Land Purchases In Paoua
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent.
Pt. Moresby, March 24.
TOURING March the following Orderin-Council was made in the Execu tive Council:— “Officers are to be instructed that in purchasing native lands they should be careful in each instance to ascertain whether presents in money or money’s worth are being made or promised to the vendors. If it appears that such presents are being made or promised,
the officer should abandon the transaction and report immediately to the Govern ment Secretary.” , Th . er . e ha Y e *?een rum °urs that the Administration is concerned that, in cer tein instances where Europeans have app iied for land, the applicants had promised the owners some payment or present in kind if the land would be sold to t h e Crown. This was done previous to the Government’s sending an officer to ma ke the necessary purchase from the natives.
It is understood that this procedure has been the custom for many years past.