Papua Sends Out

Its Rent Bills

FOR those who take an intelligent in terest in the possessions and busi ness of their neighbours, the Papua- New Guinea Government Gazette has pro vided its annual service. In the issue of January 22, it lists the lessees of Crown Land in Papua (the only way of holding land there), giving the area of the lease and the rental due.

This may seem an unusual way of col lecting rent but it does provide a wealth of information, as for example, the vast total area that has been “alienated” in Papua; and the large parcels of land that are held by some of the Big Firms and by the missions. Rentals vary from district to district, but it is interesting to note that as much as ten acres can be held for as little as 2/9 per annum.

Most of the large leases were granted before the last war but one of the new comers is the British Australian Pulp and Paper Company which has close to 70,000 acres of land in the North-Eastern and Northern Divisions (annual rental approx imately £800). We noted, just a year ago, that this company had been granted its leases in the previous July, with the exclusive right to cut kurukuru grass (called kunai, in the Territory of New Guinea). Kurukuru is capable of being manufactured into high-grade paper. We noted, in February, 1948, that “there has been no indication, from Papua, that the company has cut any grass or started operations on its leases.”

What was true of February, 1948, is also true of February, 1949. We have not heard that anything is being done on the paper company’s leases although it would be a fine thing for the Territory if a new and vigorous industry of that sort could be started there.

THROUGHOUT the long, alphabetical list, one locality keeps bobbing up— Granville West. Where is Granville West? Is it a new (or old) name for Port Moresby? Or some new and delightful sea-side suburb? Many of Papua’s private citizens hold small areas in this (ap parently) desirable locality.

To protect the industry the New Cale donian Council General has banned trocus fishing round the coasts from Jan. 1 to April 30.