From "Bone Nothing"

to Fatness Employment Conditions in New Guinea

CERTAIN areas in the Sepik District of New Guinea are now “closed”; that is to say, no native can be re cruited from such an area. Moreover, he cannot do so of his own free will, no matter how he may desire to take a job.

Recently I saw a line of about 60 Sepik men, women, and kiddies, who were waiting for the “Macdhui” to take them home.

What struck me most was their good condition, both as regards cleanliness and physical appearance. The “Marys” (women) were well clothed, and the cliil

dren were like other children, up to all the mischief imaginable—a bright and happy lot, reminding one of the old “Plantation Songs”, and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

They had been employed by a well known mining company, under good

/'CERTAIN political gentlemen in Australia, recently, have said that employers of indentured labour in New Guinea “exploit the poor natives”, and impose conditions of something approaching slavery. There are a few companies and individuals in New Guinea who ought not to be allowed to employ natives; but the overwhelming majority treat their native employees very well, and the natives benefit enormously under European conditions.

This article is part of a letter written privately (not for publication) to the editor by a well-known New Guinea trader; and it throws an interesting light upon this question of native indentured labour.

conditions as regards food and accom modation, with the best of medical at tention. Many Sepik boys refuse to re turn home, as they would sooner live under European conditions than in their Sepik swamps, infested with mosquitoes m millions.

It seemed a pity that they were com pelled to return. Here is an extract from a letter from the agent who saw them on their way, and this should be enough evidence that the natives are not so ill-treated by us Australians as some of our Federal members suggest in Parliament:— “All those Sepiks arrived and, as you say, there are some nice lads among them. It is a great shame, however, to go back and see them living in dirt and filth and getting bone nothing again within a very short time. It does not take them very long to get back to that kanaka state. Canvas beds, lamps, etc., are soon discarded and forgotten Where those “Marys” come from, is a watery cesspool of filth. They use the same water almost to drink and wash sak-sak with; and then, when neces sity calls, it is their lavatory—it must be sweet!”

Apparently, we both think the same regarding the native who works under conditions even better then some of our own people. They have learned to use the white man’s commodities, such as lamps, canvas stretchers, mosquito nets, foods, blankets, soaps, etc., and to re turn them to such a place as the Sepik, by order of the Administration is, to say the least, a scandal, and not doing the best for the native, who desires to live under more healthy and congenial conditions.

Many other employers of labour take a pride in their “line”. Dripping and marmite are issued to certain boys in certain areas, above certain altitudes.

A boy arrives “bone nothing” (skinny), and returns home a good example of European contact—irrespective of what others may say who have never seen a native and know nothing about him.

The cruise ship “Katoomba” sail ed from Sydney on December 27 with 450 passengers. She was bound for Nor folk Island, Tonga, and Fiji.

A monster Xmas Tree and Fancy Dress Ball for children was held at the Tivoli Theatre, Apia, Samoa, on December 15, when over 500 youngsters, accompanied by their parents, spent some happy hours of delightful and merry entertainment. Fea tures of the evening were presents of toys, comic acts, a Punch and Judy show and dancing and singing.