Casual Labour

A Problem in Rabaul

BECAUSE certain influences are at work in the Rabaul district, by which indentured natives are encouraged to defy their employers, and an anti- European spirit is being encouraged, native conditions generally are not good, there.

In this journal, several months ago, it was pointed out that far too much “casual” native labour was being en gaged in Rabaul, at high rates of pay, and that this was demoralising the in dentured labour. In December, Mr. R.

L. Clark gave evidence before the Native Labour Commission, and this is what he said on the subject of casual labour: — “I think there are influences in Rabaul district which unfavourably affect re cruiting. Although it does not affect my own particular business, I think it does affect others; also the recruiting of labour for domestic purposes.

“It has a bad influence on local labour to see the large number of boys working as casuals. There must be over 100 at least, in Rabaul. These boys are being paid as much as 10/- per week, and often are working for two or three masters.

Now it is impossible for the average em ployer of labour to expect to obtain reasonable results from an indentured boy at 10/- per month plus rations when he sees the casual labourer being paid 30/or £2 on pay day. That is having a dis astrous effect on local recruiting and on the re-signing of boys from other districts.

Almost every boy, now, when he has finished his time, wants to work ‘moon’.”