Small Ng Ships

Which

Don’T Care!

Letter to the Editor rE majority of small-ships’ cap tains who serve the coast of Papua and New Guinea do a sterling job. But their fine record in making easier the lot of the out stations is sometimes counter balanced by the lack of considera tion shown by a minority.

There was the case of a recent visit by a small ship to New Britain north coast ports. It called at estate A, and then went to estate C.

Estate B lies halfway between A and C, with a better approach and better reefmarks than either A or C.

At estate C, the captain informed the manager that he had on board two cases for estate B, but that he was in a hurry (it was a Wednes day) and he considered two cases were insufficient cargo to warrant calling in to Estate B, so he was taking them back to Rabaul.

Manager of estate C said he would take delivery of the cases and advise manager of estate B. Manager of estate B then had to send 4 units 14 miles to collect the cases, thereby losing their labour on the estate for one day.

This sort of thing should be stopped. There is far too much dumping of cargo at places other

than which it is consigned to, be cause the master of a ship is keen to get back to Rabaul for the week end. It is certainly not the first time this has happened in this area.

It is also time that a little more comfort appeared on some of the small ships. Recently, a couple with a baby went by small ship (about 85 tons) to their home. The

trip took two nights and three days.

There was plenty of room on the upper deck to sit around and enjoy the trip; the weather was beautiful, and the ship as clean as a new pin. But there was not on 3 chair provided for passengers. In all, this ship carried 2 men, 2 women, and 2 children, plus Captain and en gineer—6 adults. All had to sit on

the deck or sweat in the saloon.

When remonstrated with, the master said he had requisitioned chairs from the agents (one of New Guinea’s biggest firms) but they aad not done anything about it. I saw this ship a month later and it still had not got its chairs.

I am, etc.,

Planter.

'Jew Guinea.