Affray in Central Papua

WE have received from our Port Moresby Correspondent a full ac count of the recent affray in Central Papua, to which reference is made on page 18.

It is quite clear that the basic cause of the trouble is the lack of sufficient patrol officers, due to economies which have been forced upon the Papuan Adminis tration. Patrol Officer Cowley could not be in two places at once; and the clash with the Kagave people appears to have been the result of sending native police into dangerous country without a white man in charge.

A subsequent investigation has resulted in two of the native police concerned being placed on trial for murdering four Kagave natives.

We shall publish a full account of the incident, and subsequent developments, in our March issue.