Transfer To Kokopo Will Take
pp. 72-73 · Read in the full issue
Five Years
THE following statement was issued in Port Moresby on January 22 by the Acting Minister for Territories. It was marked “For Press”; but it was not seen by the PIM until the end of March; The Acting Minister for External Terri tories on his return to Port Moresby to day stated that the decision that the Administrative Headquarters of the New Britain District would be transferred from Rabaul to the Kokopo area (some 20 miles distant) had been confirmed.
The decision to remove administration activities from Rabaul had been taken as a result of the severe eruption of neighbouring volcanoes in 1937 and their continued activity over the years im mediately following.
This activity is still apparent, and con
stitutes too grave a risk to justify the maintenance of Rabaul as the principal centre for the District.
Completion of the transfer is now ex pected to take about five years.
In the meantime, Rabaul will continue to be used for official, residential, ship ping and business purposes. Facilities provided there, however, will be of a temporary nature only, pending develop ment of the new site.