Forward Thinking
pp. 49-51 · Read in the full issue
Hanuatek, A Piece Of
By Anne Macgregor
A new concept in education after training is Hanuatek part and parcel of forward-thinking Badili Vocational School. Built on the foreshore of reclaimed land on Motu-Motu Bay the village will he a home for ex-students with a skill, but nowhere to go.
Badili Vocational School produces scores of students who have learned the fine arts of carpentry, plumbing, cane furniture making, picture framing and many other manual skills. Many graduate to the big, had world unable to find employment, and without capital to set themselves up.
That’s what Hanuatek's all about. Graduates will he encouraged to set themselves up individual workshops, which have been designed with accom modation overhead. Budding entrepreneurs may stay there for a year to get a business established, and raise further capital.
The architectural concept is an innovative one for Papua New Guinea.
Treated timber walls, and roofing tiles have rarely been used in housing in the country to-date, though these materials would obviate the imported, characterless roofing-iron and fibro-sheeting currently used.
Hopper windows and doors allow maximum lighting and air. The display house features three-level-living with an airy, open gallery.
English designer, Hugh Webster has designed an attractive, functional complex which will provide workshops for 30 craftsmen and women, a restaurant, and gallery. Visitors will be welcomed at Hanuatek and visits there will most likely be included on tour itineraries of the national capital.
Hanuatek was officially opened by Port Moresby’s Lord Mayor, Mr Mahuru Rarua Rarua, on September 16 Independence Day.
Shot in the arm
for Cooks’ copra
The Cook Islands’ copra industry got a shot in the arm in November when the New Zealand Government made a cash grant to it of $lOO,OOO.
The aid came under NZ’s bilateral aid programme and will be ad ministered by the Cooks Primary Produce Marketing Board under the Minister of Industries, Labour and Commerce, Mr George Ellis.
The aid will eliminate the long standing grievance of copra producers over delays in payment for their produce by Abels Ltd of Auckland. A revolving fund of $67,000 has been set aside from the new grant to permit payment as soon as the copra is reweighed and graded in Rarotonga.
Copra producers’ associations will use a further $20,000 to buy new production equipment, and $13,000 will be spent on gunny sacks and new scales for copra-weighing in Rarotonga.
Rising copra prices have en couraged producers, who have shipped 172 tonnes to New Zealand in recent months. Of the seven producer islands, Manihiki topped the list with 66 tonnes exported.
Dine by lantern light
at Good Samaritan
A new motel, the Good Samaritan Inn, opened recently at Kolovia Beach, about 12 miles west of the Tongan capital, Nukualofa. There is sleeping accommodation for 12 in five decorated Tongan-style “fales”. The dining room, sitting room and bar overlook the beach. Facilities include a small shop, shower and toilet, and barbecue areas. One drawback is that there is no electricity. Lighting is provided by lanterns. The owner is Mr William Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, of Kolovai.
PNG restores copra
export tax
Papua New Guinea’s export tax of 2Vi% on copra, suspended since April, 1975, because of poor prices, was reimposed on January 11. When the tax was lifted there was an understan ding between the Department of Finance, the Department of Primary Industry and the Copra Marketing Board, that it would be reimposed when the price recovered to above the “floor level”. Prices were now above the “floor”.