"Pulling Boys"

Pre-war Crime Now Legal

rE most serious breach of the Native Labour Ordinance in pre-war Man dated Territory of New Guinea was “pulling” natives—that is, forcing or tricking natives into entering a period of indenture. A recruiter who attempted anything of the sort had a brief career.

If anything, this practice was looked upon with even less favour over the bor der, in Papua.

The changed state of affairs under pre sent military (or ANGAU) administration is indicated by two random extracts from the Methodist “Missionary Review.” Prom a returned missionary: “An ANGAU officer recently came out here with orders to get a number of boys from this area. They had to go, whether willing or not. As I have told you before, labour is now compulsory. I understand that men with three children are exempt. Only the middle-aged and old men are left. And, as everyone knsws— who knows anything of native life —if a man helps a woman (even though her husband is away) in the garden, it inevitably spells domestic trouble and, before long, divorce.”

The Rev. John Bodger, at the forum on “Post-war Pacific,” held in Sydney, on November 4: “There are 38,000 Papuans indentured to ANGAU at present. The total num ber of indentured labourers in Papua before the war was 10,000.” (It was estimated, in 1039, that Papua had almost reached saturation point as far as indentured labour was concerned — 10,000 men away from their homes at one time was all that could be permitted without harmful repercussions on native life generally.)