Cattle Rice Kenaf

New Industries in Papua-N. Guinea Now Rapidly Taking Shape

From Our Own Correspondent

P. Moresby, Jan. 2.

MANY people have stressed that the future of the Papua-N.

Guinea Territory must rest largely on development of its agricultural

and pastoral potentialities. Now,

after the long and possibly inevit able delays which attend such ven tures, the Agricultural Department reports real progress, f Though the experiments with —the rival to jute—may yet strike some tough going, this new prop has got away to an excellent Start. The venture is particularly promising because both private in terests and Administration are push ing it. Eriama Estates Ltd., which has already had its first kenaf test crop processed into sample wool packs, cordage and twine, is planting 125 acres on its land just outside Port Moresby this season. And the Administration is also putting an irea near Port Moresby under seed

production.

Beef For Territories

I Perhaps even more important to the future of the Territory is the uccessful end of long planning, in the kctual landing of 18 head of Zebu tattle, and four Murrah water buffalo calves, from Pakistan.

I The importation of Zebu breeding stock for experimental work has been advocated by the Agricultural Department ever since civil adminis tration was resumed. But a thou sand snarls had to be untangled before those 22 calves were actually landed on the airstrip at Port Moresby. The real danger of intro iucing new diseases had to be offset, ikewise the transport problem, and half a dozen other difficulties which bogged down the hopes of the live stock men.

But at long last the Zebus are safely in a specially-built quarantine paddock near Port Moresby, and the experiment is now in its first stage. > Private settlers (like the Leahy brothers in the Highlands districts), ind several of the leading Christian Missions, are assisting greatly in the pastoral task by bringing in selected breeds of cattle, and experimenting with them in cross-breeding and in pastures preparation.

Coconut Products Limited, at Rabaul, are likewise doing some ex cellent work in helping to re establish cattle herds in the New Britain area. In November they im ported 82 head of a Shorthorn- Durham cross for their Wangaramut Plantation, and a further shipment of 225 head is due early in 1953. Some time ago they brought a few Zebu

cattle from Australia with the aim of breeding a more suitable strain for the Territory. The Company also have cattle and horses on their Kolube and Marangis plantations, and there is a herd of 133 on Ulavio plantation.

Rice—Present And Future

Much the same story is told about rice-growing experiments. A lot of money undoubtedly went into the Mekeo rice venture; but, now, rice is starting to arrive in Port Moresby from the Mekeo district. Recently several bags of Mekeo rice were put up for tender, and although these are “something nothing” compared

with the town's total rice require ments, they are actual solid proof that can be grown successfully in the much-discussed Mekeo “rice

fowl.”

( But Mekeo is only part of the story.

Rice is being grown in limited Amounts on several private planta ins for native labor rations, and the natives themselves are taking a keen and practical interest in grow ing rice on a peasant-holding basis.

Quite a sizeable quantity has been produced by native communities in the Madang district, Dagua (north west of Wewak) and in several other

[districts.

And now comes the latest Adminis tration move—negotiations for the purchase of 5,000 acres of the Sepik Plains to be used for rice-growing Rice has already been planted by the Agricultural Depart ment on a 50-acres block near the ©ld wartime airstrip at Hayfield, just south of Maprik. These rice plots are showing up Very well. With something like a million acres of grassland in the Sepik, and a native population eager and anxious to see European de velopment in their area, the set-up is quite promising. i The natives themselves do not live on the grasslands but have their

villages along the creeks and river banks, or on the lower slopes of the Torricelli Range. Many Sepik natives are quite familiar with Euro pean towns and settlements, and they are keen to have a commercial centre in their own district. So there was no humming and hawing when the Government suggested the purchase of the 5,000 acres of land. They themselves are getting quite interested in growing rice, and already some are also having a shot at cocoa pro duction.

Given time and patience, plus a lot of hard work and the capacity to keep going despite setbacks, Sepik rice may eventually replace the Aus tralian imported variety over a big area of New Guinea.

Maui Pomare is scheduled to make one of her very infrequent calls at Raoul, Kermadecs, en route to Niue and Rarotonga on her January run fnom Auckland.

In Auckland on December 22, Leonard Alafurai, of the Melanesian Mission, was ordained a deacon of the church. He is a native of Malaita and is the first Melanesian to be ordained since 1872, and the second in the history of the Mission.

Alafurai went to New Zealand four

years ago, going first to the Te Ante Maori boys college in Hawke’s Bay, and later to St. John’s College, Auck land. Before returning to Melanesia, he will create another precedent by becoming the first Melanesian to serve as a curate in an Anglican Church in New Zealand—St.

Mark’s of Auckland.