Slow Recovery In

Papua

Problems of Houses and Labour

Prom a Special Correspondent

Port Moresby, Aug. 3.

rERE seems absolutely no end to the money that is made available for administration here, and I can only assume that it is coming out of a “re habilitation” vote —nothing else could possibly have what is called for.

Up to the end of June, water and light in Port Moresby were supplied free; but from July 1 at least the water has to be paid for, by some of the inhabitants. I say “some,” because it is creditably stated that the officials that occupy the houses

owned by the Administration will not be called upon to pay anything.

The ordinary resident (and he includes Government officials) who in past years saved a few pounds and built himself a house, has to pay £9 per annum; board ing houses, hotels, and business premises as arranged.

The arrangement for light is said to be on the basis of so much per 100 square feet of floor—so that, if you have a large place, and go to bed early, you will prob ably pay 3 times as much as a chap with a much smaller house who gives parties, and generally stays up late. One won ders why electric meters were ever in vented, if they are not to be used.

The water supply is a great boon, com pared with the days when there was a continual risk of being short of water.

If the supply had not been here when it was, there would have been greater diffi culty in looking after the enormous num bers of troops that once occupied the dis trict.

Telephones have been free, so far, but I suppose they will invoke a charge shortly.

ONE thing that must strike anybody coming here, is the number of houses that are unoccupied, and need repairs before they can be used. I don’t know the reason, as I understand that War Damage covers the majority of the cost—perhaps lack of materials and also lack of workmen—both hard to get.

Messrs. Stubbs (the Sydney contractors) have a large number of men, and they are mainly on the 24 houses (said to be only temporary), but which are costing a large sum of money.

I will never be able to work out why the troops (who, after all, were human beings), who occupied the houses here, could so wantonly, and unnecessarily and callously do such damage to the places.

Some are worse than others, admittedly —some even being so bad that it is a question if they are worth doing up. Some have been fixed up, with a reasonable ex pense, and others are now on the way What is known as the “Top” Hotel was just ready for <pccupation when the bal loon went up; it was occupied by troops (whose, I do not know), but practically everything that could be pulled out, in light and water fittings, basins, and fix tures of all descriptions, were just torn out—not any trouble being taken to avoid tearing a bit out of the walls in doing so. It was fully, and very well furnished. To-day, it is a skeleton—but we hope will soon be on the way to re paration. Some places were well treated, but they were distinctly the minority.

I HEAR the last of the “Native Boy” regiments is being disbanded, and, for one, I am glad to see this. I know the “boys” did a good job in many ways, but I don’t think we ought to make “sol diers” out of them, when there isn’t any necessity to do so. They get ideas.

Slowly, rather too slowly, the planta tion labour is returning. Largely, the slowness has been due to lack of proper shipping facilities. These are gradually improving, but the number of vessels promised by the Shipping Control have not eventuated yet in Papua, Here, we have the “Doma” (300 tons) under Steamships management, doing the Daru-Samarai run. and will fill a long felt want.

At Samarai, the “Mary Rose” is doing good and very necessary work (she is eventually destined for New Guinea).

Here, too, is the “Nusa”' doing good work.

But vessels with small draft to do the shallow water and bar places, are sadly needed. We have been promised 55-foot

ers to draw 4 ft. 6 in. loaded. The only vessels capable of negotiating the shal low places can carry only 9 tons, which is altogether inadequate.

For Port Moresby there is to be an 85footer; and Samarai is eventually to have three of them. They are nice vessels, with Ruston Hornsby engines, 204 HP, and a good carrying capacity. When these vessels really arrive, the shipping position (coastal) will be well catered for.

The management is Burns Philp and Steamships—each with 50 per cent, of the tonnage total.

In New Guinea the arrangement is easier, as vessels there need not be shal low draft, so the 300 tonners are what will do the jobs—and they are to be 50-50 Burns Philp and Carpenters.

The arrangement is for 12 months, so far. What will be done at the end of that time, I do not know—nor does any body else.

IT is said that town planners have been busy on Port Moresby; and, if ac counts be true, the “planning” was done without knowing that Port Moresby is mainly “hills”—Paga Hill on one side, and the hill on which is the reservoir, on the other. The town-planers are said to have worked as if the place was all flat, so that the plans that are talked of (they necessarily can only be talked of yet), allocate ground for certain purposes which cannot possibly be used for any thing, unless at huge expense.

The Hotel Moresby now is catering for a large number every day, and the meals are good. Mr. Reg. Egiriton, formerly of Samarai, is the manager, and is assisted by his wife.

At Lae, Madang and Samarai. businesses are being carried on in Sidney Williams steel-framed huts of various lengths, but all 20 feet wide. Rabaul will be the same for some time to come, also.