefore, be inter ested in the question asked by Mr.

Spender, of External Territories Minister Ward, in the Australian House of Re presentatives bn July 4.

Mr. Spender asked: “Have concessions for timber-getting yet been made in the Territory of Papua and, if so. who arranged for that to be done and what is the nature of the concessions? Further, if concessions have not been granted, does the Government intend to grant them and, if so, will the Minister make a statement as to the Iconditions under which the concessions will be made?”

Mr. Ward replied that no concessions had yet been granted, but that the deve lopment of timber resources in the Territory is being considered by the Government. He hoped to be able to make an early announcement on the matter.

Survey To Be Made In Bsi

(THE services of Queensland’s State X Botanist, Mr, G. T. White, have been made available to the High Com mission for the Western Pacific for a timber survey of the British Solomon Islands.

Mr. White’s task will be shared by a British official, and their investigations will be part of a general survey of forest resources being carried out in all British Crown Colonies.

Mr. White expects to be away from Australia for six months.