Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 5 September 1925, page 12


PROGRESS IN PAPUA.

Electricity in the Villages.

Electric lighting has been extended to the native villages in Port Moresby, and

arrangements are being made for the light-ing of individual houses of the natives, stated a wireless message received from the Lieutenant-Governor of Papua (Sir Hubert Murray) by the Minister for Home and Territories (Senator Pearce) on Thurs-day.

Senator Pearce said he believed that there were no other native villages in the Pacific, or probably elsewhere, lighted by elcctricity. The cost of construction was being paid by the natives by tax, and the current at the same rate charged to Euro-peans. As the houses are built on piles right out into the bay, and the streets were a series of bridges, the villages at Port Moresby presented a most interesting sight.

Senator Pearce added that he had con-gratulated the Lieutenant-Governor on this striking achievement, and on the evidence which it furnished of the extent to which the material well-being of the natives was being promoted by the wise policy of ad-ministration under Sir Hubert Murray.