Land Wanted!

A Problem In New Guinea

By “Quartpot”

TO anyone having the slightest experi ence in the obtaining of agricultural land in New Guinea, a small article that appeared in the March, 1936, issue of the Pacific Islands Monthly must appear as an exact and true example of the usual procedure.

It is extremely difficult for us to under stand the weird and wonderful ways of our so-called Administration.

We are blessed with a Lands Office in Rabaul, but they appear to have

knowledge regarding everything but

land. As for seeking information from them regarding suitable areas for agri cultural purposes, we might just as well hope for a jury system and a vote.

However, one must not lose heart, as the Department has some policy upon which it is carrying out the settlement of planters upon New Guinea’s rich tropical soils. An instance of this is the closing of Karkar Island to any further alienation of native-owned land. To any one with a practical knowledge of Karkar Island, this either displays ignorance on the part of the officials responsible, or else a gesture that they do not desire the territory developed.

All this talk of the natives not having sufficient land for their own requirements is balderdash, and if the Administration would only read the report of an official attached to the Department of Agricul ture, they would discover that the natives are never likely to require half of the remaining land. We assume that this official’s report has been shelved, as is usual with reports that do not coincide with the desired view as taken by the Administration.

Karkar Island, as is generally known, is perhaps the richest island in New Guinea—the average yield per hectare for coconuts being two tons (approx.)—and therefore should be exploited to its fullest extent. It is quite capable of supporting another half-dozen plantations, and it is really the duty of the Administration to investigate the land question more fully in this regard. It is suggested, taking into consideration the heavy productions obtainable, and the suitability for cocoa growing, that areas of approximately 150 hectares be marked off and thrown open to any person desiring land. This area would support and give to a planter a good living and most of the amenities of life.

Some excuse, however, must be put forward for Rabaul officialdom, as it is obvious that they are ignorant of the position regarding Karkar, as is shown by a map of the island which was re garded as an official map of Karkar Island.

To begin with, all land one mile from the foreshore was marked on the map “non arable” land, and although there were only a few villages marked, most of these were in the wrong position. It is obvious from this that this island

is an unknown quantity to most of the officials responsible for the closing of the island, as the land one mile from the foreshore is as rich as that on the beach, as can be seen by visiting any of the plantations there.

This land should not be labelled “non arable” but “not required by natives.”

What a deplorable state of affairs this is! One would expect our officials in Rabaul to have a little more knowledge of the island, before taking such a drastic measure as to forbid further alienations.

Surely they can put faith in the District Officer under whose jurisdiction this island comes, and ask him to investigate the matter.

Have the Rabaul officials ever con sidered the fact that the area of land taken up by any individual planter always supports far more natives, in the manner of indentured labourers, than it ever sup ported previously when owned by the natives ? Who ever heard of an area of, say, 200 hectares supporting 40 natives, as it would do if run as a plantation ? No, our Rabaul officialdom have not.

As a planter, I am not losintr heart, as I hope the Administration will awake from its lethargy, and allow us to develop the country, as we are expected to do by that European body sometimes called the League of Notions. If we do not, who can blame Germany for her appeal for colonies —I, for one, do not blame her one iota.

According to a notice in the New Guinea Gazette recently, the Rabaul Tobacco Company Limited has gone into voluntary liquidation.