New Guinea Timber

The Headache In Another Form

THERE is interest for New Guinea in the recent announcement that the Australian Socialist Government may assume permanent control over the ply wood industry. Reports made recently by the Plywood Industry Advisory Panel re commend establishment of a body in which the Government and private enter prise would hold shares, but in which the Government would have a controlling in terest, as in Amalgamated Wireless Ltd.

Reports to the Government recently deal with difficulties the Government will face when it begins exploiting the New Guinea timber leases. Alternatives fac ing the Government are establishment of mills in New Guinea to treat timber on the spot, or the transport of logs to the mainland for treatment.

Experts have advised that establish ment of mills in New Guinea would be far more economical, but might raise a labour problem. Apart from the United Nations attitude to employment of natives mainland Unions would object if plywood were produced cheaply in New Guinea by native labour whose pay or conditions were inferior to those operating on the mainland.