Restricted

Native Missionaries in N.G.'s “Uncontrolled Areas"

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, June 2.

IN the New Guinea Government Gazette, dated May 30, there appear amend ments to the Native Administration Reg ulations (1924), which stipulate that no native, except born in the area specified, shall be allowed to reside there unless under the direct control of a European.

Nor shall he be allowed to enter a village in such area. A penalty of five pounds or imprisonment for six months may be inflicted.

The areas referred to are all those districts which have been gazetted as “uncontrolled areas” under section 4 of the Uncontrolled Areas Ordinance 1925- 1935.

The new regulations come into force on August 1, and from that date it will mean that all strange natives within an “un controlled area” must be withdrawn, un less they be directly under the control of a European living in the same village.

There is little doubt but that this mea sure is a result of the trouble that has occurred from time to time between the various mission factions in the more-dis tant “uncontrolled areas” on the main land of New Guinea. It has been found that much of the sectarian bitterness, fos tered amongst mission ranks, is caused by the misdirected energies of native missipn teachers.

In all probability, mission interests will make strenuous efforts for this amend ment to be rescinded. It will restrict their activities to a certain extent in the hinter land workings, where white missionaries prefer to place native teachers to prepare the way.