Who Are The Exploiters?

Letter to the Editor MUCH is heard of the exploitation of the native by the planting and com mercial interests in New Guinea, but very little of the very real exploitation by the Administration—both directly and indirectly.

To illustrate a few examples of the latter: Firstly, tobacco. The native, through high customs duty, has to pay at least 9d. for 10 cigarettes. His brother worker in Java, Malaya. India, etc.—where wages are approximately the same—could get 20 cigarettes for under 2d. And to ensure that the native acquires a taste for the imported made-up tobacco, it is—as with imported rice—obligatory for the em ployer to issue this to his indentured labourers, instead of the local tobacco.

The Administration also insists that every male native wears a cotton lava lava (loin cloth), and the female a blouse and lava-lava when they are in the vicinity of an administrative centre (The Government collects 10 per cent, import duty on these cloths.) But it is in regard to land transactions that the worst exploitation occurs In order to “nrotect” the native, purchasers are not allowed to deal direct, but the transaction must be put through the Dis trict Office. The Administration then buys the land from the native and leases it to the would-be purchaser. We were desirous of acquiring two small areas of land, each about one hectare in extent, adjoining our .plantation. Besides the two 10/- application fees, we were re quired to pay the sum of 10 guineas, and then a minimum rental of 1/3 ner hec tare ner annum. Out of all these amounts, the native received 5/- for his freehold.

Another instance is in regard to trad ing station leases. If the native is will ing to lease the ground, we nay the Adynfrustration 11 guineas per ' annum, which includes licence fees of four guineas. The native gets £2/10/-.

I think, as exploiters, planters do not rank very highly.

I am. etc.,

Sydney.

R. C. Willmott.