These Were The Answers—

f\UESTION-TIME in the May

|r session of the Papua and New Guinea Legislative Council pro uced a good deal of information of

■'tneral interest to Territory re

gents—although some of it could,

*trhaps, he regarded as being

ightly coloured by Departmental

ithusiasm. l Here is a cross-section of the in

\rmation by Heads of departments

private members who asked nestions:

And Will Be Available In Rabaul

[Thirty residential allotments will shortly available for tender in Rabaul (north Malaguna Road). In addition there 111 be seven business allotments available Ithin two months; and probably four ,iter-front allotments in the industrial lea within the same time.

The next sitting of the New Guinea nd Board—which will, for the first time, jlude a local member—will be in Rabaul the end of June. (Question asked by *. D. Barrett of Secretary of Lands).

Png Timber Imports

In the nine months to March, 1953, 11,874 worth of timber as pre-cut ildings was imported into the Territory PNG in addition to 190,782 super feet sawn timber valued at £11,002. Papua

got 168,644 feet of it; New Guinea the rest. (Question asked by Mr. Barrett of Chief Collector of Customs).

Why There Should Be No

Shortage Of Timber—Soon

When the Administration returned to P-NG after the war there were consider able areas of forest held by persons who had obtained permits before the war. The Administration policy was to encourage these permit-holders to return and pro duce timber for local rehabilitation. But these permits had been granted primarily for the production of logs for export and there was no way of enforcing production for local requirements, although the Ad ministration maintained its attitude of encouragement. The Administration then acquired and brought into production the two Army sawmills at Yalu and Kerevat and granted 24 Emergency Permits, 13 in Papua and 11 in New Guinea, in each of which there was a clause for a minimum cut for local consumption. Some of the pre-war permits were also re organised and a minimum cut clause inserted.

Administration sawmills have constantly tried to increase their efficiency and pro duction. In 1951 they produced IV2 million super feet of sawn timber; and in 1952, 2.4 million super feet. Processing of large areas of timberlands to the stage where

they can become timber-producing takes a long time but the Administration has processed two large blocks to the stage where they can be offered to tender should conditions warrant and in addition is developing a road to Brown River timber area (near Moresby) so that there will be the minimum delay between the acceptance

of tenders and the production of timber.

When Administration plans for the en couragement of timber production come to fruition, local demand will be more than covered. (Question asked by Mr.

Barrett of Director of Forests).

Department Of Agriculture And

Pastoral Business

In Papua-New Guinea the Department of Agriculture maintains nine pastoral properties (including a quarantine station) with a total area of 39,300 acres. The largest of these is the Baiyer River station of 12,000 acres.

In the last six years, 53 stud bulls and 1,319 heifers have been imported by the Department. About 150 of these animals were for sale on arrival and about 1,000 of them have been imported in the last two years. The natural increase has been «56; 152 cattle have been acquired within the Territory; 102 have been sold and 121 have been sold for meat. The Depart ment now owns 263 male and 1,544 female cattle.

There are three qualified veterinarians employed by the Department—one Aus tralian graduate and two from European universities, one of whom is employed full time in connection with the Pakistan cattle which were imported some months ago and which still remain in quarantine «n the station outside Port Moresby. (Question asked by Mrs. D. Booth of the Director of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries).

Why Tenderer Gave Up The

Trans-Busu Area

There has been much speculation in the Territory as to why a Queensland timber firm which successfully tendered for the Trans-Busu timber permit area near Lae, later asked for the permit to be cancelled. One suggestion, made in New Britain, was that the soil was full of

silica which made the timber inordinately I hard, and therefore difficult to mill. The reason, however, appears to be purely economic. The tenderer said that as Queensland plywood of the type that would come from the Trans-Busu area was already unsaleable in Australia, ex ploiting the Busu area, as well as his, Queensland timber leases, would put too much of a strain on his resources.

Tenders were again called for the area urly this year. (Question asked by Mrs. .. Booth of the Director of Forests).

Banking In The Territory

No Government can force a Bank to cpen branches where it does not wish to. the Administration is satisfied that Banks ire watching the development of the territory and that full branch facilities iill be provided by them in centres that iarrant it. In 1931 the Commonwealth sank and the Administration arranged iith all its Savings Bank Agencies to ccept deposits to Current Accounts and a it is the practice in the Territory to ;ttle by cheque, it is considered that very ;ttle inconvenience is experienced by sople in centres not enjoying the services : a full branch of a Bank. (Question K Mrs. D. Booth to the Government scretary).

Native Land Titles

Since the creation of a Native Com iissioner, six applications have been iceived from natives in the Port Moresby •ea for Titles to land; two have been uproved; one rejected and three are still uder investigation.

In the New Britain district, eight itives have asked for land titles; all aims are still being investigated.

More Native Land Commissioners will be (pointed shortly and this should expedite e issue of Titles. (Question by the Rev. . E., Ure to Chief Native Lands Com issioner).

Cost Of Running New Guinea

Total amount of public revenue raised the Territory of New Guinea for the ar ended June 30, 1952, was £1,486,375 id this, in accordance with section II the Papua and New Guinea Act, was pended on the administration, welfare id development of the Territory. In dition the Commonwealth of Australia ide a direct grant of £3,126,059 for the me purpose—total expenditure for the )ther Side” therefore being £4,612,434. [uestion oy the Rev. F. G. Lew's to e Government Secretary).