[?]-Found

[?]e 16/6 W. & H. [?]-Found rce In P-NG Criticism of Department Increases

From Our Own Correspondent LAE. Mar. 1.

HITICISM of the Works and Housing Department, as it operates in Papua-New Guinea, ; now spread to the various vn Advisory Councils, as well as >earing regularly in Australian I local newspapers. [ere in the Morobe district, ticularly in Lae, little work is ig done on the roads apart from sporadic appearance of a road der. Local roads are in a shock condition. The main section, n Lae shopping centre to the ;ibum River, is mute testimony the sort of work that is carried by the Department. Although led some time ago, corrugations, -holes and broken edges make it terror of motorists and the ight of local motor mechanics.

'o make a good job of it, it would accessary to rip it all up and re ke and re-seal it. But as the final work was done by “specia -5” of W. & H.. no good purpose

would be served by the Department making any further effort.

The question of providing “all found” at 16/6 per week for per sonnel of the W. & H. Department needs early review. This privilege was given in order to entice men to work in the Territory and Manus.

At a conservative estimate there are 500 men enjoying the con

cession, and, as it takes not less than £3/3/- per week to keep them, their continued stay in the Terri tory is costing the Commonwealth in the vicinity of £58,000 per annum.

As a comparison, the Adminis tration mess in Lae charges those who live there £3/10 - per week for the same amenities and facilities that are enjoyed by W. & H. men.