Shipping Control

New Guinea Services Restored To The Owners

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Ipt. Moresby, May 6.

T was announced last week that the Commonwealth Directorate of Ship ping has relinquished control of ships on the Australian-New Guinea run.

The first reaction of those of us here who know how the service has deteriorated was one of mild rejoicing, for the Directorate has received most of the blame for the crudities of Island travel since the war. The Directorate, however, has replied that the agents, and not the Directorate, has been responsible for the details of the accommodation on the ships.

Now, however, Territorians are won dering whether it might not have been better for the Directorate to have retained control. Simultaneously with the change over, the fare from Sydney to Port Moresby was raised from £2l/10/- to £25 —and the prompt 14 per cent, increase has not been at all favourably received.