Urgently Wanted in the
p. 27 · Read in the full issue
Small Ships Get
Rich Reward
Urgently Wanted in the Islands
THE appearance in the Central Pacific of an Australian ketch which, under her captain and owner, is running a pro fitable passenger and cargo service be tween the outer islands of a certain group, gives an indication of opportunities which exist generally in the Pacific to day.
The whole of the South Pacific Island groups are desperately short of shipping— of large ships, which maintain communi cation between the Territories and the outside world; and of small ships, which normally run inter-island.
The position is acute in New Guinea : where the muddled Socialistic thinkers oi Canberra have succeeded in putting out of operation practically all those small ships which normally carried on inter island services. The planters and traders are paralysed through lack of transport —and scores of little vessels, held up for their various purposes by Australian Gov ernment instrumentalities, are lying idle in the principal ports.
In other Territories there is a shortage of small ships, through war conditions.
By one means and another, some men with boats large enough to undertake inter-island services have been able to get away from Australia and New Zealand and they are now reaping a rich harvest.
In some of the Territories—more especi ally those controlled by Australia and New Zealand —an attempt is being made to discourage private enterprise and establish State-owned shipping services.
Private owners of small ships are tabu in New Guinea. But in spite of this a number of private owners have appeared and their arrival has been greeted en thusiastically by planters, traders and private people generally who are most eager to obtain transport, and sick unto death of Government interference.