Former Island Resident
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
With Unrra
Tl/E reported in the August issue of TT “PIM” that Group-Captain W. J.
Duncan, formerly 0 f the Mandated Territory of New Guinea, was giving dis tinguished service with UNRRA in the Far East. Recently we have been in formed that another ex-resident of New Guinea and the Solomons is seeing service with the same organisation in the same area.
He is Mr. R. E. Shea, who since April, 1946, has been attached to the Shipping Division of the UNRRA China Office at Shanghai as Shipping Liaison Officer in connection with the huge tonnage of relief stores, the gift of the United Nations to the Chinese Government, which are being discharged at Chinese ports, Mr. Shea was associated with Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., from 1935 to 1942 as a member of their shipping staff both in BSI and New Guinea ports, and, fol lowing evacuation from New Guinea, was in the Brisbane Branch, until he trans ferred to the Department of the Navy to perform the duties of Shipping and Trans port Officer at the RA Naval Store Depot, Brisbane. He held this position until he accepted the UNRRA China appointment in April, 1946.
Mr. C. E. Lane-Poole, a consulting for estry expert from Sydney, arrived in Brisbane from Noumea by flying-boat, on February 21. Commenting on the tremendously high prices of commodities in Noumea, he said that Australia was fortunate in having price control. Eggs, were being sold for 7/6 a dozen in Nou mea; bread at 1/3 a loaf and a half bottle of American beer cost 2/6. The ordinary price for a man’s shirt was £3/5/-.