In Papua-New Guinea

Current News Items From Our Correspondents In Papua-New Guinea

C Of C For Moresby

At a public meeting in Port Moresby on October 19, a group of businessmen formed a Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting elected an interim committee to draw up a constitu tion. It also, after long discussion, sent a radio message to the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, thus: “In view of indications that no tenders for new major wharves, roads or bridges are likely to be let this year in the Territory, will the Prime Minister kindly review the works programme to ensure a balanced development.”

Sepik Visit By

Administrator

The Administrator of Papua-New Guinea—Brigadier D. M. Cleland— began an extensive tour of the Sepik district in October. It was his first since 1952.

Accompanied by the District Com missioner, Mr. S. Elliott-Smith, he visited nearly every out-station and was received by big groups of natives everywhere he went.

At the beginning of his tour he opened a new native welfare clinic and maternity hospital at Wewak, which was built by the natives of the district with Administration co operation. Thousands of natives turned up for the ceremonial open ing and danced into dawn next day Leading natives of the District, Simogun, MLC and Youwiga, took a leading part in the hospital’s estab lishment.

The main ward of the hospital was named, “The Sister McAlister” ward after Sister E. McAlister, of Wewak General Hospital, who encouraged the project since its beginning.

Telefomin—“A Mistake”

The Administrator included Tele fomin in his itinerary, and he had this to say about it: “The Tele fomin Post should never have been established where it was and when it was, six years ago. It is remote, isolated, and sparsely populated. The only access is by air, and because of weather conditions, more flights are abortive than successful. The Station presents a real problem in main tenance. However, we are there, and there we must remain, par ticularly after recent events. It would be contrary to all the tenets of good administration to withdraw and close the Post. , “Although the Telefomin Valley is geographically in what is gener ally known as the Highland region, it is very unlike the Goroka-Hagen area. The valley, while scenically rugged and grand, is poor and de void of any good agricultural land, rhe people themselves are amongst me most primitive I have seen in me Territory. They need close matching with care and patience.

They are still suspicious of new ways but it is evident that thev do now know that the Administra- Uon does mean something beneficial m their lives. The policy must be one of consolidation in the present areas, which are as yet only parti ally controlled. While this period of consolidation is proceeding a process of assimilation must—and is m bomg followed—by taking selected Telefomins to other centres for periods so they can see for them distrfcts 7 ” at 18 happenin S in other

Wau—Three Kinds Only

The Wau Bulolo Town Advisory Council decided at a meeting in October that it wanted only three varieties of coffee grown in the Wau Valley.

Members said they wanted legis lation passed to restrict the varieties to Blue Mountains, Jamaica and Arabica, which had proved them selves. There was danger of cross pollination if new types were intro duced.

The Blue Mountain variety has an assured Australian market and is used for blending because of its distinctive flavour.

No Skymasters For Lae, Yet

The Department of Civil Aviation reopened Lae airport for Skymasters

on October 11, after it had been closed for about five weeks.

However, there was no immediate rush by Qantas to make use of it — and apparently they have no inten tion of using it for some time. (A Sydney spokesman said “mavbe months.”) Main trouble was slippery grass and weed, probably brought on by the wet season.

Indian Trade Expert Sees

No Future In Kenaf

The Indian Trade Commissioner m Australia, M. S. V. Patel, who followed the Indian High Commis sioner, General Chariappa, on a tour of the Territory, said in Port Moresby in October that there would probably be a big increase in trade between India and the Territory in the next few years.

There seemed to be good prospects for Indian

trade goods of all kinds in the Territory, e s p eci a 11 y hardware.

India, for her part, would be Interested i n getting man grove bark, which at pre se n t is im ported from Kenya, and India would probably be a

good market for copra when the British Ministry of Food contract expired in 1957.

Mr. Patel also had a word to say on Kenaf. In his opinion, it could hardly compete with Indian jute unless producers could do something about reducing production costs. Jute had already been reduced consider ably in price during the last twelve months.

They Say They Can’T Hear It

Following comment—some of it by the Administraor, Brigadier D M Cleland—the Territory’s ABC station 9PA, with short-wave station VLT6, recently sent out a technician pn a survey of reception conditions in various areas of New Guinea The technician will make a report to the Director of Posts and Tele graphs in Queensland whether re ception can be improved. The PMG operates the technical services for the ABC.

The Administrator said in Sep tember that he knew VLT6 was not being heard in various areas of the Territory and he would like to see an improvement.

There has also been agitation in Rabaul for a commercial station to be set up there, but the Administra tion has said that this is “against policy.”

New Roads

After being closed for about a year because of washaways, the Wau-Edie Creek Road was opened

to heavy traffic in late October. A lot of good work has been put in on the lower Edie, a bad trouble spot, which has been strengthened with wire baskets.

The Port Moresby to Brown River Road which has been in course of construction for a year or two, was completed right to Brown River about the same time.

Commonwealth Works officers are now making plans for the bridge across the river.

Lack Of Funds Halts

Hydro Scheme

Work on the hydro-electric scheme at Goroka stopped about mid-October, and most Common wealth Works officers were with drawn. Some were left to keep an eye on the earth works in case any damage was done to the installation during the coming wet season.

The stoppage was sudden, and was due to the usual trouble—lack of money to finish the work. The plan had been extended to about

Mr. S. V. Patel. (Photo by C. H. Meen)

double the original size and the early part of the plan had been completed when the money ran out.

Its probable that the money will come through shortly, but mean while there has been agitation from Goroka people, including the Farm ers’ & Settlers’ Association.

Postal Chief On Job

The new director of Posts and Telegraphs in the Territory, Mr. W.

Carter, arrived in Port Moresby from Sydney on October 27 to take up his new duties. . • Mr. Carter, who is 30, has the job of re-organising the Posts and Tele graph branch, formerly under the Treasury, into an entirely new and

separate department.

Volcanoes Must Wait

Mr Murphy’S Return

Both the Rabaul Town Advisory Council and the New Britain Dis trict Advisory Council have lately discussed the “Escape Plan,” in the event of an eruption.

The Town Council would like to see a simplified plan that g9t away from the mass of detailed instruc tions that would confuse the aver age person.

Both Councils have deplored the lack of a publicity medium to keep the townsfolk advised on what could be a matter of life and death.

Administrator Mr. Cleland, But h is against the policy to allow a B class R, a dio Station to function in the Territory. This was the medium weier . y d ed not only

by Ce'cound” also by. New

Britain’s District Commissioner,

Why “policy” should be rated higher than safety, no one can say.

The local Administration is also strongly to blame for its casual out look. “Funds (to implement the scheme) have dried up,” said Mr.

John Murphy, the District Officer, recently.

Rabaul girls dance the Can-Can for the customers at the Rabaul Golf Club Ball in September. Dancers are, left to right: Jill O'Farrell, Betty Briese, Gwen Tacon, Shirley Ogilvie, Margot Edge. -Photo by C. H. Meen.

Money ran out after Mr. Murphy went on leave and no one gave further thought to the Evacuation Plan, which had been Murphy’s “baby.” No money was requisitioned for, and, of course, no money was supplied. What would have hap pened had disaster struck during Mr. Murphy’s vacation is anyone’s guess,

Rabaul—And 3-Years Plan

The Assistant Administrator, Mr.

Rupert Wilson, told the October meeting of the Rabaul town advisory council that its views did not go unheeded—that minutes of advisory councils were followed closely by the Administration when it wanted to gauge requirements for the dif ferent districts. This came as a sur prise to many Rabaul residents who have had a lot to say recently on the subject of lop-sided expendi ture in favour of Moresby.

Mr. Wilson also commented on the Government’s new three-year plan of development in the Terri tory, and said he was anxious to hear all he could of Rabaul’s views, so that Rabaul would be included m the plan, in its proper place.

TAG members were pleased to oblige. He was queried on wharves roads, water reticulation, buildings’

Land Settlement, electricity, and Budgetary Control.

Mr. Wilson then spoke of an “even balance with the amount of finance

available,” which leaves Rabaul re sidents still unsure of what they might expect.

It was Mr. Wilson’s first official visit to Rabaul.

Wau Show—And Former

Ado’S Success As Farmer

Many visitors came from Bulolo, Slate Creek and Lae for the sth Annual Wau District Show on Oc tober 3. Despite the rain early in the day (which caused some of the sporting events to be abandoned) the Show was successful. Common wealth-NG Timbers Ltd., of Bulolo, had a very excellent exhibit depict ing the manufacture of plywood, from the log of timber to the

Rear Admiral R. Dowling, accompanied by his aide, Lt.-Comdr. John Austin, are greeted by New Britain District Com missioner, Mr. J. R. Foldi and District Officer John Murphy after they had arrived by helicopter in Queen Elizabeth Park, on October 3. The occasion was a short visit by destroyers “Tobruk” and “Quadrant”, and Aircraft-Carrier "Sydney” to Rabaul while en route to Manus for naval manoeuvres. Rear- Admiral Dowling is obscured by Mr. Foldi in this photograph; Mr. Murphy in shorts and felt hat. —Photo by C. H. Meen.

finished product; this exhibit drew many interested spectators.

New Guinea Goldfields Ltd., of Wau, also had a very fine exhibit of timber products and also of gold production, in their pavilion.

On the Agricultural side, Mr. A. L.

Hurrell, former Assistant District Officer, won the Gold & Power Ltd. trophy for the most successful ex hibitor in the Show. He also won the O. P. Blanden Memorial trophy for the most successful exhibitor in the Agricultural and Livestock Sections. , Th e Show was officially opened by the District Commissioner of the Morobe District, Mr. H L R Niall.

Following on the recent Fiji Government decision to ease the entry formalities for United States tourists to the Colony, the United States Government announced in September that Fiji citizens visiting that country would no longer have t<3 pay for visas. These free visitors’ visas will be usable over a two-year period and for more than one visit during that period if so required.

Students from Fiji entering the States under an exchange scheme will, however, have to reapply should they leave the country within the two year period and wish to again return.