Deposits

Native Labour

Terms of Release to NG Depositors

rE Assistant-secretary, Australian

Department of External Territories, has written to the secretary of the Pacific Territories Association, 54a Pitt Street, Sydney, regarding moneys depo sited with the New Guinea Administra tion as a guarantee in respect of inden tured labourers; and, more particularly, in regard to an article on pages 7 and 8 of the “PIM” for June, 1942.

The article, it is pointed out, gives the idea that portion of the moneys so held will be automatically repaid to employers. This is not the - case. A paragraph from the Assistant-secretary’s letter, giving the policy in regard 'to refunds, is as follows: “The policy of the Department is to release deposits, or such portion of them, as are surplus to the commitments of the depositor. It is necessary, however, that each application (for release) be accompanied by a statutory declaration, containing particulars embodied in the specimen enclosed herewith. I should appreciate it, therefore, if you would be so good as to inform members of the Pacific Territories Association accord ingly.”

A copy of the necessary statutory declaration has been sent to us. It is too long to be reproduced here; but any person interested mav obtain a cony by writing to the Association (see address on page 2) or to this office.

The declaration does not seem to have been drawn by practical people. The declarant, for example, is asked to swear that “the costs of repatriation of labour ers employed by me are £ , including belonging to New Britain, to New Ireland. to Manus. to Sepik, to Madang, to Morobe and Kieta districts.”

How can any employer possibly swear to any “costs” of repatriation? The Ter ritory is occunied by the enemy: the hitherto indentured labour is scattered far and wide; all customary transnort has disappeared; no one knows when the Jans will go, and what transport will be available when they do go.

If the Department meant the custom ary (pre-invasion) costs of repatriation, it would have said so. Apparently, it expects the employer to make a wild guess at a figure, and then swear to it!

Gerald T. J. Harper, son of Major and Mrs. P. T. Harper, who was born at Ra, Fiji, in 1916. and educated at Suva Grammar School, has been killed in action, while serving as a navigator on a Whitley bomber, in the RAF. He was a medical student (his father is a well known Fiji doctor) at St. Thomas’ Hos pital, England, before enlisting in the

Raf.