If Wana Fails!

Economic Possibilities in Papua

From R. W. Robson

Port Moresby, Oct. 5

IT is reported unofficially here that the hopes of the oil men now are centred upon the bore at Wana, over in the Delta district. It is down some 7,000 feet.

The drill had entered hard limestone— exactly as was expected by the experts— and is now making slow progress. Up to the sandstone, drilling was excellent, and rapid.

Somewhere below the limestone, the ex perts expect to find oil.

If Wana, too, is a failure, Papua had better have a look at its bank account, because ordinary commonsense suggests that the oil companies will not continue indefinitely with the expensive search, So far, they must have spent here between £8,000,000 and £10,000,000.

Here, in Port Moresby, no one ever has seen such an orgy of spending, especially by the natives. Every native seems tc have money to burn. The shrewd whites who have catered for the natives’ simple ideas of luxuries bottled drinks, coffee stalls, pies—have made small fortunes.

That abundant cash has come from twc main sources—the millions of Australian taxpayers’ money which this Administra tion is lavishly spending, and the money from Australian Petroleum Company.

If the oil-men pull out, Papuan economy will be most seriously jarred. For instance there will be at once 250 vacant residence;: in this now tightly-packed town. Rubber; 1/3 per pound 18 months ago, is now 4/: per pound—an intoxicating stimulant fo;< the planting people. But it would not make up for the loss of the APC generally regarded as Santa Claus” nephew. .

Men with a stake in the country an* keeping an anxious eye on Wana.

Miss Judy Sherwood, of Nausori, Fiji is spending three months’ holiday in Aus; tralia.