Notes From Lae

From Our Own Correspondent LAE, Aug. 3.

Against Legislative Ccl.

AT the meeting of the Lae Sub branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League, on August 3, it was decided to submit to Fed eral Executive, through the Papua

and New Guinea State Branch the following resolution: — “That this Sub-branch protests vigorously against the composition of the Papua and New Guinea Legislative Council and seeks im mediate amendment of the Act to permit of more democratic repre sentation, particularly in regard to Returned Soldiers.”

Administration High

Handedness

INDICATIVE of the autocratio attitude adopted by the Ad ministration in public matters' which have produced unfavourable local reaction, is the case of the new hospital.

The Returned Soldiers’ Leagues and the Lae Town Advisory Coun-, cil, have both opposed the plansj on the basis that native and Euro-( pean wards are in close with common facilities such asj laundries and kitchen.

However strong this opposition, ii apparently can have no effect on the Administration outlook —that ii is essential in some cases, for tha natives to be close to the operating] theatre.

At a recent visit to Lae, th« Director of Public Health, Dm Gunther, indicated that, in effect; the plans had been approved, ana that was what the public would get.

The matter is not finished yeti however, and it is anticipated thae the persistent outcry for segregas tion in the hospital will eventualll be recognised.

Another matter that has causes a lot of heartburning is the attitude of the Administration toward) lessees of land in industrial areas which are still without essentisi utilities, such as electricity arm telephones.

In the blitz that followed thl adoption of the Town Plan, mam business people took up blocks ii these areas, at high rentals, ant:J cipating the supply of services.

The Lae Advisory Council hsi recommended that a retrospectivi reduction of rental values from tM date of granting of the leasts should apply where essential iru stallations are still awaited.

In reply to this request tH.

Minister for Territories, Mr. Haas luck, said that nothing would If done in the matter as the lessee knew what to expect when th*r took over the blocks.

The new phrase “they knew wh:r to exoect.” is now added to thoo two other pieces of overworked officialese: “The matter will be iii vestigated,” and “I will look inn that matter.”

Record Rains

JULY was the third month in sun cession with rainfall oyer inches—May. 2,093 poinn June, 2 916, and July 2,804 poinn The aggregate falls over the san, three-months’ period for 1950, 196 and 1946 were: 2,749, 4,910 and 7.® respectively. The 1951 total of 7,83, points must be something of ; record.

The continuous rain played haw, with all roads in the area.

Cost Of Rice And Nl

“/'IHEAP LABOUR” is always re vy garded as one of the attrac tions of residence in the Islands, but a statistical return based on the average of current [prices in Lae shows that, over a [period of 1,928 i hours worked by native labour, the cost to the em ployer of one unit of labour over a working dav of seven hours was 12/6.16.

This amount includes recruiting fees and supervisory expenses, the latter at 5.44 d per day.

Without recruiting fees the amount figured at 10/5.15 per day of seven hours.

The upward trend of commodities for natives is exemplified in the price of rice.

The last consignment worked out at well over £BO per ton, and it is anticipated that the next lot will cost approximately £lO2.

Many employers of native labour have paid off their boys.

It has been suggested to the authorities that the Export duty of £32 per ton should be lifted to permit of a reasonable price in the Territory.

Births

IN the spate of births of female offspring at the Lae European hospital, as reported in the July issue, the important event of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Huxley, of Lae, was overlooked.

Mr. Huxley is well known as the Morobe representative of the South Pacific Post, and his caricatures of people are a popular feature this weekly paper. . He is also the AAP representative in this district.

Daughters again took up the running during July, and Mr. and Mrs.

R. Murtagh (of Burns Phllp) and Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Lake (of Works and Housing) are proud parents, ,

Rsl Affairs Flourish

1%/F R. K - Whittaker, State

President of the Papua and New Guinea Branch of the RSS&AILA, who represented the

State Branch at the recent Con gress in Hobart, and more recently was a visitor to an executive meet ing of the Council of the League, in Melbourne, has advised that, at the next Congress, in Adelaide, in October next, the Papua and New Guinea Branch will be given the right to a vote on Congress matters.

No one has fought harder for re cognition of the claims of returned men. particularly in the Territory, than Mr. Whittaker.

This branch is going ahead im mediately with the erection of its own clubrooms on the terrace and members have pledged themselves to the call by the Committee for funds.

The Annual Ball, held in July, was one of the outstanding func tions of the year, and the funds of the League benefited by £lOO.