Native Trading In N. Guinea

New Law Passed To Regulate Activities

From Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, Mar. 20.

the 23 bills passed through the local. ” Legislative Council, sitting on March 3 and 4, the most interesting measure was that in connection with an amend ment to the Licences Ordinance, which brought local natives under its pro visions.

At the last session held in August, natives were exempted from the pro visions of the Ordinance. That is to say, natives were at liberty to buy and sell goods, copra, etc., without obtaining licences and permits, or conforming to other regulations which non - native traders are compelled to do. The author* ities did not realise, when they exempted natives, that trading among themselves would be carried on to such an extent.

Hon. E. W. P. Chinnery (Director of District Services) who sponsored the bill in the chamber, in his second reading speech, pointed out that it would con trol native trading when done in a busi ness manner, apart from the usual bartering.

How Two-mile Limit Restricted Trading “Until a short time ago,” said Mr.

Chinnery, “native trading was restricted by the two-mile limit by which non-native traders secured the exclusive right to trade over areas owned and occupied by native communities. The natives had to sell their copra and other produce to the trader operating in that zone at any price offered by him, or hawk it else where if they wanted a better price. As traders usually agreed as to rates of payment, and generally kept to these agreements, it was seldom that the unfortunate native—squeezed by the monopoly—found it worth while to hawk his produce elsewhere. Usually motor transport was not available, so they had to take what was offered, or have their produce left on their hands. In some ins'ances, in zones owned by firms— especially on the west coast of New Ireland—natives were not able to dispose of their produce at all, because planta tion managers did not trade, and no one else was allowed within their zone.

“This was the position for years,” con tinued Mr. Chinnery. “The natives con stantly complained of the restrictions preventing them from getting a fair price for their produce. It was on these complaints that District Officers recom mended the abolition of the two-mile limit. It is obvious therefore that the position was unsatisfactory, and that the natives would take every opportunity that presented itself to dispose of their produce at the best prices possible. 57 Native Copra Driers “Early in 1935 a native of the Rabaul district built a drier, and cured his copra.

By hiring lorries, he was able to take this produce to Rabaul and receive the ruling price. His example was quickly followed by others. Driers were built, high-grade copra was produced, passed

by inspectors and, with the aid of hired transport, was disposed of at market prices. During the past half-year 658 tons of trade copra were sold in Rabaul at current prices. There are now 29 native driers in the Rabaul district and a further 28 are under construction.”

Non-official members spoke against the bill and Mr. B. B. Perriman stated that the introduction of such a measure would have the effect that a large amount of money invested in trading stations, and the erection of buildings, would be of very little use in the future. Speaking of the zone system, he admitted that it might restrict some of the rights of the natives, and suggested that some sort of control might be instituted in the buy ing of coconuts and copra.

“The natives are receiving Isrge sums of money now,” said Mr. Perriman, “which to my way of thinking they are not sufficiently advanced to be able to

use to advantage. My contention is that some form of tax, whereby a certain sum per ton can be collected from trade copra obtained, be used by the Administration for the welfare of the natives, and I submit it will be used to better advantage in the hands of the Administration than in the hands of the natives, as at present.

What Is Government’s Policy ? a tu„t . j , , that fhp an Said t ? l n t he h °P e <j

wi?h \ specially charged

. • t ? le Interests of the r , in dicate the policy of the , e .

Whatever our views may be,” said Mr.

McLennan, w e are unanimous that the Government should have the courage to state its intentions. Some time ago I had the pleasure of fighting a losing battle, together with my honourable friends here, on the question of freedom of trade in regard to shipping. I cannot see any

difference in principle whatever. One would Imagine that the Administration was giving something to these natives which does not already belong- to them, “In this country we have half a million natives,” he continued. “We are charged, according to the mandate, with the duty of promoting to the utmost the material well-being of the natives. I have ‘always regarded these words with considerable suspicion. I do not believe that Britain is any black colony primari i y for the well-being of the native people. I do no t believe that Australia is in this colony primarily for the well-being of the native and I do not believe that the Administrator, or his officials, or anyone else, is in this territory primarily for the well-being of the native people. We are here primarily for our own benefit. I do believe, however, that if we are just people and sane people we cannot but see that the well-being of the natives

must go hand in hand with the well-being of the white people.

“Unless these natives progress, and unless they learn to produce wealth on their own soil, how on earth are we going to develop this country? Do you think it is real development to have a few white men on a few white estates in this country ? Take the black countries of the world that are outstanding suc cesses—take Java, for instance. Java’s greatness is based on native agriculture.

The same in the Philippines, across the way. There they produce, or did four or five years ago, about 350,000 tons of copra, as compared with our 60,000 tons, and most of the Philippines copra is pro duced by the natives on their own land.

Dispensing With White Traders “I am going to vote against this bill,' he concluded, “but for a totally different reason from that which will animate my honourable friends in voting against it.

Over a term of years, and by means ol the Licences Ordinance and regulations we have built here, as regards trading by and with natives, an amazing edifice of monopoly for the aggrandisement of the white trader at the expense of the native producer. Now the native pro ducer, through contact with people with a little more economic sense than himself, has commenced to build his own copra driers, and to dispense with the services of the white trader. I hope that the Government will sweep away the amazing system of monopoly to which 1 have referred.”