The Editors' Mailbag

Memories Of Lae

r.—l was very interested to see, i. 53 of July PIM, some photo hs taken from the air of Lae, Guinea. During the war my (20th Aust. Fid. Coy) spent and a quarter years in Lae, ing not long after its recapture Japanese hands. ie photographs are therefore of mdous interest to me and also Friend of mine, Mrs. A. Edwards, e brother, W. W. Simmonds was I at Scarlet Beach and is now d at the war cemetery on the ihown to the right of the strip.

Edwards and I would like to , therefore, if copies of the ►graphs (and of any others you have) are available, e thought occurred to me also ie possible event that you print etter) that some kind resident e could possibly send me photo s of the Lae war cemetery and Lindings, as these would be of great value to Mrs. Edwards ler family. ►m PlM’s photographs it seems he only landmark unchanged is ase of the Jap ship just off the )f the runway. The growth of )wn is amazing. Perhaps some • could enlighten me as to the of the old 2/7th AGH and S barracks, also the Myoko

Clive Cossor.

loper St.,

Y, Nsw.

Chamber Of Commerce

At Work

—ln a recent issue of PIM it tated that a tourist brochure De issued by the New Hebrides ►minium Government. We i be grateful if you would i your readers that it is not mdominium Government which publish the brochure, but the Hebrides Chamber of Corn- Industry and Agriculture, r mention of the brochure “d to some interesting cor dence, but letters are only ig us in a roundabout way h the Condominium Govern-

John Stegler,

Vice-president, lebrides Chamber mmerce, Industry griculture, Vila.

Poor Deal For Planters

In New Hebrides

Sir, —The New Hebrides has slowly been dying of economic strangulation ever since the war.

Local revenue depends mainly on agriculture, with its export of copra, cocoa and coffee, and very recently beef.

During a few short years the

markets for the produce soared sufficiently to help raise the standard of living—but unfortunately that boom was temporary and matters have been at a standstill for many years.

Shortage of labour has also been a snag ever since the war (prior to that, the Indo-Chinese were imported on five-yearly contracts) and the present available workers demand far too high a wage.

Plantations and other enterprises endeavour to solve the shortage by importing Gilbertese workers, but find passages exorbitant (£2O per person as “deck cargo”), as well as

/ing to fight government red-tape >blems, which are discouraging, fhose not concerned with agri ture find the New Hebrides an isual income-tax-free retreat. They get that direct taxes on exports I imports are unusually high corn ed to the size of the place and general revenue. Direct taxes are rciless. f a planter produces at par or at oss when market is low, he still to contend with the customary per cent, export duty on what r he ships overseas, not forgetting 101 “extras” for freight, dock rges, handling fees, etc., plus com sion and the terrible shrinkage ything up to 12 per cent, on ra) incurred by the time the duct reaches its destination. ’he French Government also loses “certificat d’origine”, an ed tax on copra shipped to rseilles. t has been noted, however, that comparatively new enterprises, anese fisheries and French man ese mining, which for about six rs have been favoured with a r per cent, export tax because their “newness”, have now had tax reduced to one per cent. ; is to be hoped that our Resi t Commissioners, who have the r er of life and death in their ds, will stretch the point of lar leniency towards the present ht of New Hebridean planters livestock breeders, here has been talk of copra grad- Unfortunately, this would entail pedal board, and more officials uited with more new houses, :h the Condominium can ill rd. A simple testing apparatus Id suffice which could be handled any agricultural officer, nd fines should be imposed on on or persons buying “rubbish” ■a. (Anyone with the minimum e can tell the difference between air copra specimen and pulpy h or burned product).

Madame X

to, i Hebrides.

Life On Rooke Island

'ear Audience, —I am happy to your address and happy to write all. Now I am going to you about my school here at jm. It has many lovely flowers, small creeks and valleys. We always dance on Saturday night play basketball on Sunday after i.

Japi Baur

Jin School, ke Island, Lae, New Guinea.