Papuans Become Skilled
p. 49 · Read in the full issue
Workmen
From Our Own Correspondent
Pt. Moresby, July 3.
THE Papuan Government to-day em ploys a large number of educated Papuans in different departments of the Administration—Native medical assis tants, clerks, typists, telephone operators, mechanics, artisans, and skippers of small craft —and in most cases they show marked intelligence and skill. Many are also employed by commercial interests in out-station settlements. Lorry drivers are in constant demand, and native car penters, in some cases, work under con tract to different employers.
“Nothing,” wrote Sir William Mac- Gregor as far back as 1897, “shows better the march of events in the Possession than the progressive employment of natives.” At the date of annexation, there
was not a single Papuan in the regular employment of the Government; even the boat’s crew in Port Moresby was com posed of coloured men from Nth. Queens land, who were paid at the rate of £8 a month and who later increased their demands to £l4. In 1888, when Sir William proposed that Papuans should be employed, it was ruled out as an ab surdity and even later when the Com monwealth assumed control, there were no native clerks and practically no skilled labourers, except a few at Kwato Mission.
Twenty years and more ago, had any one been so fatuous as to predict the present capacity of the Papuan he would have been ridiculed as mentally deficient.
Private Lawrence Mills, of Thursday Island, who is serving in the AIF, has written home that on two separate occa sions recently he was in ships that were torpedoed and sunk, but he is quite safe and well.