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[?]ent News Items From Our Correspondents In Papua-New Guinea

Village Near Goroka

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m for a colour film, “Walk Paradise,” and shooting was ;ed to start in early June. them International Films is 1 the film, two of the directors Australians, Chips Rafferty jee Robinson, who have comon other films. ilk Into Paradise” has Conal players to support Chips, will be released in Europe aneously with the Australian 5. n reports, the story is almost lourful as the film’s name— is a patrol officer who fights > and cannibals and gets d up with a woman doctor in ingle.

Jestion Of Advisory

Councils

re was another phase in what ow become a battle between

the Port Moresby Town Advisory Council and the Administration when the council, in late May, dis cussed again the matter of repre sentation of the public.

The council passed a resolution saying it was its desire that all council members except official members be elected by the public, and that the official members be retained as advisers, This resolution was the result of a lengthy discussion on a motion by Mr. S. Fox (one of the members noted for adopting an independent approach) that all ward members be elected.

Mr. Fox submitted notice of the motion at the previous meeting after the Administrator, Brigadier Cleland. had caused a few raised eyebrows by telling members they did not represent anybody because they were nominated and not elected.

Most members said they felt they had better be elected, or that some body had better be elected, if this

meant that the Administration would realise that ward members, at any rate, were the voices of people in the wards.

They said they thought that the Administration was at present dis regarding their suggestions.

Public Service And

Arbitration

The Papua-New Guinea Public Service Association in May received a reply from the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, on its request for his intervention in its forthcom ing arbitration case.

The association has approached arbitration for increased salaries and conditions after having what it considers an unpleasant brush with the Minister for Territories, Mr. Paul Hasluck over these matters at the end of last year.

The association asked Mr.

Menzies to see that an arbitrator was appointed who would be satis factory to both sides, hinting that it thought justice might not be served if Mr. Hasluck himself made the decision.

In his reply, Mr. Menzies said that the Government recognised that mutual confidence in the arbitrator was the very essence of a beneficial arbitration system.

He said the Government would respect this principle when making

an appointment in the Territory case.

Housing Loans

The Housing Commissioner for Papua-New Guinea, Mr. H. Reeve, announced at Port Moresby at the end of May the details affecting changed conditions for Administra tion-sponsored housing loans.

These loans are distinct from those granted by the War Service Homes Division, which recently set up an organisation in the Terr itory.

The variation announced by Mr.

Reeve are made as a result of a Commonwealth decision to increase the maximum amount of a loan to £2,750 and to reduce the interest rate to 4 1 p.c.

The main points announced by Mr. Reeve are that a borrower will now provide a minimum equity of five per cent, of the first £2,000, and 10 per cent, of the balance of the Commissioner’s valuation of the house. This means that for a house valued by the Commissioner at £2,945 the maximum loan of £2,750 could be granted.

The new effective rate of interest has been reduced to per cent., but this is not necessarily the last word and it can be varied from time to time.

Borrowers at the old rate of 5 per cent, effective interest can apply to convert to the lower rate, and applications must be received before August.

Outbreak Of Polio

There is currently an outbreak of poliomyelitis among natives in the Manus district. The Administration, on May 23, issued a proclamation restricting the movement of natives from the district to prevent the spread of the disease to other areas.

There have been sporadic cases in the district for some time, but three cases reported recently in cluded one death.

Gelignite Accident

Three men were injured when gelignite exploded while they were using it near Kokopo, on May 22.

They were Edward Axelson, Frank Pratt and James Atkinson. Axelson later had his right hand amputated.

The men were using the ex plosive while engaged in a fairly common Territory pastime left over from the war—fishing.

New Bible House At

Port Moresby

A contract has been let for the erection of a three-storey Bible House at Port Moresby.

It will cost about £lO,OOO ano be erected by the British and Foe Bible Society as a Territory dfc bution centre and centre foir work of translating the scrips into Territory languages.

It will be built in Mary Sc behind the Anglican rectory, [ the land has been made avaij through the co-operation ofl Anglican Bishop of New Gu; Bishop Strong, and the recto Port Moresby, the Rev. Mr. Ran

Power Supplies

The Territory appeared to M out in one of its occasional pj supply rashes in late June. i Hardly a month passes when 1 is not a complaint somewhere s the inadequacy of Territory pj supplies, or the cost of them, ess ally for the consumer.

Rabaul landed two of its I awaited power units to replace \ of the Japanese machines it J been making do with since the ; and these will wait until the ■ power house is ready in aboui months.

But Lae heard of them, 1 through the Town Advisory Cou put up a scream to have on: them diverted to Lae, where* power house is already built.