Complicated Problem

FUTURE OF NATIVE LABOUR IN N. GUINEA Commission Appointed to Investigate a Complicated Problem

The Administrator of New Guinea has appointed, under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance, 1927, a Commission to inquire into all aspects of the native labour system at present in operation in the Territory and to report whether any, and if so what, alterations to that system are desirable”.

The Commission consists of:— Hon. R. Melrose, M.L.C., Director of District Services and Native Affairs (Chairman).

Hon. Gerald Hogan, M.L.C., Crown Law Officer.

Mr. W. H. Carpenter.

Mr. D. S. Hore-Lacy.

Dr. H. C. Hosking, Medical Officer.

Mr. Melrose joined the District Ser vices in 1921 and has been for consider able periods in each District as Assistant District Officer or District Officer. For some fifteen years he was in close touch with natives and Europeans in the out stations. He was Assistant Director of District Services under Mr. Chinnery and succeeded that officer.

Mr. Hogan is one of the best known men in New Guinea—he has been in the tropical Public Services for 20 years.

During that period he has held the posi tions of Stipendiary Special Magistrate and Deputy Supreme Court Judge in the Northern Territory and Crown Law Offi cer in New Guinea. He has been a close student of colonial administration—espe cially in relation to native labour affairs.

About twelve months ago he was ap pointed chairman of the Mortgagors’ Re lief Committee.

Mr. Carpenter is Managing Director in New Guinea of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd. Before going to New Guinea he was a well-known merchant at Thursday Island. He is an experien ced business man, with a special know ledge of native labour.

Mr. Hore-Lacy was a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy in the last war.

In 1919 he left the Navy and has been a planter in New Guinea since about 1922.

He took up land at Talasea and, by en terprise and industry, made a success there. Later, he bought land near Ko kopo, and now is producing cocoa as well

as copra. He has achieved success in spite of fluctuating prices and other dif ficulties. He is vice-president of the Planters’ Association of New Guinea.

Dr - Hoskin g went to New Guinea about 1924, and was for some years stationed in outstations. Although, for a number of years, he has been stationed in Rabaul, he has seen a good deal of the outback native and his conditions. Dr. Brennan (Director of Public Health) has gone on leave, and Dr. Hosking is now Acting- Director of Public Health.

The task before the Commission is a difficult and complicated one, and its work may have an important influence on the future of the Territory.