The Month In Moresby
pp. 78-80 · Read in the full issue
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Port Moresby, May 30.
THE Territory has been getting fourbarrelled publicity lately as a resuit of visits by four men, stars in their own professions, who came here to tell Australians about the Territory— newspaper articles from journalist Osmar White; “Walkabout” broadcasts from ABC’s Colin Simpson; paintings and sketches from artist William Dobell; and, eventually, a book from travel-writer Frank Clune.
White has finished his job here but the others are still wandering around.
Osmar White has made Administration officials keenly newspaper-conscious in the last few months. He has been touring the Territory writing many articles, mostly critical, for southern papers.
Local officials have been staggered by some of his comments, and some of them cannot understand why the Government lets him get away with it. Usually, in this country, the Administration, as the servant of Canberra, makes things uncomfortable for anyone who criticises it Publicly.
Before he returned to Australia Mr.
White summed up as follows: “I am very concerned with the apparant lack of appreciation of Papua-New Guinea’s problems in Canberra. Unless more vigorous action is taken to foster the economic development of the Territory, linking social development with economic, then there is considerable danger that the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations will intervene. I am more than ever convinced that development of the
Territory is of enormous strategic im portance to Australia. Territory policy is not a matter of party politics but one in which the best brains of both Govern ment and opposition parties should co operate.” * * * __. . „ |?X-GROUP Captain Bunny Ham- AJ mond, veteran New Guinea pilot, went around the Territory on the ■Bulolo s last trip as a tourist. He and hl s wife are now Sydneysiders, but they S°t homesick for their old friends, hence the Bulolo trip. Hammond came to New Guinea in 1932, as a pilot for Holden’s Air Transport and later for Guinea Air ways. He served in the RAAF, and in 1946 was Guinea Airways manager here until the company withdrew from the Territory. Now he’s doing well as NSW aviation sales-manager for a firm of general agents. * * * \ T FW BRITAIN nlnntpr Mr I Mnllalv \ T who nassedthrough Moresbv on the a t pas L d him? Bninio had time to tell m that eiSrt sna Is are fust r? s a as ever in New Britain. r* e says lsn 1 Putting in any new cocoa because the snails attack the young Plants. He is on a prolonged holiday’ . H . uri . ne wb T b he hopes to visit the Phil uppmes, China and Japan. * * * A NEW-COMER to Moresby is Mr.
Richard McGregor, who joined BR’s staff a t Moresby a week ago. He has earnec j general sympathy because he
was married in Sydney on the night of May 13 and had to board the Moresby plane next morning, leaving his bride behind. However, she’ll join him when he gets settled. * * * THE Malaita is now calling at Manus regularly, mainly to take supplies to the Navy and Air Force stations there. Manus planters hope that she will also take away some of their copra.
Two plantations owned by Edgell and Whiteley recently stopped production be cause they had too much copra awaiting shipment.
Mr. and Mrs, Norman Whitely, who have been on leave, are returning to Manus on the Malaita, which left here for New Guinea on May 21. * * * DR. TONAKIE, formerly of APC, re ports that his new private practice in Moresby is doing quite well. Dr.
Tonakie is in temporary rooms in the old library building in Douglas Street. * * * MRS. H. J. SUTHERLAND, formerly Miss May Grahamslaw, who has been in Japan for the last 18 months, is back in Moresby at present, on a visit. With her is ten-months-old Anne. MJrs. Sutherland was in Japan with her husband, a lieutenant in the permanent army. They will live in Sydney in future. * * * RECENT births to Moresby people: A daughter, Catherine Louise, to Mr. and Mrs. John Buckridge; a son, Peter, to Mr. and Mrs. Noel Maloney (in Melbourne), and a son to Mr. and Mrs.
Dennis O’Connor.
THE marriage in Brisbane recently of Miss Shirley Slater, of Moresby, to Mr. Norman Gilmour, of Qantas, Moresby, apparently started something among local Qantas men. Two more now have weddings in view. * * * MR. P. J. McDonald, of 11010 plan tation. was sentenced to two months’ jail without hard labour at the Supreme Court here on May 21 for causing grievous bodily harm to a male native.
Mr. Justice Bignold presided over the hearing.
Police alleged that a vehicle driven by McDonald knocked down and injured a native who was riding a bicycle along Ela Beach Road, Moresby. McDonald pleaded not guilty. ♦ * * THE Government Secretary, Mr. R.
Melrose, whose health has not been good, flew south on May 25. He has a month’s sick leave plus three months’ recreation leave. Mr. Claude Champion is Acting Government Secre tary until the Assistant Government Secretary, Mr. S. Lonergan, returns from leave. * * * AFTER 18-months of refitting and short trial runs, the Administration yacht “Laurabada” sailed from Moresby on May 24, on a two-weeks’ cruise in Samarai waters. The Adminis trator, Colonel J. K. Murray, was aboard and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Clune went as his guests. Mr, Ivan Champion was in command. The visit was cut short, how ever, when the ship met mechanical difficulties. * His Honor returned to Moresby by Qantas Catalina. * * * WORK on the excavations here for the British New Guinea Trading Com pany’s new store has been going on
for many months, but there is still no sign of a start on the actual construction.
Shortage of materials is said to be the trouble. Mr. J. C. Harper, local manager of the Co., has gone to the head office in Australia, and is not expected to return. Mr. J. Buston is the new manager.
Mr. Harper had been in the Territory since about 1931. Mrs. Harper returned to Australia some months before her husband * « * SATUR'DAY, May 28, was “fashion day” in Moresby. Wearing their most comment-provoking outfits, girls and women of the town crowded into the RSL Club to see local mannequins display the latest in morning, afternoon, evening and sports wear. The enterprising Preschool Play Centre Committee staged the show and was rewarded with a profit of more than £l5O, which will fatten the Centre’s funds. The mannequins dis-
played surprising poise, the result of ex pert coaching. * * * mHREE officials of the Combined Coun i. cils of the Public Service Associations have flown to Canberra to try and stir up some action on the many griev ances of public servants here. The officials, Mr. C. L. Anthony (president), J. Irvine (secretary) and Mr. E.
E - Washington, intend to spend a week in Canberra, during which they will see the Acting Minister for External Terri tories (Mr. Chambers) and Departmental officers. Before they left, they would not say what matters would be discussed but talked mysteriously of a “new approach” whlch t he V h °Pe will bring good results, * ♦ * myfANY Moresby residents now own JjJ[ watches, fountain pens and various items of jewellery which they did not have before the “Changte” called here on her way to Australia from Hong Kong
and Japan. Chinese on the ship invaded the town with hundreds of pounds worth of smuggled goods, and did excellent business. Customs officers apparently did not realise what was going on until late on the day after the “Changte’s” arrival.
They acted smartly then, however, with these results: Three Chinese fined £lO each, and seven European residents fined £5 each, for bringing prohibited goods ashore. * * * DISTRICT Officer Magistrate at Mores by, Mr. J. O’Malley, is being trans ferred to Kerema as District Officer.
Mr. B. Faithorn, formerly DO at Samarai, will occupy Mr. O’Malley’s position at Moresby. * * Mr. Peter Rodway of Western Australia has been accepted by the Board of the Methodist Overseas Mission as missionary builder, and will proceed to New Guinea as Mr. Kronert’s assistant.. He will travel by the June “Bulolo.”