NG Highlands Described to PI Society Members

PI Society Members

THE Pacific Islands Society, at its meet ing in Sydney on November 22, heard an address from the President, Mr, R. W. Robson, about the Highlands of New Guinea. Mr. Robson had just returned from a month’s visit to the Territory, and had spent some days in the Highlands.

The speaker pointed out that when Australia took over New Guinea in 1920, the country had only a coconut economy.

By 1940, it was a coconut and gold economy, and the Territory was self supporting, Between 1942 and 1945, the country was subjected wholly to a military economy. Between 1945 and 1950, it had experienced a Socialist economy, in which it was absorbing each year many millions of pounds more than it was earning.

Now, as the result of the discovery of the New Guinea Highlands (a vast, rich region which, until 1933, Australia did not know she had) the country was threatened

with another kind of economy. Was it any wonder that one found frustration and confusion all over Papua and New Guinea!

In December the members, instead of listening to an address, met on the 19th at their annual Christmas cocktail party, when many guests were entertained.

New members: Mr. and Mrs. K. S. Haw kins; Dr. L. G. M. Baas Becking; Mr. and Mrs. W. Nicholson; Miss Helen Sheiis.

Mrs. T. P. Nicholson, an old and res pected resident of Suva, died on December 4, aged 86. Mrs. Nicholson went to Fiji about 60 years ago, as a teacher, and there married Mr. T. P. Nicholson, the well known Suva boatbuilder and designer, who died two years ago. She is survived by two sons and three daughters. Mrs, Nicholson was the sister of the Hon. T.

W. Alport Barker, Mayor of Suva.