Kokopo, Tng

They Still Are Waiting At

THE Acting Minister for Territories told reporters in Canberra early in Feb ruary that “the capital of New Britain would be transferred from Rabaul to Kokopo, but although a survey of Ko kopo had begun, the transfer would take about five years.”

Which is somewhat of an under statement. For at least two years this Department has been dithering about with a plan to shift administrative head quarters from Rabaul to Kokopo (or Rapopo), and surveyors and other tech nicians have been seen making spasmodic efforts in the district. But nothing has been done; and, what is worse, no one can get any authoritative statement of what is likely to be done.

Meanwhile, the bomb-obliterated town

of Rabaul is slowly but surely taking shape again. (Officialdom proposes to re move the administrative centre from Rabaul, north of the volcanoes, to Kokopo district, which is south of the volcanoes, because in an eruption the dust follows the prevailing wind northwards.

Also Kokopo is not much troubled by earth tremors.)