Guinea

Sullen Labour in New Guinea

THE following is part of an outspoken editorial in the “Rabaul Times”: — “Besides this difficulty with which the com mercial firms are faced, in regard to the ob taining of labour, is the unsatisfactory stand ard of work being performed by those already under contract. There appears to be a general ‘go slow’ (and go slow sullenly) policy being adopted by large gangs of labourers. This was particularly noticeable when the Administra tion employed casual labourers on the rehabili tation work in Rabaul; it is still apparent on the wharves when cargo is being worked or ships are arriving and swift action is essential for the preservation of life and property.

“The behaviour generally of natives—free and indentured—has every indication of a lack of discipline. There is a crowding on the foot paths in Chinatown, the which was at one time strictly forbidden and the footpaths kept clear by police-boys; there is a general tendency to overstay leave, well-knowing that no action will be taken by the employer for it means the loss of service and personal inconvenience to the employer if the delinquent is gaoled; there is a general disregard by natives in their quart ers to observe the regulation for a cessation of singing and loud talking after 9.30 p.m. Po lice patrols seem to overlook this breach of the Regulations, even as they seem to overlook lor ries when they are dangerously overloaded.

Where Regulations regarding discipline are in troduced they should be enforced’’.

These are sweeping charges. The editor says, sadly, that they have been made frequently, but no one takes any notice; and he wonders whether the appointment of an official committee of investigation would achieve anything.

The “Pacific Islands Monthly” ex

presses the opinion—brutally, maybe,

but sincerely—that it is not an official committee that is needed, but an Ad ministration with sufficient experience and intelligence to understand the situa tion, and sufficient strength and energy and courage to act accordingly.

The New Zealand Rugby Council has approved of a visit being paid to Fiji this year by a representative Maori team. The team will leave the Dominion on July 12 and be back in Auckland on

August 5.