Policy

Native Labour

Commission at Work in New Guinea

A QUESTIONNAIRE, which was ad dressed by the New Guinea Native Labour Commission to the Director of District Services and Native Affairs, covered many matters relating to native labour The reply by the Director sets out the Administration’s views on a number of matters, and is of great inter est as giving an outline of policy.

As the Director of District Services and Native Affairs is Chairman of the Native Labour Commission, Mr. E. Tay lor Assistant Director of District Ser vices and Native Affairs, appeared before the Commission on February 15 to sub mit the Director’s reply to the Commis sion, and to answer questions relating to it.

It was expected that the policy of the Department would be closely examined by the Commission, now that it was stated in writing, and that the cross examination by members of the Com mission would be of interest. But one non-official member was absent and the other members, excepting the Hon. Ger ald Hogan, an official member, asked few questions based on the replies of the Department to this important ques tionnaire. Probably the replies gave the information required and made ques tioning unnecessary, Mr. Hogan asked some pertinent ques tions with regard to the activities of the Department as they affected the native labourer.

The other evidence given during the month differed little from that givep previously. There is little criticism by witnesses of the Native Labour Ordin ance, except as to a few points; and the chief demand of employers is for the recruiting of native labourers by a De partment of the Administration, separ ate from the Department of District Services and Native Affairs. There is little criticism, so far, by employers, of the administration of the Native Labour Ordinance.

The Commission, in February, visited the Madang district.