Not Enough Ships
pp. 99-100 · Read in the full issue
Planters' Disabilities In Buka and Bougainville
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Sohano. Nov. 6.
RECENTLY, the President of the Bou gainville Association (Mr. Fred Archer) and the Secretary of the Association (Mr. Max Babbage) went to Rabaul, to place before the Directorate of Shipping the difficult and increasingly serious matter of shipping between Rabaul, Buka and Bougainville ports They met at Rabaul Mr. Leighton, Director of Shipping, from Port Moresby, and Mr. George Hill, who is in charge of the Directorate’s activities in Rabaul.
It was pointed out to Mr. Leighton that there was an increasing accumu lation of copra at Buka and Bougainville ports, which the ships allotted to the run did not seem able to cope with. As the plantations were still not producin'- to capacity, and as the amount of native trade copra was also increasing, a serious state of affairs was developing. This would have a detrimental effect upon production and upon the morale of pro ducers, both European and native.
Planters have to carry large stocks of high-costing plantation and trading stores: but, after copra is produced, it lies a long time in plantation stores and, of course, is not paid for by the Produc tion Control Board until delivered to their stores. Thus, financing at the out port plantations is a difficult matter, especially as the merchants in Rabaul have, as a matter of policy, restricted credit to clients.
Mr. Leighton was sympathetic, but he pointed out that present vessels were un suitable and insufficient in numbers. He
had suggested to the Minister that 550ton vessels be substituted for those at present being used.
The Bougainville Association sent a radio, stressing the seriousness of the position, to the Minister of External Territories (Mr. E. J. Ward) and received a prompt reply to the effect that the matter would be taken up at once and advice in regard to action taken would be sent in due course.
Messrs. Archer and Babbage also met Mr. S. Lonergan, acting-Government Secretary, who was visiting Rabaul from Moresby, and was anxious to meet planters and others to obtain their views and discuss with them their various problems.
The various disabilities from which Bougainville suffers, on account of its isolated position, and being—as it were— “out on a limb,” were put before Mr.
Lonergan, and he promised to review them.
Mr. Lonergan remarked that an Asso ciation of district residents and others, putting their views to the Administration, was of great help to the Administration.
Native Labour Conditions
THE Director of Native Labour (Mr. W.
R. Humphries), from Port Moresby, made a trip by Catalina to Sohano on November 8, where he met residents of Buka and Bougainville and discussed with them matters in connection with Native Labour policy. There were present at the Conference the ADO (Mr. R. Cole), President of the Bougainville Association (Mr. Fred Archer), Secretary of the Bou gainville Association (Mr. Max Babbage) Mr. Don Colley (who superintends the Choiseul Plantations interests), and Mr.
De Moriar (District Native Labour officer).
The results achieved were considered highly satisfactory to all concerned, and appreciation of Mr. Humphries’ action, in coming to Sohano for this discussion, was expressed by those present.
The spirit of co-operation, shown at the Conference, is undoubtedly what is wanted between Administrative officers and the planters and employers of Native Labour.