small industries

A big arts role for small industries

The Small Industries Research and Development Centre at Waigani, Port Moresby, the only one in PNG, has become an important centre in the training of young New Guineans to become businessmen, with the accent on school-leavers who have difficulty finding jobs.

Students are trained in pottery, woodwork and weaving, as well as developing techniques and evaluating methods for introducing small pro cessing and manufacturing industries, in Papua New Guinea.

The centre also trains technical officers for the department, and individuals wanting to set up their own small industries.

Mr Tinoi Morea from Vailala vil lage in the Gulf District, who has been working at the centre for five years, will soon start a business at

Tokarara, in Port Moresby. He has had three months training in Brisbane and is the first potter from the centre to operate his own pottery business.

He has held one exhibition for his own work and three exhibitions with other potters in Port Moresby.

Five potters have started pottery businesses in Kainantu, Eastern Highland District and Madang.

The centre assists with financial and technical advice and, at present, staff is investigating proposals for footwear, rubber, coconut fibre, cane and wood product businesses suitable for local ownership.

Equipment for small-scale manu facture of rope, pins and various foodstuffs is being evaluated. • See p 55 for more stories about the independent PNG.