Report Of Ng Native
p. 52 · Read in the full issue
Labour Commission
AFTER considerable delay, the report of the Native Labour Commission in New Guinea in 1939-40 has been made public. It comprises two separate reports—one of 49 foolscap pages compiled by Hon. R. Melrose (Director of District Services), Hon. G. Hogan (Crown Law Officer), and Mr. W. H. Carpenter (Rabaul merchant); and the other, half its size, by Dr. H. C. Hosking (Govt.
Medical Officer) and Mr. D. Hore-Lacy (planter).
The Commission examined 200 replies to a questionnaire sent to officials, mis sionaries, native labour employers and others, and took evidence from over 100 witnesses in Rabaul, Kavieng, Salamaua, Wewak, Madang and Wau.
Aspects dealt with, in detail, in the report include: Demand for and supply of Labour, the Indenture System, Recruiting, Repatriation of Time-expired Labourers, Wages, Non-Indentured Labourers and Contracts, and Administration of the Native Labour Ordinance.
The majority report states the Com mission came to the conclusion that the indenture system is the only one suited to the present stage of development of the New Guinea native; furthermore, it has an important educational value.
Miss M. Kelly, of the NG Audit Dept., has arrived in Sydney on leave.