[?]Und Up :: Making It Difficult For Metho Addicts

ua-New Guinea Diary

[?].MENZIES GETS THE BIG RUSH-BOUND :: HOLIDAY [?]UND UP :: MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR METHO ADDICTS

Mr. R. G. Menzies, who returned from his Far Eastern and P-NG ip so exhausted he had to take to his bed for a couple of weeks, got le usual red-carpet, spit and polish treatment in the Territory. This, y some Territorians, prevented the PM from seeing the “real” New uinea. Others believed that his speeches while in P-NG indicated at he did not know as much about conditions there as was desirable, 'ome back again, and try it the hard way,” they say. But we feel at Mr. Menzies is not anxious for a repeat performance just yet.

ROUGHOUT the visit of Mr.

Henzies to the Territory of Papua-New Guinea —the second n Australian Prime Minister — Administration preened itself, iging and ushering, with a smile ome irreverent wit pointed out) ; the cat who swallowed the ry. s real credit should go to the & AIL A, Papua-New Guinea Branch. 5 State President of the P-NG ;h, Mr. R. F. Bunting, MLC, to r with the State Secretary, Mr.

Knight, last year interviewed idenzies in Canberra about the lishment of the long deferred jr-Settlement Scheme. Their vas that Mr. Menzies should go

to the Territory and see for him self. But as late as March, this year, it was uncertain if he could make it.

Annexation of the Trust Terri tory of New Guinea also has long been the aim of the local RSL. All members (and residents), of course, were pleased by the PM’s straight from-the-shoulder speech at the public luncheon held at the Hotel Cecil, Lae, on April 27, where he said (amongst other things) : “Here we are (in the Territory), and here we remain.”

Earlier, in Port Moresby, he had said the integrity of Dutch New Guinea was vital to Australia.

He apologised for not having been before and recalled the first time

that he had given any serious thought to New Guinea: “Many years ago, when Mr.

Hughes was Minister for Territories, he g was in utter agony trying to make up his mind where the NG capital was to be. (Rabaul was ie garded as unsafe after the 1937 eruptions). Sometimes it was Lae, sometimes somewhere else.

Mr. Menzies said that he always felt that whatever decision the old boy” came to he’d have been sO JTy about it. ‘‘But, of course, Mr.

Menzies continued amid laughter, “with true Canberra characteristics, nothing was done.”

He said: “Throughout the tour I have found New Guinea a lovely and exciting place. In each place I have been completely astonished.

At Rabaul I expected to find a despairing attitude towards the gigantic job of rehabilitation. They have been there —what? A few years after ruin and desolation and I found an industrially de veloped town, showing every sign of ambition and success, that has been most astonishing. The increase in native income and health, and the real and wholehearted co operation between the peoples show true development.

“Then I went off to Bulolo in my plane your plane our plane skirting mountain tops with the pilot saying, ‘lovely sight isn’t it, Sir?’ Then, a sharp right-hand turn to land, where I saw a rapidly ex

panding logging industry with up to-date machinery, making a com plete cycle from tree to finished plywood. Machines picking up logs with finicky daintiness—as one would a stick of asparagus —and putting them through processes to finished product.”

Mr. Menzies said that the i War Cemetery was the m beautiful he had ever seen.

In his job as Prime Minister!

Menzies said he had received i communications; some deli'j with a note of bitterness; some; certain reservations; but all ai

• same question: “Are we here on ferance?” “When will we be told go?”

Liter his visit to the Territory understood fully how residents and reiterated: “Here we are I here we remain. This is not an iression of power or tyranny, but at we believe it to be for the d of the people and the country.” teferring to a speech made by A. J. Bretag, he said: “He is d; he should be a Senator,” and died an occasion when he was England in 1941. Plymouth had i taken a bad beating, and he had n taken to see some Australian nen, and as two or three Aus ians cannot gather together any ire without speeches, he was id to say a few words to them, he usual interjections came— a a good looking lad, who Mr. izies asked to step forward, Vhat are you”? asked the Prime ister. “Sir, I am a Sergeant,” replied.

Fnless you are careful, you will up a Senator,” said the Prime ister. long time afterwards Mr. zies met another lad of the same who said: “By the way, Sir, II be glad to know the Senator >ing well.” The interjector had me known throughout his unit The Senator.” :. Menzies visited Port Moresby Anzac Day), Rabaul, Lae and lo during his rushed visit (and ed back in Australia exhausted). ■. Menzies left Port Moresby for ralia on April 28. rritorians have gained the im lion that the Prime Minister’s will benefit the Territory ly, and that Territorian matters be given greater consideration anberra in the future.

A Territorian Comments WELL-KNOWN businessman, Mr. J. V. [night of Lae, who is also State secretary if the RSSAILA was asked by "PIM" to lis impressions of the Prime Minister's said the visit generally, and particu ame of Mr. Menzies statements while in rritory, appeared to him and to many ts to indicate that the PM should make at visit at an early date, stay longer nsult such organisations as the Planters' tion. Farmers' and Settlers' Association, (V, etc. would get more informed opinion from han from the Administration which was "feed him the kind of diet they wished i digest".

Knight said that the PM, on his own mt, appeared to rely on his "good Mr. Hasluck" to inform him "what in the Territory. Mr. Knight felt, f*y, fbat the Prime Minister had never liven the real picture of some vital y matters, including the question of station on the Legislative Council.

Menzies had referred during his visit fact that Cabinet has frequently dis cing the people of P-NG greater station in Legco "when signs showed ie time was right for it". Mr. Knight at most Territorians did not share such

He said that the Prime Minister was probably unaware that at the last Legislative Council elections many people were unable to vote directly because the only polling places were in Port Moresby, Lae and Rabaul. Everyone else, if they wished to vote, had to cast a postal vote; these were unpopular, even in Australia. This system will be changed for the forthcoming elections (later this year) but in the meantime the Minister had formed his opinion; That the Territory people are not politically-minded.

He said that Soldier Settlement was another matter about which the Prime Minister had expressed interest at a very recent date. The P-NG State Branch of the RSSAILA had been trying to get something done in this matter for years, but without success. It was now too late to bring in a full land-settlement system. Most of the men who were eligible had established themselves after much sacrifice.

But it was not too late to assist some of them who are still waiting for their first returns

from their established crops. But to date they had received little or no consideration from the Australian Government.

Mr. Menzies referred to New Guinea as a "most important experiment". Mr. Knight thinks that he would be doing a greater service to the Territory and to Australia if he were to make himself personally acquainted with conditions there instead of hearing of them second-hand from people "whose UNO istic leanings preclude them from seeing the real problems confronting the white settler".

Violent Saturday

Violent Saturday was experienced

by picturegoers at Lae on Satur day, April 20, while viewing the film of the same name. The quake (it seemed like a minute and about strength 5 but was probably not) startled the audience to such an

»nt that many left the theatre, ly-water bottles crashed to the r in the refreshment bar, and building swayed. The theme of film was lost in actuality, t Bougainville, another tremor ch began at 8.40 p.m. on April 23 lasted 36 seconds was strength id caused breakages.

Ermanent Showground

For Sogeri

)me rain, come shine—and its illy the former —Port Moresby >le trek to the Agricultural Show Sogeri every year. Despite the -soaked arena where, shoes are ed. the slippery road and vehicle kdowns, they enjoy themselves, sxt time, however, the picture be different. A piece of land been donated to the Society by R. I. Sefton, of “Debatak nu,” and will be named the )mas Sefton Memorial Ground,” nemory of the late Mr. T. L. m, of Koitaki Estates, le land has natural drainage when graded will be ideal for v purposes. There are shade all over the land, a lagoon will uilt for wild ducks and other ; birds; permanent yards, stands stalls will also be built and the ;ty will be able to have its own *s. Some Port Moresby busi houses have already agreed to their own permanent booths, len completed, the ground will a cricket pitch and will be

large enough for Rugby League and Australian Rules Football to be played on it, and later it is intended to use the area for polo-crosse.

Weather

Lae had its dryest February on record. Last dryest February re

Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Huebner after their marriage on March 30, in the Roman Catholic Church, Port Moresby. The bride was formerly Miss Maureen Murphy.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

corded was in 1946 when only 3? inches of rain fell. This Febiuary only 2 inches were recorded. Aver age rainfall for February is 9? inches, and the wettest recorded was 1953, with 15 inches. Average yearly rainfall recorded since 194 b is 175 inches. , .. ...

Port Moresby had its wettest March for many years— including Cyclone Clara.

Don’T Waste Granny. She

Might Make A Meal

The primitive Forea group of native people, who live 35 miles south of Kainantu, E. Highlands, on the fringe of the Kukukuku country, eat their dead.

An Administration medical officer, Dr. V. Zigas, mentioned this in Port Moresby early in April when he announced a new killer disease he had found among the people.

The disease, which is at present un identified and affects women mostly, has been known among the natives for at least 30 years as “karu.” ‘‘Already 26 have died since last October and we have 80 people from one group suffering from it now.

They will all die,” said Dr. Zigas.

Dr. Zigas took two women patients back to Moresby with him. ‘‘These may die,” the doptor said, '‘but I have told the people that I will bring back their bodies. That suited them very well. As long as we keep faith by taking the bodies

back so that they can be buried in their ‘mother soil’ the people won’t mind.”

As dead bodies appear to be their staple diet, they probably xoon’t mind as long as they get their kai back.

Bulamacow Preferred

The Majority

The Assistant Administrator,, J. Gunther, when opening Territory’s first large-scale cc auction at the Seven-Mile,

Moresby, early in April, said the potential market for dairy produce in the Territory was tremendous; and that about 250,000 beasts would have to be slaughtered every year to satisfy the protein needs of about two million natives. About 35,000 tons of meat or fish would be needed for their requirements.

The 80 head of cattle realised •about £2,500. The cattle had been bred at the Papuan Lowlands Live stock Station, and comprised six Jersey bulls, 42 heifers, cows in milk and dry cows.

(Continued on Page 113)

’apua-N. Guinea Diary

(Continued from Page 47) r. Ken Bourke, who has a pro y outside Port Moresby, where has installed all necessary hinery for supplying local re its with fresh milk, bought half yarding. le lokea Native Society Ltd., ipi, Papua, purchased ten cows a bull to establish a dairy. The e will be sent to Kerema by , accompanied by an Agri iral Officer and several natives the area who have been trained lima 1 husbandry by the Depart > of Agriculture. Acquisition of cattle is a big step towards ving economic independence he Society. a World Health Day Talk on 7, W. L. Conroy, Chief of the ion of Agricultural Extension, “It has long been known that supplies, and in particular the ;ity, quality and continuity, is if the fundamental factors re ible for the health of peoples, ses which cause illness and ag more in a well-fed popula become killers among people ing from some major dietary mcy; the vitality and capability articular groups is greatly ?d by diet.” went on: “In Papua and New a the questions of adequate ctivity, continuity of supply y and variety in agriculture f vital importance since so

much of the population still lives directly by consumption of the pro duce from its own land. Commerce and communications have not yet developed sufficiently for deficiencies in local food supplies to be met from outside sources.

“Agriculture, and the related live stock industries, to-day, as in the past, supply the great bulk of the world’s food requirements and it would appear that this will remain the case for a long time, if not in definitely.

"There are many difficulties in the path of the overall programme for improving the food situation in the Territory. However, these problems are being attacked both with optimism and understanding by a steadily growing force of Agri cultural Extension workers, sup ported by trained native assistants and ably assisted everywhere by the field staff of Department of Native Affairs.”

Highlands Development

Plan

Projects in connection with the Highlands Development Plan in clude the installation of a water wheel in the vicinity of Mendi (Southern Highlands) as an experi ment for utilising water power in timber cutting and the collection of clay and limestone for building ex periments. Mr. R. B. Digby and Mr.

W. R. B. Smith are at present in Wau carrying out a survey, and in specting existing mechanical instal

lations, roads and bridges. Mr. Smith is being posted to the Highlands as Regional Engineer, with present headquarters at Goroka.

Easter Holiday Round-Up

Territorians were starting to look a little bleary-eyed after a hectic fortnight of Easter holidays, Anzac Day, and the Prime Minister’s visit.

Many people took advantage of

the 5-day break Servants in the 1 Tuesday unknown reason, tfoSS. Babaul, Madang, Lae Wau and iressed b into service as means of transport for the holiday trek.

Followers of sport had plen y Port Moresby Mr W. G. Willoughby (PM).

?S'°wV«uSs r SfnTGoVofa h ) a

»n r w^g\rtb fi e n wo y me e n rptiirnine 9. 46 9.nd 47.

The American Tournament at the Port Moresby Tennis Chib, held over the Easter week-end, m which 42 players contested the two divisions, resulted in a win for Jim Horner and Ross Stephens with 37 points in Division 1; and Bhii Bliaux and Miss Peggy Treweeke with 33 points in Division 2. Jan Hava, former Bulolo champion, who has played against Drobny in Czechoslovakian games, was placed fourth with his partner, Grahame Prior.

In the cricket match between Cairns and Port Moresby, played at

Port Moresby, over the week-end, brilliant bowling by Stan Richter was a feature of the match. He took 11 wickets for 27 runs. Port Moresby had an outright victory and won the match by an innings and 39 runs. This was their third win over

Cairns and won back for the:* Ray Goriss Trophy. Outsts batsmen were Roy Corrodus 57 runs, and Bob Clapham (Cs who remained at the wicket hours during both innings scored 36 runs.

a dinner given by the Port sby Cricket Association to the s Cricket XI, which was at d by about 100 guests, the nistrator, Brigadier D. M. id, presented the Ray Goriss ly to the Captain of the Port ;by team, Mr. Ken Bainbrigge.

Heland said the Australia-New ;a sporting visits were to be raged, and that they had the support of himself and the listration.

I on the grimmer side, holiday aits included three in Port by and one in Lae.

Port Moresby two natives had escapes when a truck they ;ravelling in ran about 150 feet an embankment from Old Road. They were treated at ative Hospital and allowed to Mr. C. Kirke, Port Moresby )r, had his car badly damaged ;ollision with another vehicle s Rouna Road. Mrs. Townsend d injury when a car she was I plunged 30 feet from Upper toad to Port Road. j ae, Mr. Frank R. McDonald • (57), a Works Department r ee, suffered lacerations to face Prist when a jeep he was ing in left the road and d up in a ditch in Huon Road.

Mcß,ae and Leslie Trewin, a ger in the jeep, were admitted pital, treated and allowed to ch services were well attended ipeans and natives. At Manus many sea-going canoes were up on the beach. These full of natives from outlying s for the special Easter ser- The Buin natives and people igainville faced an unhappy They had just received word well-loved priest of the dis ad died in Sydney.

Anzac Day

hollow thud of marching feet eerie silence before dawn from war cemeteries and

shrines throughout the Territory on Anzac Day, 1957, when ex-servicemen attended services to honour their fallen comrades.

In Port Moresby, the Federal President of the RSL, Sir George Holland, gave a three-m i n u t e address and laid a wreath on the Cross of Sacrifice, At Lae, the State Secretary of the RSAILA, Papua-New Guinea, Mr. J. V. Knight, spoke to the assembly: . , nooJ™™ 6 071 Anzac D( *y, w e f^vP/Of 6 ° ? V k Fallen i7i Ifi/ciT, There 7izay yet be uio/n/y teVe^that 0 w a j 6 can m fnrnpf tC> nhntf lieve that we can forget about War, but unhappily this is not * Of course, everyone has heard

of Anzac, if only for the reason that Anzac Day is a public holt day and I am afraid that many have forgotten, if indeed they ever knew, what it was all about. Some think of it as a famous victory, out it wasn’t, and as a military operation, the campaign at Anzac achieved little and was a costly failure. But as a gallant exploit, V 1 18 something about it that fire A s publlc Anzac conjures up such char acteristics as courage, initiative, determination and self-sacrifice.

Her e was fashioned a new tradition Qf conraoe and op n genuinely Australian as the Rising S' un Badge and the Slouch Hat. // we show in all Qur deaUn g S and actions in our own lives, the same integrity of purpose, the

April 22, Miss Lorna Evans, daughter [?]l-known Territorian Mr. Ted Evans, was I to Mr. Hans Mueller, formerly of [?]erg, Germany.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

me resolution in fulfilling them , en we rest on the solemnity of is moment, on the memory of ity done. twn services were later followed general services at 11 a.m. At •nil, an address was given by RSL President, Mr. C. W. farlane. Wreaths from the RSL branch, the RSL State Branch, P-NG Native Ex-servicemen’s ciation and the P-NG Admin tion, were then laid on the taph.

Port Moresby, the Prime Min ■ Mr. R. G. Menzies, took the ;e at the Anzac Day march first Prime Minister to do so e Territory’s history—which in d native Returned Soldiers as bers of the League for the first Kokopo, a remembrance service held at the 1914-1918 war )rial on the Bita Paka road, wreaths laid by the Kokopo ranch and State branch of the Native Ex-servicemen and the nistration.

Lae, units assembled in trial Avenue and marched gh the entrance gates of the ery to the Cross of Sacrifice.

Federal President, Mr. J. it, read a message from Sir ;e Holland, Federal President e RSL, and a message from L W. Fraser, Dominion Pre , NZRSA. Wreaths were 1 on the Cross by RSL bodies, 3 NGVR, Boy Scouts, school en, the Red Cross, District lissioner and the general ir observance made, it wasn’t )efore groups formed for the ional “two-up” and cries of got a quid he heads ’em,” ack him out,” “Who wants a mo wants a taily,” were heard the normal hum of conversa- It was another form of re •ance when tales were told :unes lost and won in far-off f war.

D Leases For Natives

And Others

3uble block of land on the gby League oval at Konedobu, Moresby, has been leased to deration of Native Associa for a tender of £3,550—£50 than the next tender. The tion will use the land for a for co-operatives societies, e were 17 applicants for six of land and they were d as follows: tr ' e Life t / ( 1”^ £525; Per sson and > Q <vfi so/ D /6 ’3 T ' F> Leon ard, acific Products Ltd., £1,000; in. Pai ? t \T ( ? G) Ud ” £1 ’ 750 ’

aon of Native Associations,

Moresby Aero Club

okesman for the Aero Club la said in Part Moresby mid ™ er care ful examination Clubs progress it had been

decided to appoint a full-time flying instructor He is due to arrive from Ausprana shortly, and was formerly an 1^ s t*’P 1( r to r at the Royal Aero Club of victoria. The Club is also planning to add a further plane to their fleet of two Tiger Moth aircraft, )f ould probably be a “ChipmuilK -

Fingfrprtnttnr

.Fingerprinting

The director of Civil Affairs, Mr S. Lonergan, has advised the Port Moresby Town Advisory Council that the Territory Police force is, and has been for many years, in possession of fingerprinting equipment and all officers were familiar with its use. (See PIM, April) Mr Lonergan said the Territory Police Force also had the facilities of the Australasian Central Fingerprint Bureau at its disposal The Port Moresby Town Advisory Council, at a meeting in March, recommended that the Administration appoint a fingerprint expert, with Territory e polipp y Fnrpp t 0 th ° lerntory Police Force.

Councillor Kriewaldt told the meeting that police at present could not testify in court on fingerprint evidence because they were not ex perts, and fingerprint testimony was not admissable evidence to a Territory court unless it was given by a trained expert. (Moresby and Lae police stations have equipment and the officers to °P e £™ e ■ it ‘ In spector Woodmancy, at PM, is considered an expert.)

Territory Scouts Will

Gather Happily

Ta -. iw - . x , , , f a i e o to a Gathering at Sogen, Port Moresby, next Christmas. Although i a J amboree, it will be the first iL rge f ath ® rm of international to T b ?. beld m Papua-New ul g ea - Invitations are being sent I? Scouts m Australia, Tasmania, a " d ’ the , Pacific Islands, Philippines and Great Britain,

Lae Bulolo Road

f The Lae-Bulolo Road has been out of commission for some weeks. Dur

ing the Easter week-end it was in accessible as far up as Sunshine, and since then, with heavy rains, the Bulolo River has broken through in another place. Plywood for shipment on the Mangola from Lae had to be flown to Lae.

All available Works Department equipment was put on the Job and it was reopened for traffic on April 26.

Bulolo Hospitals Now

Admin. Controlled

The European and Native Hos pitals at Bulolo are to be taken over by the Administration Health De

partment. The hospitals were

formerly controlled by the Bulolo Gold Dredging Company.

Decision Upheld

Walter Frederick Barker, an em ployee of Government Stores, Madang, who was charged with in decent dealings with a young boy and sentenced to 18 months hard labour at Long Bay Gaol, Sydney, last year, appealed against the severity of his sentence to the High Court in Sydney, recently. He lost the Appeal and the decision of Sir Beaumont Phillips was upheld.

Which, Rates Or Rentals?

Or Both?

That 63-page report on the de sirability (or otherwise) of intro ducing local government into the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, compiled by J. R. Winders, AASA,

ACIS, AIMA, has come in for some windy discussions. Would-be mayors and aldermen are dreaming dreams, but the majority of the people are of the opinion that local government is a big step and needs a lot of consideration.

At the Lae Town Advisory Conn

cil, held March 26, the Chaii Mr. A. J. Bretag, said: “I feell sonally, that it will be some before the town of Lae will the stage where local govern can be implemented . . . and tainly would suggest that whatt be kept uppermost in the min

people planning this local gov ment, is that when it is imple ited, the burden placed on the aiders of the ratepayers will not xcessive. With that end in view ould certainly suggest they give federation to the transferring of leasehold properties into free i. thus eliminating the rentals 1 applicable.” • This brings up a very in vesting point: little, if any, P-NO nd is freehold, and it is usually i the unimproved capital value \ land that rates are levied, laseholds may be bought and Id in the Territory but the iginal method of disposing of ban land in the post-war years, is been by tender. Some of the counts tendered for residential jcks around Port Moresby and ier towns have been exceed gly high, even on Australian indards. In addition to this tount the tenderer miLst pay annual rental. If local gov nment should be set up, will the cupier of the land also be called on to pay rates? Or will annual itals be dispensed with?

Mping Down On Metro.

Addicts

e drinking of methylated spirits >apuan natives reached a new in the first week in April; 14 arrested and appeared in ton April 8. One, a native eman, was sentenced to 3 ;hs imprisonment, is was in the week before new ■ol measures were brought into (April 8) which require es to obtain a permit from a ict Officer for each individual lase of methylated spirits. 1 The old permit-system had n lifted in March with the re t that storekeepers in Port resby had doubled their sales methylated spirits. 3 new system of control has introduced as the result of sentations made regarding the ing of methylated spirits by 3S since the promulgation of liquor (Natives) Ordinance, s Ordinance prohibited the ir supply of intoxicating liquor tives, and makes it an offence natives to drink methylated 5, but allowed the supply and >sion of these spirits for Stic lighting or heating, or for n a person’s occupation or This placed the onus on the er to ascertain the reason for the methylated spirits was led. and it is now considered adequate control requires re on of supplies to natives in ision of a permit, new permit must now be led for every purchase, and [ecify the quantity and purpose Inch it is required. The per tfill then be cancelled by the er signing his name across the t, and giving the date of the ase.

Under the new regulations it is an offence to supply methylated spirits to natives without a valid permit.

Ttt^Ttt

Highland Labourers—

Dearer And Dearer

.. , . , With the extension of the road network in the Highlands an increasing number of labourers are bemg transported by motor vehicles, and it has been decided that a flat rate of £4 will be charged for each native worker engaged for employers through the Goroka Highland Labour Scheme.

This charge will be in addition to the normal handling fee of £2 for each employee, the statutory at testation fee of 5/- for each man— and, of course, his air fare to his place of appointment.

Previously employers have been charged with the actual costs in curred in the movement of men transported by air from their villages to Goroka, and then from Goroka to their homes on termination of labour agreements,” the Director of Native Affairs, Mr. A. A. Roberts, said when announcing the new charge effective on and from April 1.

s case of labourers from the n Highlands District pro f into employment through )roka centra, the charge will tal of £lO/5/- for each man.”

Et For The Dry Season

w modern fire station which ring completion at Boroko Jresby (picture in April PIM) cted to be operating in time

How It Is Done:

The new ARC drilling site at Komewu in Western Papua is 8½ miles from the limit of navigation on the Aworra River and in order to move drilling rig quickly without having to construct roads across swamps, these big Sikorsky S58 helicopters, owned by World Wide Airways are lifting loads up to 5,000 Ibs and trans porting them quickly to the drilling site.

The flying-in process is a continuous one, the helicopter making several trips between river and site without landing. Equipment, etc., is assembled in cargo slings or nets and the helicopter, with an attachment device underneath it, hovers over the load and is directed into position by a ground marshal who attaches the sling.

The helicopter then rises and flies the cargo to the site. These photo graphs show a heli copter hovering over a load which is being attached; and also a helicopter in flight with a load swinging be neath.

to cope with outbreaks of fire dur ing the coming dry season.

The building will house a per manent European fire officer and two new engines, costing more than £15,000, which are on order from England and expected in Port Moresby in June.

Positions for four firemen have been advertised in Australia, and the present fire officer, Mr. J.

Donnelly, will probably be the officer-in-charge of all stations.

Fire fighting is to be taken out of the hands of the police, who have, in the past, had to cope with this as well as other duties.

A sprinkler alarm system for Government buildings is now being planned.

Even Moresbyites Can Get

Malaria

People in Port Moresby who were under the impression that the area was free of malarial mosquitoes are in for a rude awakening according to the Acting Director of Health.

An epidemic of malaria was pos sible in Port Moresby following the recent wet season, and residents were warned against failing to take suppressives by Dr. R. F. Scragg.

Dr .Scragg said malarial mos quitoes appeared from time to time around Hanuabada and the Brown River areas. An epidemic had occurred in 1950 following similar heavy rains.

Operations Waited On

Qantas Strike

A team of thoracic surgeons led by Mr. H. D’Arcy Sutherland, which were due in Port Moresby on April 17, was delayed because of the Qantas strike.

Forty-six natives in an advanced stage of TB have been brought from

various Territory centres am awaiting chest surgery at thr Beach, Port Moresby, Native; pital.

Benz Couldn’T Take Be

A Mercedes Benz, driven be Stan Ward, electrician of Lae,, to grief in the Bends area o

-Bulolo road on April 14 when ollided with a truck travelling he opposite direction. The car badly damaged where it struck truck and bounced off the side le bend. r. Ward sustained injuries to head but his two young sons were travelling with him were irt. A doctor who was travel along the road at the same [ brought them back to Lae, ’e Mr. Ward received treatment.

C Parents Raise Money

well-patronised t w o-n ig h t ival, held in the Masonic Hall, early in April, by the Parents’

Citizens’ Association, raised ' than £3OO. lling victims were invited to leir luck at all the usual money rs. and one well known ADO his voice luring customers to ke b funds raised will be used for purchase of a tape recorder, •y books and playground and mg equipment for the Lae iry School which accommodates upils. ; Association’s next project will raffle for a Morris Minor 1957 : car worth £B2O. One thousand s will be sold for £1 each. The will begin in May and close ne, 1957.

Ill Cost You 3D. A Call

In Lae, Rabaul

manual telephone exchanges, have been in use since the of the war, were replaced tomatic exchanges in Lae and il on April 13 and May 11, re rely. new exchanges have been in l in air-conditioned buildings are designed to withstand the mm earth tremors that can be enced in each area. They cost nmately £50,000 each, icribers will now pay £5/12/6 for a telephone service, plus ,r each local call. To date las been no charge for calls— flat rate per annum on each A Phonogram service at the centres throughout the Terri fill be introduced when the itomatic telephone exchanges italled.

Director of Posts and Tele • Mr. W. F. Carter, has an d standardisation of police •ne numbers throughout the JT- An easily remembered ’, 2222, has been chosen for v automatic numbers in Lae iabaul; and Port Moresby number is to be changed to ci with the other centres, t very high frequency (VHF) runk lines between Lae and md also between Lae and will be brought into service ter the cutover to automatic jes. This will provide con telephone communication i Lae, Bulolo and Wau.

L 957 telephone directories at being issued to all telephone •ers in the Territory contain

the new Lae and Rabaul telephone numbers.

M ?NTO D the C ¥asi N busi T N 0 E S G S ET

Un I O The Taxi Business

The Director of Civil Affairs, Mr.

S. A. Lonergan, has announced new regulations to cover the granting of Certificates of Registration for public and private hire cars in the Territory which came into effect on April 4.

Previously, control over the granting of Certificates of Registration for public and private hire cars v/as vested in the Superintendent of Motor Traffic, but it has been de cided that Town Advisory Councils, will advise as to the number of required to meet the needs of the town or

area which each individual Council represents A^^ r fto" in flV e^tefmlne S the number of registrations which may be granted. Applications will then be invited through notice in the Government Gazette for the grant the available certificates, and the allocations will be made by ballot.

To be eligible to participate in a ballot, applicants must be of good character, and be engaged in operating public or private hire cars, or be about to enter into this busi ness.

Plantation Work Not

Popular With Highlanders

Echoes of native discontent over long working hours are being heard

far as the Kanosia District, ja ie Chairman of the Central net Advisory Council, Mr. P. J. ison, at a meeting held on :h 19, suggested that, “with due jet to the Public Service, the -Day Week could be having a effect on the natives working ie plantations, as many of them other people working under I conditions and consider that i hours are not equitable.” The er under discussion was “Labour itions with regard to the plant ndustry.” s. M. Jewell said, “I am very irned with the very frequent growing desertion rate of the land labour in the Kanosia let. Unfortunately, the trouble id at Lolorua and the High rs complained that it was too yhere they were working, but was their only complaint. At stage they had worked at la for only four months and then taken back to Kairuku, B to Port Moresby and finally ;o Bisianumu to work.” . Jewell considered that their eason for discontent was they d to be near Port Moresby and vere shrewd enough to realise with persistence they would e their aim. , Jewell granted that the area 7 .hot but explained that the tions could not be moved and ecessary for labourers to work it area.

N. Gavera, native represent on the Council, inquired provision for recreation by r ers on plantations. He thought this was inadequate, it might some bearing on their dis t. Members of the Coun eed that this was an import er but in this direction the i under discussion were well 1 for. chairman said he would writs District Commissioner, at i, stating that there was a = tendency for Highland 5 employed both on coastal nterland plantations becom satisfied with their place of

ment, particularly when their

vas not near a big centre they would be able to sup t their earnings at week-ends, aid ask also that the men a good briefing on the cop they would be likely to ;er in their new surround d have impressed upon them portance of their respons d carry out their agreements, land natives who had a on for being “dumb” when st went down to the coast ■ have not taken long to find iy about. Those who work a )i-day week around Port on “agreements” hire yes out in the weekends as re and other casual labour ibably earn more on those m in the rest of the week.

In contrast to most natives they seem to be inspired by the idea of getting rich quickly.