Ngg Plan For 1947

But Reconstruction Slow

AS with most New Guinea enterprises, lack of labour and transport, both local and from Australia, are ham pering reconstruction plans of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.

In his address to shareholders at the 17th annual general meeting in Sydney on January 17, Mr. J. Kruttschnitt, chair man of the company, said that on at least two occasions the company’s re cruiters had marshalled a desirable number of boys in the Wewak and Sepik areas only to be confronted with total lack of coastal transport to Lae.

Last November, in an effort to over come this state -of affairs, the company in association with Koranga Gold Sluic

ing Ltd. had purchased, in Sydney, a boat of 23-tons (regulations in New Guinea preclude the operation of boats in excess of 25-tons by private individuals) and it was hoped that when this boat was in full operation, the labour troubles of the company would be lessened.

The company had not pressed for an early settlement of War Damage claims feeling that more realistic values could be assessed by a system of field inspec tion. However, all relevant information was now in the hands of the War Damage Commission.

Reconstruction work had started in early 1946 when the company was per mitted to send a few men to the field.

By mid-1946 the staff had been increased and now, with building materials pur chased from the army disposals plus the output of the company’s own mill, they had constructed a temporary power house, store, workshop and quarters for staff. Transport of machinery, stores, etc., from Lae was by road which was generally in bad repair and maintained by native gangs with picks and shovels when mechanised equipment would have been quite easily obtainable.

Timber was being milled from the stands adjacent to Kaili 4 lease and clearing of heavy growth on the com pany’s 10-acre farm had been completed and six acres planted in native foodstuffs.

Plans for the coming year include the installation of steel fluming on the Low Level Race followed by the installation of fluming on the Little Wau-Koranga section. It is proposed, later, to start a new adit at Golden Ridges and to reopen alluvials at Edie Creek with one gravel pump on the portion of the face where values are assured. Resumption of work at Kulolo and Renrew will be deferred until sufficient labour is forthcoming.

Loss for the year was £7,393 which was transferred to “Close Down Expenses Account.”