Minimum Rates

Recruiting At Double

Gold Seekers Try to Forestall S.I. Planters

From Our Own Correspondent.

TULAGI, April 1.

WHILE local residents rejoice that, although copra has collapsed, the S.I. gold industry, seems very lusty, but there are a few points about it not all to the good.

With the help of able and sensible offi cials to make the situation clear to the natives, experienced recruiters were be ginning to recruit Malaita boys at the reduced minimum wage. This would almost have enabled copra planters to carry on, but now a vessel has been sent out to recruit mining labourers at double minimum wage.

The ship, however, returned without one recruit for mining, but was able to fill up an alternate order, for plantation boys, at the minimum wage. Another boat has now gone out to endeavour to obtain labour for mining, still at the in creased wage, but at time of writing has not returned.

In the meantime, mining investigations of the area have been very much ham pered by the impossibility of getting satis factory transport in the bush. As in the early days in New Guinea, carriers desert by the score when half the journey is complete, and other casuals to replace them are increasingly difficult to engage.

When the field is proved, better trans port facilities and improved working con ditions will, of course, follow with develop ment, but at thQ present stage the posi tion is very difficult and trying.