-140- Wednesday, November 11, 1953: Suspecting that Forest Botanist Womersley had no part in the holdup regarding export of collections, but wanting to make sure of his attitude and give him a chance to clear the Forest Department (which will get a set of the plants), I sent him an urgent radiogram yesterday morning. A long reply from him late this afternoon, beginning "Your information astounding" and ending "trust common sense will prevail." He has asked the Director of Forests to take action on our behalf. The Customs Dept. has at last deigned to radio the local collector for a report on the duty problem stating my reasons for asking Customs exemption. Was shown the radiogram by friendly Kelly. There was a passage about my reasoning being "specious". I will leave Samarai tomorrow with the collections still not cleared for export. As the local agricultural officer remarked on the situation as concerns his department, "There are some awful clots in headquarters." Dwyer, Director of Agriculture, is in Australia on sick leave. Hanging over us all is the possibility that none of us will be able to leave Samarai by tomorrow's plane. An epidemic of flu is sweeping through the town. The lace is in quarantine. Native traffic to and from the island has been stopped. Europeans are not allowed to leave if running a temperature of over 98 degrees. The hospital staff is going down with the complaint one by one. I can only hope that Geoff and Van escape it. Staying in Bunting's house as a fellow guest is Alan Davis, manager of the Bank of N.S. Wales in Port Moresby. The bank is going to open a branch here. They own Bunting's trade store and are preparing to take it over for bank premises.