Moresby Wharf Near
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Complete Collapse
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Moresby, Feb. I
LATE in January, Burns Phil general-manager for Papi New Guinea, Mr. E. J. Frar led a sharp and heated attack the Administration, on the subj of Port Moresby’s antiquated whi facilities.
Mr. Frame spoke at the Janu£ meeting of the Port Moresby To Advisory Council and, with no well prepared, blasted the Adm istration with details of promi and claims going back almost t years.
But Moresby still is “making d The matter came to a head wt the Harbourmaster, Captain Hawley, recently informed shipp; agents (including B.P.’s) that Wo: and Housing now considered \ wharf to be “in a dangerous cc dition” and that berthing restr tions would have to be imposed.
In future, vessels will be allov alongside the wharf only wl weather conditions are most favoi able. This means that costs \ mount still higher.
Mr. Frame said that for two ye; the Town Advisory Council had b< pressmg for some action to ei the waterfront problem. The sh were now hopelessly inadequate the needs of the port and cong tion was getting out of hand. A there was no alternative should 1 present wharf structure collapse apparently, it is likely to do at a moment.
Mr. Frame pointed out that long ago as April, 1950, the To Advisory Council had asked 1 Administration to provide light for use in case of emergency.
May, 1950, the Administration 1: informed the Council that: • Steel piping for the new wh was available. • Most of the required timl for the decking had b< stock-piled in Moresby. • Steel frames for 60-ft. stors sheds were available Moresby.
Now, almost two years later, 1 wharf contractor has done a lit preparatory work but is held up materials. No tenders have bf called for the sheds and there no money to build them anyway.
Despite the fact that many of motions have been ignored, t council unanimously passed t more, one calling on the Admin tration to provide lighters; I other asking them to seek an i: mediate special grant from Ca berra to save the port “from co: plete disruption.”