Native Labour In

New Guinea

Should Talasea Be Reopened?

THERE are indications that the problem of securing adequate labour for New Guinea enterprises will become acute. The gold industry is growing and developing, and there is an increasing call in that direction for native labour; and, mean while, the recovery of the copra industry is creating a further demand for inden tured labour.

The areas to which recruiters customarily resort are not producing a sufficient num ber of additional recruits to meet the demand. The natives generally are becom ing more sophisticated and are inclined to raise their price. Recruiting is more diffi cult and the higher cost, of course, is being passed on to the employers.

A movement is afoot to urge the Administration to re-open the Talasea dis trict (northern New Britain) to recruiters.

When the Nakanai murders occurred in 1926, the Talasea district was closed against recruiting. In 1928, when the Adminis tration wanted labour for Lae and the Markham-Wau road, etc., Talasea was opened to recruiting for a month; but before recruiters could get there the Administration had filled its labour require ments and Talasea was closed again. On one occasion, since, Talasea has been opened, to supply labour to Messrs. Car penter and Co.'s disiccated coconut industry at Pondo.

The argument of those who want Talasea opened up again is that the Administration in nine years has had ample opportunity to pacify the district and that the very large native population there might now be made available for recruiting purposes.

It is stated, also, that the natives are quit© willing to accept indentures and that con siderable numbers of them have actually offered their services.

The closing of part of the Sepik area and the Mount Hagen area to recruiters has also complicated the situation.