Natives And Copra

Slump

Position In New Guinea

(To the Editor) Sir, —Enquiries have been made in respect of certain observations con tained in an article relating to the copra industry of the territory of New Guinea, headed “Resentful Natives — Boycotting the Trader —Effect of Copra Slump,” which was published in the issue of The Pacific Islands Monthly of July, 1931.

It was stated in the article that pests and diseases “are allowed to de velop in the native groves, ad lib.”

The Administrator of the Territory has reported that the native coconut groves are visited regularly by in spectors of the Department of Agri culture, who issue instructions re garding the cleaning of the groves, in order to keep them free from pests and diseases.

Referring to the suggestion in the article that the Administration should explain the present economic situation to the natives, the Administrator has stated that during the period in which the market price of copra has fallen considerably, the Administra tion has, through its officers, steadily endeavoured to make clear to the nat ives the position in regard to the market for copra. In addition, the subject has been discussed at every gathering of luluais during tours of inspection of the Administrator.

As a further endeavour to over come the difficulty, the Administration has granted Pedlers’ Licenses (having due regard to the rule that trading stations shall not be established within two miles of the boundary of any European plantation on which there is already a trading station) with the object of promoting a healthy spirit of competition.—Yours faithfully,

J. G. Mclaren,

Secretary.

Prime Minister’s Dept.

Canberra, Sept. 29, 19 31.