Breaking the Slump

Some Suggestions From Papua Why Not Reduce Native Wages?

PLANTATIONS in Papua, dependent solely on copra and rubber—the prices for which at present barely pay production costs—are in a serious posi tion. In the event of financial assist ance not being forthcoming from the Commonwealth or Papuan Govern ments, many planters will be unable to carry on under present conditions.

Various suggestions are being made as to how to relieve the situation and recent issues of The Papuan Courier have contained views of plantation owners on the subject.

One writer advocates a reduction in the wages of native labour. He points out that as it is necessary to lower the salaries paid to the white staffs, it would be only fair to also lower the natives’ wages. He recommends that instead of paying laborers 10/- per month, a 10 per cent, reduction be made, thus giving the “boys” 9/- per month. The saving in a year where hundreds of “boys” are employed— along with the smaller salaries of the white staffs—might mean the differ ence between success and failure of the plantations.

This appears to be sound argument.

It might be possible to carry out the idea with the sanction of the Papuan Government, but some loss of faith would be inevitable as between the Administration and the natives. Most of the “boys” are signed-on for terms of service ranging from one to two years, at a set figure per month, and it is the duty of the Government to see that they are paid this sum at the expiry of their “contract of service.”

The sane way to regard the sugges tion is that something has to be done to save the two mainstay industries of the Territory—copra and rubber. But if it is so difficult to persuade “edu cated and enlightened” Australian workmen to face the economic situ ation, how can the natives be brought to reason and induced to accept a wage lower than their signed-on rate! It might, of course, be explained to them that, should they fail to agree to this it will mean that work would “alto gether finish” for them and their kin.

And, alas, this might prove the case, if plantations fail to weather the present storm.

A Novel Method Of Storing.

Another planter offers a batch of suggestions. To save cocoanuts from wasting, in the event of copra produc tion ceasing, he recommends a new method of storing the cocoanuts. The husked cocoanuts are dipped in rubber latex and given a thin airtight covering of rubber. They are smoked for a short period and then stacked in a dry place. When the market improves the cocoanuts can be quite easily turned into copra. The rubber itself is not wasted, for it can be carefully washed, macerated and converted into crepe rubber. Should this market also have improved, a better price would be obtainable for the rubber as well.

As an alternative scheme, the writer recommends the fencing of cocoanut and rubber areas and the establish ment of piggeries with a central bacon factory. He states that green copra and rubber seeds are ideal for fatten ing pigs.