Rabaul Citizens Against

Rapopo Move

Australian Government Asked to Stay its Hand

THE articles in recent PlM’s, wherein it was stated that Rabaul’s European citizens were now reconciled to a move to the proposed new town at Rapopo, near Kokopo, appear to have caused much comment in Rabaul. The

majority of residents, it seems, see no point in the move to an area without wharf facilities and also in a volcanic zone, and the last meet ing of the Advisory Council was de voted largely to a discussion along these lines.

A motion was put to the meeting and unanimously carried thajt; “Having regard to the many diffi culties associated with the problem of moving the township of Rabaul to the proposed site of Rapopo, and the unsuitable aspects of the pro posed new town and wharf area, that the Australian Government be asked to reconsider its decision to build a new township and that por tion of the money allotted for the building of same to be made avail able for the re-conditioning of the roads giving egress to the present town, and the draining and pre paring of these roads, having in mind the possibility of heavy falls of rain associated with volcanic dis turbances; and that it is the con sidered opinion of this Council that the area known as Nonga and em bracing the land from the foot of 'Tunnel Hill to Tavui Point (close to outskirts of the present town), would be a suitable place for the re-loca tion of the township of Rabaul and that consideration be given by the Administration to the siting of Government offices, retail business houses and the present population in that area. It should be serviced by suitable all-weather highways, surfaced and drained.”

The resolution was proposed by Mr. J. L. Chipper and seconded by Mr. B. B. Perriman.

It was Mr. Chipper’s contention that the lack of an all-weather port at Rapopo made the proposed site of the new town impossible and that if it were imperative that a move from Rabaul be made, a new locality altogether should be chosen for the main town of New Britain —the coconut plantations which were the greatest economic factor on the Gazelle Peninsula were past their peak of production and if extensive replanting were not done soon pro duction would gradually fall off over the next few years. The Ko kopo district was also in a volcano zone and the slopes of Mt. Varzen, behind the proposed new town, pre sented much the same appearance as Mt. Lamington does to-day.

He said: “We have been visited by experts who, ex officio, have told us that the

building of the port at Kokopo pre sents almost insurmountable ob stacles.

“We find that these visitors do not take any heed of the considered opinion of residents and business men on whom the development of the Territory rests. As we have been told to-day, by representatives of the Production Control Board, not only is no heed taken of our arguments, but they are misrepre sented in discussions in Australia, where the people of Rabaul are rep resented as being quite satisfied with the port facilities to be built at Kokopo.”

HE said that small ships were still the life-blood of the Terri tory and that if these small ships were compelled to use an open roadstead at Kokopo, within two years the beach would be littered with wrecks. “To tell us that (in the event of bad weather) we can up-anchor and seek shelter in Rabaul reflects on the intelligence and capability of assessing the situ ation of the people who tell us so.”

He said that never had there been such a shortage of the necessary materials for building a complete town. Figures supplied by Mr. Per riman suggested that four million cubic yards of soil would be needed in the new Kokopo wharf area alone —and there was an acute world shortage of all heavy earth moving equipment. Delivery delays

were from nine months to two years and some of the well-known Ameri can manufacturers were not taking further orders.

As an alternative to the Aus tralian government’s proposal to build at Rapopo, he suggested that tne harbour facilities should be re tained at Rabaul and that the resi dential, business and commercial

areas be built in the Nonga area a few miles from the present town of Rabaul—it would be almost as close to the wharf area as Lae is from its wharf at Milfordhaven. In this way, New Britain would retain its present fine harbour at Rabaul and the Australian taxpayers would be saved many millions of pounds.

(Continued on page 37)

VARIOUS members of the Coun cil spoke in support of the motion. Mr. Perriman said that the main reason for the move was the question of safety. He himself had found the earth tremors at Kokopo much more severe than at Rabaul.

According to Dr. Fisher’s state ment, Rapopo would be nearer the line of fault than Rabaul. “It is of the utmost importance that we should receive, from the Adminis trator or the Minister, a copy of this report, and also the report of Dr.

Stein. We are entitled to know what these reports contain.”

Mr. Don Williams of Vacuum Oil Company moved that, as it was considered that the move to Rapopo was purely a face-saving device, a plebiscite should be taken of people at Rabaul, after seeing Dr. Fisher’s report.

Mr. Don Barrett said that over seas ships would have to confirm that they are agreeable to using the Port at Rapopo. As yet no such confirmation has been received.