Slow Progress In N. Guinea Goldfield

Effect of Eddie Ward on Territory' s Rehabilitation

WHY progress towardjs the re habilitation of the valuable Morobe goldfields industry of New Guinea is slow, is set forth in the re cent report made to 'shareholders by the chairman (Mr. J. Kruttschnitt) of New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd.

The chairman does not say so; but, reading between the lines, it is apparent that, up to the middle of January, this company (typical of the New Guinea gold-mining concerns) was suffering great inconvenience and delay from the Canberra policy of “socialising” the Australian Pacific Territories, and discouraging private enterprise and “exploitation” gener ally.

Far more rapid progress towards the re-establishment of settlers, in dustries and profitable production could have been made in New Guinea and Papua if the Australian Govern ment had handed over the job of rehabilitation to private enterprise.

Instead, it has been trying to d,o the job at the expense of the Australian taxpayers, with an enormously ex pensive ANGAU-Provisional Govern ment set-up.

The Ward regime will break down under its own weight, eventually— but, meanwhile, the recovery of the Territories is being much retarded,

and the Australian taxpayer is pay ing the hill.

The NGG chariman’s statement is

as follows :

ORDERS are being placed for metal fluming to replace the wooden flumes, which would require many months to rebuild. Surveys are now be ing made by our chief surveyor, Captain Owers, to enable us to order the re quisite amount of light structural steel flume supports.

To supply lighting and power for pre liminary operations a 100-kilowatt diesel alternator is considered necessary and the market is being canvassed for a unit of this type available for earjy delivery.

A survey is being undertaken for a high level water race from Big Wau Creek to Little Wau Creek with the object of delivering the water into the Koranga Deep Alluvial water race system through a hydro-electric plant of approximately 800 h.p. If this plan proves feasible it will replace the Kunai steam turbo alternator set, destroyed by the Army under its scorched earth policy, and at the same time it will make us indepen dent in the matter of our major power supply.

ALTHOUGH a number of Administration staff and assistants proceeded to Port Moresby in October last, the Territory of New Guinea is as yet lack ing an effective form of government. In December, after some delay, permits to enter New Guinea were obtained for our Chief Surveyor, Captain N. Owers, and

Mr. Roy McConnon, of Koranga Gold Sluicing Company. The permits were granted with the understanding that these men would have to rely on their own resources for accommodation and food supplies.

The reports which have reached us from Captain Owers throw light on the obstacles still to be overcome before anything approaching normal conditions can be realised. A report dated at Wau on December 19 advised that the civilian personnel in the Wau-Bulolo area con sisted of the ADO, mines inspector, one clerk, a farm platoon, five Bulolo Gold Dredging employees, and Messrs. Mc- Connon and Owers.

Transport is difficult, and the War Dis posals is not prepared as yet to release Army motor cars. The works that Cap tain Owers can perform will be hampered, restricted and difficult until suitable means of transport are procurable. One 3-ton truck has been ordered through the Production Control Board, and an other will probably be ordered shortly.

Application has been made for a store area at Labu for handling our incoming supplies.

The Edie Creek road has had no use. for some time and is closed by slides and a damaged bridge at Kunai Creek, reports Captain Owers.

There are no natives in the district available for indenture, but it is hoped this condition will be remedied later.

Rations and gear are not easily obtain able because of lack of regular transport from Lae. As no store has been estab lished at Wau, dry type Army rations have been ordered in sufficient supply to carry the working force through any interruptions to transport on the Wau- Labu road. (Continued on Next Page)

A S y° u know the company owned at the time of the evacuation a sawmill located in a good stand of timber and served by a pressure pipe line and a Pelton wheel.

Captain Owers advises that all the machinery, saws and tools have been removed and that the water race is heavily scoured and otherwise damaged by secondary growth. Extensive repairs to connecting Wau and the sawmill will be required. Application has been filed for a timber cutting permit on the opposite side of the Bulolo from the old sawmill site. Sawmilling equipment is scarce, but an attempt is being made to obtain a suitable Army portable type of sawmilling outfit from War Disposals.

A site has been chosen for temporary

staff quarters and a native labour com pound for New- Guinea Goldfields and Koranga Gold Sluicing Company, A supply of tools and building materials, stretchers, bedding, mess gear and fur nishings has been requisitioned through the Production Control Board As soon as rations and accommodation have been arranged the nucleus of a working staff and sawmill personnel will be sent to the field to advance progres sively the rehabilitation of the company’s operations as planned, This citation taken from reports of Captain Owers reveals the present state of affairs and indicates that progress towards the stage when we can sub stantially expand our programme of re construction will be slow.