State Stores.

Experiment in Torres Islands.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., April 25.

THE northern press has lately been voicing some of the dissatisfaction felt locally at the establishing of Government stores on several of the Torres Strait Islands.

There are now four stores, each car rying a fairly big stock of all classes of goods, in addition to the headquarters store of the Aboriginal Industries at Badu. They are managed by the Gov ernment teachers in the Islands, who thus have their hands pretty full. The necessary supplies are taken out by the Government ketch ‘Melbider” and a lug ger put on for the purpose.

The lines along which local criticism runs concerns the policy of the Govern ment in setting up stores in opposition to business people in Thursday Island and creating what seems to be a mon opoly; and also in requiring the Island teachers (who already have many other things to attend to, in addition to their school duties) to run the stores.

A good deal of business which, for merly came to Thursday Island is now cut out. The island produce is sold in Thursday Island, but only a small per centage is paid over here, the boys hav ing to collect their money at Badu, so that they have not the wherewithal to purchase stuff in T.I. (even from the people who buy their produce) but are expected to get what they want at the island stores.

At Christmas, when the teachers go on holiday, the position will be somewhat awkward, as it is at that time that the boys like to procure supplies of kai-kai, clothing, and other items which are now classified as necessaries.

Doubtless things will shake into the right perspective in time; but the island stores’ experiment is being watched with more than ordinary interest, both in relation to the native community and concerning its reaction upon Thursday Island trade, as well as in connection with political and unions’ policy.

The average islander, of course, like

the rest of mankind, likes to go round from store to store with his hard-earned “cash money” and see where he can get the best bargains—in fact, it is some what of a surprise at times to discover how he is able to make comparisons in price and quality between different busi ness places!