Do You Remember?

From PIM of 20 Years ago

IN September, 1937, the Pacific was on the real threshold of the air age. Pan American Airways were planning to start a trans pacific service from San Francisco to Auckland, NZ; and the Sydney- New Guinea service was also almost ready to roll.

Meanwhile, in New Guinea, every one was still suffering from the aftermath of the Rabaul eruptions and choosing new sites for the future capital was taking up a lot of time. Here are some other ex tracts from the PIM of 20 years ago.

"The young plantation overseer, J. A. M.

C. Ffrost, whose appeal to the Australian High Court against extradition to New Guinea had been dismissed, was brought to Rabaul by the "Macdhui" and immediately charged before the District Court (Assistant District Officer J.

K. McCarthy) with unlawfully killing a native labourer, Mulmul ... Mr. R. C. Ollerenshaw and Mr. J. Irwin Cromie are appearing for the defence." s*< ❖ • In 1936-37 Papua balanced its Budget at about £171,000. For the current financial year (1937-38) expenditure was estimated at £170,000 —some of which was to be spent on residences for magistrates, new Lands Office, vessels for patrol work, a diesel roller for roads, improvements for Kila aerodrome and road repairs—"items that have been held in abeyance for years awaiting necessary funds".

Shipping freights for South Pacific copi had shot up by about 40 per cent, and we; causing considerable concern. At the s«n time, the copra market was fluctuating wild —although we thought that there was a bettt time coming because the Sino-Japanese wi seemed to be developing into a serious w* and this would "likely cut off supplies of soi beans". * * * The proposal that £lO,OOO should be s aside out of Papuan revenue to assist tt Public Service Superannuation Fund caused I storm amongst non-PS residents of Pap; They took the view that during the the PS had been sheltered, while others M to weather the storm. If there was n« money to spare, then let other sections of t community benefit—and a water supply Port Moresby was suggested. (Criticism ot i proposal was led by Mr. E. A. James in "Papuan Courier"). * * * There was Public Servant trouble in FI also—but this time it was the Public Serva* who were complaining. A Committee had bti inquiring into the whole PS set-up and seemed obvious from the recommendations tt there would be a bigger division than ever tween people recruited in the UK and tnn recruited locally. Under the new proposals was virtually impossible for locally recrum staff to get a salary of over £4OO per anm —and most of them were to be committed!) a life sentence of £250 as the upper Imi There were wide differences in leave and otti privileges also. PIM reported that sc; sections of the PS were "seething".