The Month In

Moresby

Increasing Copra Production

Port Moresby. Feb. 6

(IQPRA output in the Territory showed j a very healthy increase during the latter part of 1950, when production jumped by thirty per cent. This put the total for last year at 68,289 tons, with Production Control Board receivals at Rabaul 31,861, and Kokopo in next place with 10.135.

Madang was third with 9,550; then Samarai 6,259; Port Moresby 5,451; Kavieng 5,790; Lorengau 811; and Lae 432’.

Lamington Relief Fund

The Mount Lamington Disaster Relief Appeal was opened by Mr. Justice Gore over the ABC station at Port Moresby on February 8. This has been organised for the relief of all who suffered through the volcanic eruption. The Relief Fund committee appointed by the Administration comprises the following members: President —Mr. Justice Gore.

A nominee of the Bishop of New Guinea, (Dr. Strong).

Mr. A. J. Bretag (President of the Lae Citizens Association).

Mr. E. A. James (Chairman of the Port Moresby Advisory Council).

Mr. J. A’Hearn (Chairman of the Papua and New Guinea Red Cross Division).

Mr. H. H. Reeve (Administration Treasurer).

Mr. W. C. Groves (Director of Education).

Mr. G. Whittaker (State President of the R.S.L.).

A number of subscriptions to the fund had already been received by Mr. Justice Gore before the appeal was officially launched.

Stevedoring

The Administration is going out of the stevedoring business as soon as private enterprise can take over. This will put wharf activities back on the pre-war level.

Fortunately for private enterprise stevedoring in the Territory is not the headache it is in Australia. Generally native labour does a pretty good job on the wharves.

Good Stock For Breeding

More livestock are to be brought to the Territory by the Department of Agri culture. This time, the consignment is going to Rabaul, with cattle, horses, goats and pigs included in the loading list.

The animals are coming from New South

Wales and Victoria, and will be offered for sale to private buyers. Those not sold will be sent to the Department’s livestock station near Rabaul, for breeding purposes.

Prices arc expected to be rather steep, due to the high transportation costs; but, at least, purchasers will not get tangled in red tape, as all arrangements are in ihe hands of the Department, and sales will be made after the stock are landed.

34 Natives Rescued

Thirty four natives have good reason to be thankful that the oil interests of the world turned their attention to Papua.

They do not hold any shares in the com pany, but they are indebted to the APC for a much-needed nautical hitch-hike from somewhere 10 miles out to sea, off the Vailala River mouth. When the APC vessel Gabuna, with Captain Thompson on the lookout, happened along on the night of January 16, the 34 natives were on a sinking lakatoi, with a vqry rough sea running. The natives were safely landed at the IHU government station, on the Vailala River estuary, next morning.

More Pay For Married Women

Out of the blue, in January, the Works and Housing Department at Port Moresby announced that the Territorial allowance of £l5O a year would be restored to the salaries of married women on its staff.

Eagerly their contemporaries on the Administration staff waited for a similar announcement from the Public Service Commissioner. However, when this was written they were still waiting—and hoping. £l5O p.a. is not big money—but it is a lot when it is suddenly lost out of a pay envelope.