Planning
p. 75 · Read in the full issue
At The Manus Base
More Evidence of Muddled Planning
AFTER pointing out that the small Australian Naval force in the huge base at Manus (New Guinea), aban doned by the Americans, has no ships, and the small air force only one flying boat, a “Sydney Morning Herald” writer, on June 2, proceeds:— The removal of about 250 Japanese war criminals from Rabaul to add to the Manus labour force has been welcomed.
They will be put to work by the Navy, mainly on cleaning-up work, dismantling surplus huts, and installations, and cut ting back the jungle.
The only other labour available are natives and a few Balts, who have been dismantling Quonset huts in the Lorengau area.
The Balts have pulled down a few hun dred of the 9,000 huts on Manus and packed them for shipment to Australia for re-erection as temporary housing for displaced persons due to arrive from Europe.
The dismantled huts are being sent to Australia, and galvanised iron, in short supply in Australia, is being shipped to New Guinea to replace the paper-walled houses and humpies built of wartime scrap in the past few £ears.
People in those outposts ask why they can not have the Quonset huts, which are only a few hundred miles away, and leave the galvanised iron in Australia.