Moresby Has A Price-
p. 132 · Read in the full issue
Controller
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Moresby, Mar. 5
Fast becoming the most popular civil servant in Papua-New Guinea is Prices-Controller McElhone who, in the couple of months since he got his powers, has cracked down
heavily on a good deal of the ex tortionate prices that were being enjoyed in some businesses.
Starting off with essential food stuffs, he has now' got among the taxi operators and timber dealers, and has also reduced cigarettes by as much as 3d a tin.
Residents of Moresby were par ticularly pleased when Mr. McElhone put his control on taxi fares, and
ended one of the Town’s outstarn Ing examples of fleecing.
It is now hoped that he will g on to the beer prices being charg by the town’s two hotels. Sellii in the lounges at 1/6 a small gla£ the operators are getting more thr 6 - a bottle for their beer.
Another line that is being work* to death is new motor vehicles. EF tailers are taking normal tra£ commissions, yet only one has t) facilities to provide adequate serv: l and spare parts. Others do not} ing to earn their cut other thi placing the orders and clearing t) vehicles through customs.