More "Investigation" Of

Ng Native Labour

Prom Our Own Correspondent Lae, August 20.

UNDER the heading of “Native Labour Wages” a notice was published by the ADO, Lae, calling all employers of Native Labour to a general meeting at the District Office, on August 15, to meet Mr. A. Blakely, “senior arbitration inspec tor,” who arrived here “for the purpose of conducting an investigation into the adequacy of minimum monthly wage payable to native labourers.”

As many as could leave their occupa tions attended. So far the investigation has only taken the form of a debate, and views have been expressed by many employers of native labour.

Mr. Blakely has stated that anything proceeding out of his visit is only of a preliminary nature, and will be followed by a Royal Commission.

One wonders why a Royal Commission could not have commenced and concluded the “investigation” without the expense (to the taxpayers of Australia) of a pre liminary canter by the Senior Arbitration Inspector!

The Hon. A. Blakely (he was once a Labour Minister, hence the “Hon.”) will be rembered by the pre-war mining com munity for his visit to Wau about 1941, when a compulsory Miners’ Union was instituted in the face of the strongest opposition by a majority of miners, individual and otherwise.

It would be interesting to know whether Mr. Ward was influenced by Mr.

Blakely, in introducing his disastrous native labour policy, which has practically paralysed the Territories.

Mrs. E. Leyer, accompanied by her young son, Bevan, left Brisbane by the “Montoro,” in August for New Guinea.

One of the first batch of evacuees to leave the Islands by plane, Mrs. Leyer had been residing in Brisbane since 1941.

Her husband returned to the Territory some time ago.