Air Tragedy

37 Killed in NG Air Tragedy Canberra Howls About "Natives As Air Freight"

WHEN a Lockheed Hudson plane, under charter to New Guinea Air Traders, crashed shortly after leaving Lae, New Guinea, on April 18, 37 people were killed. This is the biggest air fatality New Guinea has ever had.

Four of the men killed were crew members; the remainder were native labourers being transported to the gold fields.

Subsequently, it has been found that the plane was not licensed for passengers and that the natives were being carried as freight. This has roused certain Aus tralian Ministers and officials to a frenzy of statements and protestations. Mr.

Ward has stated that no aircraft has Government approval to carry natives as freight, and that there would be an im mediate investigation to see whether this had been permitted by Civil Aviation officials.

The fact that the natives were not pro vided with safety-belts has also caused a storm of disapproval. As the plane burst into flames immediately on hitting the ground, it would be interesting to know how safety-belts would have helped matters.

It is obvious that Mr. Ward and other departmental heads feel that it is neces sary to find some scape-goat; but while

there may have been negligence on the part 6T someone connected with the tragedy, it is futile to blame it on the fact that the natives were not provided with seating accommodation, like regular airline patrons.

Air-accidents in New Guinea, it will be noted, have not been fewer in the post war period, when many more commercial flying regulations have been introduced.

Before the war, New Guinea’s record for air-safety, in spite of the climate and geographical hazards, was unique.

It has always been the custom in New Guinea to carry native labourers as air freight. It is obvious that if they had had to be paid for at full rates, few, if any, would have been transported in this way and the majority would have been required to walk.

As far as this goes, most Europeans who travelled by air were also virtually regarded as freight, in that they sat in a transport-plane on their gear and took what was coming to them. They were glad to do this, lack of seats and safety belts notwithstanding.

The only real difference between the service given them and that given natives was that while they paid several pounds for the privilege of travelling thus, natives were weighed and charged for at the rate of 3d. per pound.

A spokesman for Air Traders has denied that the plane was overloaded.

He said that newly indentured New Guinea natives averaged about 100 nounds in weight each, and that total weight of crew and natives was well within the limit allowed the Lockheed Hudson.