Non-Indentured

Papuan Labour

A Territorial! Clarifies the Position

IT does not seem to have occurred to those who have recently been disput ing the relative merits of indentured and so-called “free” labour, that from the inception of the Native Labour Ordinance of Papua, in 1911, there has always been provision made for non indentured labour.

Part II of this native labour ordinance is devoted to “free” labour, and was framed for the benefit of local labour and provided that, so long as certain limitations of distance from the home village were observed, both male and female natives could be employed, life long. without indenture.

In the indenture portion of the ordin ance, there is a section which again pro vides for non-indenture. Any male native who belongs to a settled labour district is permitted to be employed in any other settled labour district, for a period not exceeding 12 months; the terms and nature of the employment being without official cognisance. When that period has, or has not, expired, the native, as a “casual,” receives his dues and can go for a spell, anywhere he likes and for any period. Then he can again be employed at the same place, still as a “casual,” for as many “12 months” as he chooses.

These two forms of non-indenture, which really are interlocked, were availed of to an important extent —probably to about half of the number of indentured labour.

THE majority of natives prefer inden ture. They feel that thev know where they stand, and that they have the Government as a protector.

Indenture is a legal safeguard both for emplover and employee, and generally it is availed of when the villages of the latter are far distant from the places of pmnlovment. There is. at the same time, however, nothing to prevent any native from paving his own sea-passage to nlaces of work and then offering himself as a “casual”; or even to enter into an indenture. Quite a number have done this, taking the risk whether or not pmnlovwpnt. will be open to them. But preferably they accent the role of recruits in their viilacres. when they know that not onlv will their return sea-passage be paid, but that they are assured of employment.