Thousands

Rabaul Natives Receive Thousands From War Damage And the Labour Supply Again Dries Up

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul. Jan. 14.

ALTHOUGH for a while recently it seemed that the native labour question was beginning to straighten Mtself out, we are now back where we started at the commencement of the re habilitation era. The reason for this is that the Government has commenced to pay out thousands of pounds in war damage compensation to the natives — and they will not work while the money lasts.

Indications are that it will not last long it is being spent in the usual native style on bread, tinned meat, bis cuits, tobacco, European clothing (boots, shoes, sox, etc. which are worn for the novelty and then discarded) ice cream, lemonade and cheap trash with which to decorate themselves.

Decked out like Christmas trees, they

ride around in hired ex-military trucks which were purchased by local specula tors at recent CDC sales with just this in view to part the native quickly from his war damage money. Two head men from nearby villages have told me that there will be a great shortage of native foodstuffs soon. While they live on the money that is literally thrown at them by the administration they are making no provision foi* their future needs and are neglecing their gardens.

It needed no great knowledge of New Guinea native psychology to prevent this needless waste. The fnative has, and always has had, only one method of dealing with a sudden influx of unearned wealth to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Recently, to try to induce labour to work for the Government departments that are in greatest need of it (PCB, PWD and Shipping Board) the local authorities offered 3/- per day, a free mid-day meal and transport to and from work. Even this is getting poor results and it has this result too it makes it virtually impossible for the ordinary householder and planter to compete in the labour market.

Two local planters have had their labour walk off after demanding increased wages. One is Mr. J. C. Mul laly who has been paying his boys 3/per day. They demanded 6/- per day and when this was refused they walked off leaving partly-dried copra to take care of itself. It is rumoured that Mullaly has spent £2,000 trying to rehabilitate his plantation.

The Fiji Director of Agriculture, Mr. C.

Harvey, was expected to sail from London for New Zealand on January 23 by s.s.

“Rimutaka.” He has been on leave.