Chinese.

No Land For N.G.

An Official Denial.

IN the Federal Parliament, on October 5, Mr. R. F. H. Green asked the fol lowing- question: “Has the Minister administering the affairs of New Guinea noticed a report in the press that certain Chinese have been given preferential treatment, and are being assisted by the administration in the taking up of land at Keravat, not far from Rabaul in New Britain? A re port to this effect is published in ‘The Pacific Islands Monthly’ and if it is not correct, I should like the Minister to deny it.”

Major C. W. C. Marr: “My attention was drawn to a statement published in ‘The Pacific Islands Monthly’ to the effect that it is the intention of the administration to allocate 3,000 acres in the Mandated Territory for settlement by 50 Chinese from Rabaul, and I im mediately sent a cablegram to New Guinea to ascertain whether the report had any origin in fact. The Adminis trator has now replied that it was en tirely without foundation.”

The statement to which reference is made that the Administration of the Territory of New Guinea was seeking a partial solution of the Chinese problem by settling 50 young Chinamen on small plantations in the Keravat district— was based on information given to us by a responsible resident of the Terri tory; and both he and the editor of this journal accepted it as quite correct.

If, as stated, it is incorrect—or if, as appears more likely, it is merely a plan that has been prematurely regarded as approved—we can only express regret for any annoyance that may have been caused to the Administrator and the Minister. —Ed. “P.I.M.”