Dutch New Guinea

its Slow Denvelopment Vast Territorys Possibilities

From Our Thursday Island Correspondent EVERYBODY knows that the west ern half of the island continent of New Guinea does not belong to Britain, but it is a part of the magnifi cent island empire of the Dutch.

The columns of the P.I.M. contain many items of news from Papua and the Mandated Territory, but Dutch New' Guinea is still a terra incognita, and reliable information of the coun try is hard to obtain.

We wonder how this huge territory would have fared under British rule with administrators like MacGregor and Murray to guide its destinies. As it is, the amount of colonisation at tempted by the Dutch is inconsider able, and they do not appear to show much interest in their possession or to encourage foreigners to do so either.

Dutch New Guinea can wait!

Settlement has proceeded in the north-west (where a big German com pany operates at Manokwari) at Kai mana and Fak Fak on the west coast, and at Merauke in the south. Special attention has been paid to the welfare of the natives round these places. The Dutch have prohibited the age-long custom of separating the sexes in the villages, and each Papuan family there lives in its own home; this measure is said to have improved the birth rate, but, in spite of their rise, the Dutch, in this instance, are rulers of a rapidly vanishing race.

Merauke’S Brief Fame.

Merauke is one of the deadest of dead dogs, and yet, only ten years ago, produce from there and other parts of the country filled many a godown in Makassar and Temate. It drew a lively crowd of Chinese and Malays from all over the archipelago to share in its greatest treasure —the bird of paradise.

In those days, Merauke was a busy place. Launches were fitted up there for the perilous trips far up the rivers in search of birds, and rivalry in trade and the acquisition of skins sent these enterprising bird-hunters further and further into the unexplored interior New Guinea was being opened up in spite of its nominal owners, and the flag followed the trader.

Cases and cases of skins were sent to Europe. There was the giant Bird of Paradise —Paradisea anapoda—often 17 inches in length to tip of tail and worth as much as £6/15/- in 1919 at the peak of the boom, and Paradisea minor from the north —both different from the smaller Paradisea regia of

British New Guinea. Work was plenti ful and everyone had money to spend.

And then, in 1926, the bottom fell out of this trade completely. To-day, in Merauke, birds (that can only be sold if shot prior to ’26) can be bought for three shillings; to-day scores of the old launches are falling to pieces in the river and every Hollander’s gar den is decorated with rusty marine en gines.

As for the other products of this vast territory, they are almost neglig ible. Copra from Dutch New Guinea has already been mentioned in these columns. Whereas a year ago the monthly K.P.M. steamer took 3,000 sacks, she now only gets 300 or 400.

There are many places where sugar cane, tobacco and coffee could be grown, but they are lying idle at pre sent for the best of reasons. Merauke grows most of the rice it needs and from the north comes damar gum, used for making varnishes, but this product shares in the present era of depressed prices.

Is There Gold?

The country has never been scientifi cally prospected and the mining law's do not encourage foreigners to come and find out, for it is a punishable offence to wash a dish of earth for gold in our neighbour’s possession.

Perhaps the Hollanders are wise in this respect. The country is not yet civilised enough to encourage a crowd of gold seekers, and it is certain that much bloodshed would result from such an influx in the present uncon trolled state of the mountainous in terior.

The Diggoel Camp.

A recent enterpise in Dutch New Guinea is the establishment of a big communist camp, four days steaming up the Diggoel, one of the largest rivers in the country. Here four or five thou sand malcontents from Java, Sumatra and Celebes have been interned for the safety of more law-abiding citizens.

The rumour that this settlement has been broken up can hardly be correct, as large numbers are arriving by every steamer. The prisoners are well treated, given land and wages and every attempt at colonisation made.

The site is, however, very unhealthy, and the recent granting of many free pardons may have led to the rumour of its closure. While some of these political exiles are dangerous men, versed in the use of bombs and mach ine guns, quite a number with whom the writer has been personally acquain ted, appear to be merely flashy and misguided youths, who may yet be come decent subjects of Holland.

It cannot be too strongly emphasised that Dutch New Guinea offers no openings for white men at present and that the Dutch officials, in putting difficulties in the way of immigration, are in reality acting in the best inter ests of adventurous men, who would like to try their fortunes.