Papuan Planters Appeal To

Britain For Help

Ward's Madheaded Labour Plan Brings Chaos to Islands Industries

THE dissatisfaction of the European residents of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea, with the conditions of the “provisional administration,” recently created by the Minister for External Territories (Mr, Ward) has taken marked shape in two different directions. Evacuees in Australia are petitioning the Governor-General for relief (see article else where) and the Papuan planters are appealing to Britain.

ON September 24, the following radio gram was despatched from Port Moresby to the Prime Minister of Great Britain: “Representative meeting of planters and commercial interests desire to in form you that new (Native Labour) Regulations, as being applied without notice to Territories of Papua and New Guinea by the Commonwealth Govern ment, will result in complete collapse of all planting and other industries immedi ately.

“We demand in fairness to all interests that a period of 12 months be allowed in which to bring into force these new Regulations, otherwise chaos will prevail and production of copra, rubber and other products will cease forthwith, whilst young planted acres will be lost.

“We are deprived of legal advice, of representation in the Commonwealth Parliament, and of appeal to the High Court. As British subjects we ask you to intervene with a view to justice being done.”

The decision to appeal to Great Britain was taken after the planters had been called together on September 22 by the Production Control Board and informed that all contracts of employment made between present employers and natives would be terminated on October 15, when natives would be given the option of entering into a new contract for one year, or engaging as a non-indentured labourer, or returning to their homes. If natives were re-engaged, they must be paid 50 per cent, higher wages than at present.

Immediately after the notification was given to the planters, the Military Ad ministration (which is about to be re placed by the Provisional Civil Govern ment) made a broadcast over the natives’ radio service (recently inaugurated) and informed the natives that the war was now over, that all labour contracts were now at an end, and that “they could go home if they wished.”

It is reported from Kila Camp, where there is a “pool” of approximately 3,000 native labourers, that only three men signified their readiness to go on work ing.

rE effect upon both the finance and the productiveness of the planta tions is most serious. There are rubber plantations, now actively in pro duction, which employ up to 600 natives.

They are to be left without labour.

The planters have been compelled to pay the Military Administration a “recruiting charge” of £4 per head for each of these boys, who were taken on on one-year and two-years contracts.

Now, as a result of the new edicts is sued by Mr. Ward through the Produc tion Control Board, these contracts are being all wiped out without any notice.

Under the new Provisional Government set-up, the Production Control Board (which is operated by the Department of External Territories) controls all pro duction, labour, distribution of goods, purchase of plantation products, and transport. It apparently is designed to take the place, in the Territories, of the big trading firms. There has been no indication that Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., W. R. Carpenter & Co.. Ltd., and Steam ships Trading Co., Ltd., will be allowed to resume their operations as merchants, planters, shipowners, etc.

Up to the present, only a few score Europeans have been allowed by Mr.

Ward’s Department to return to the Ter ritories. They were told that they could go back on condition that they produced copra and rubber, as rapidly as possibly.

Some have been back on their plantations for one year. These are the men who are now being crippled by the Depart ment’s latest move, and have appealed to the British Prime Minister.

A STATEMENT issued on September 24 by the Papuan Planters’ Associa tion and other commercial interests, made the following points: We have without notice been informed by the Production Control Board, under instructions from Canberra, that the minimum wages for natives will be 15/per month, as from August 1 last. This means a 50 per cent, increase for all general labourers on plantations, etc.

At approximately three weeks’ notice, employers of labour have been told that all existing contracts of service must be

terminated on or before October 15, whilst at the meeting at the Production Control Board on September 22 an an nouncement was made that all existing contracts are illegal. We claim there is insufficient time in which to replace the labour who will cease work on or before October 15. It is expected industries generally will be brought to a standstill immediately.

Employers wish to know what is to happen with regard to the fees already paid for natives signed on for two years, or one year, whose time has not been completed. Does the employer receive a refund? , , How does the Production Control Board and the Army propose to return boys home after the 15th prox.? Are the expenses of passages, etc., for account of employer, Production Control Board, or

Angau?

What is to be the arrangement re garding signing on of labour after Octo ber 15? Will the Board charge up signing-on fees, kits, passages, etc., or does the employer make his own arrange ments? . 1c Are natives signed on after October lo (under the Papuan Native Labour Ordinance) subject to a further cancella tion of contract when the new and final Native Labour Ordinance is available?

As most employers of labour, particu larly firms in Port Moresby, have no office staff or recruiting facilities, how will they secure replacement labour after October 15? , .

Employers of labour, seeing that in future they are to be more or less depen dent on casual labour, should have a Regulation to protect them, whereby such casual labour must give one month s notice before terminating their services.

Employers ask for a Royal Commission to be set up immediately to thoroughly

investigate the whole position as regards the employment of native labour throughout the Territory, particularly in view of the results of remote control from Canberra.

Under existing conditions, with more or less full labour requirements on estates, ships, etc., there is a consider able shortage of rations, drugs, etc., on estates. Furthermore, at present, most estates have a congestion of produce which cannot be shifted owing to lack of transport. What, therefore, will be the position if the number of natives already employed in transport, shipping, etc., is to be reduced following the sign ing-off of labour on October 15? It is obvious complete chaos must prevail.

Protests were made through the Pro duction Control Board against the broad cast over 9PA, advising natives of the new Regulations before employers had an opportunity of discussing matters with the Board. „ As most of the larger firms in Port Moresby have many estates spread throughout the Territory, it is impossible for them to contact respective managers and natives before October 15, to acquaint them with the new Regulations, and at tempt to make any arrangements which might save the situation.

Mrs. I. G. Cowled, wife of Major S.

Cowled, chaplain to the Fiji Military Forces, returned to Suva by the Septem ber “Matua.” Major Cowled expects to be discharged from the FMF by the ena of the year.

Mrs. F. G. Harness, wife of Suva’s harbourmaster, returned to Suva on the September “Matua.” She flew to Auck land for an urgent operation in early August, but now has completely re covered.