"Capital" Of New
p. 66 · Read in the full issue
Guinea
Committee Reports on Various Towns
A COMMITTEE, which included an architect, an engineer and a town planner, returned recently to Aus tralia from Papua and New Guinea. It will report at length to the Department of External Territories on the condition of the various towns in the two Terri tories, the character and scope of re building to be recommended, and the suitability of certain of them as the future administrative headquarters (capi tal.) It is understood that the Committee will submit complete plans for the building of a town at Kokopo, on Blanche Bay, to be regarded as an alternative to battered Rabaul, some 15 miles northwards, on the inner harbour of Simpsonhafen. Kokopo is on the safe (southwards) side of the volcanoes, and has a very good airstrip, but no sheltered port. Rabaul is on the northern, or bad, side of the volcanoes, and has a very fine, safe port, but (owing to the proximity of the mounts), a poor airfield.
Kokopo, Lae, Finschhafen and Port Moresby are being reported upon with a view to the selection of one of them as the future “capital.” No recommendation is being made.
It is not likely that the Australian Gov ernment will make any selection until UNO has reached a decision regarding the future of New Guinea Mandate, and it is known whether Papua and New Guinea are to be administered as one Territory or (as formerly) two separate Territories.