Whites And Natives.

Records of Crime for New Guinea.

FURTHER information bearing upon the relationship between Europeans and natives in New Guinea was supplied to the Federal Parliament by the Prime Minister on May 23, as the result of inquiries asked by Mr. Roland Green.

It was stated that during the past two years 42 natives had been con victed of assaulting whites. Sentences of imprisonment, ranging from 7 days to two years, had been imposed, and in three cases a flogging had been ordered. In some cases, the natives were afterwards allowed to return to their villages; but, in this regard, each case was considered on its merits.

Eight Europeans had been murdered by natives in the past 10 years. Nine natives were sentenced to death for these crimes, and one to five years’ hard labour. Eight natives, also, had just been arrested on a charge of mur dering the prospector, Mr. Baum.

None of those murdered were officials of the Administration. Two whites had been convicted of murdering natives, and four of manslaughter.

One of the former was given two years’ hard labour and one ten years hard labour. The four convicted of manslaughter were thus punished: 1, year’s hard labour; 2, £10 fine; 3, six months’ hard labour and £50 fine; 4, fine of £500, or two years’ hard labour.

In the past two years, 101 whites had been convicted of assault. In 20 cases, they were cautioned: in 77 cases, they were fined 5/- to £20; in one case, a fine of £200, with year’s hard labour; in three cases, two years’ hard labour.