Mishandled Cargo

Some Blame For Lazy Europeans

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Moresby, Jan. 28

COMMERCIAL interests in most ports of the Territory are making a legitimate howl about the disgraceful handling of in coming cargo—but they are not getting very far.

The Administration has tried to pass the buck to Australian ports; but it could not provide a convinc ing argument. Now, it is falling

back on the all-embracing excusi “No funds.”

Since the Budget cut, this simp] little phrase has become a passwor in Administration circles. It covei up for much inefficiency.

But it cannot cover up for tt rank laziness and irresponsibilit of a good many men who are eir ployed on the wharves and in th Customs sheds. It is obvious ths the ports, and particularly Moresb; urgently need bigger sheds; but is equally obvious that much carg could remain undamaged and ur pilfered if certain Europeans did better job of supervising stowag and security.

The matter was raised at the la: meeting of the Moresby Town Ac visory Council, when membei voiced their complaints in whs must be a losing battle.

A contract has been let for th building of the new wharf; bi nothing can be done about tt sheds “because there are no funds No one could put forward an suggestions for improving th efficiency of existing buildings an employees.

Popular AMP Akuila, of Fij arrived in Sydney per Kurimarai en route to Suva after 6 years in tt BSIP Medical Service. Akuila held in high esteem by all class< in the Solomons.

Mr. Charles I. Buffett, LLB, and h[?] son Peter. Mr. Buffett has a doub[?] interest for Pacific Islanders. He is the first descendant of the Pitcairn Islande[?] to achieve distinction in law (he is graduate of the Law School of the Uni versity of Sydney) and he is going so[?] to Norfolk Island as Official Secretary [?] the Administration. He has been member of the Commonwealth Publ[?] Service since World War II.