Minister Wants Gold-

Road To Wau

Minister Wants Gold- Miners to Pay Part Cost

fTIHE Australian Minister for External J. Territories (Mr. Ward) already has given effect to his promise (see article elsewhere) that he would ask the New Guinea gold-mining interests to contribute substantially to the mainten ance of the Markham-Wau Road, esti mated to cost £45,000 per annum, Mr. Ward has been in conference with the big companies, and the matter is now under consideration.

The companies do not deny their obli gation in respect of this road, but they point out that, from 1929 until the out break of the Pacific war, they were heavily taxed, so that the usual facilities —including roads —could be provided.

They ask that this be taken into account in making an assessment against them.

From 1929 onwards, the gold producers had to pay a tax of 5 per cent, on the assessed value of the gold they produced.

From 1939, they were taxed, in addition, at the rate of 50 per cent, of the value of the gold in excess of £9 per oz. It always was distinctly understood, from various official utterances, that a part, at least, of these taxes, was being ear marked for reading purposes in the Morobe district. But the Morobe dis trict never was provided, prior to 1942, with a road connection with the coast.

A big effort is being made, at present, to get the new Markham-Wau Road into good order. Bridges are being renewed in the Snake Valley, and some hundreds of Japariese prisoners are being usefully employed on maintenance.