Starving Natives-

But Their Own Fault

Port Moresby. Apr. 26

rE statement of Monsignor Hannan, Roman Catholic missionary, that the natives of Bougainville are in serious distress through starvation has been flatlv dieted by Australian officials and Minister Ward. I know whom to believe.

Tf Morsifmor Hannan made that state ment deliberately, it is true.

But whose fault is it that the natives have reached this condition? The war ceased 20 months ago, and it is known that the Australian Army in Bougainville, at the cessation of hostilities, left enough foodstuffs there to feed the natives for six months. This was done to tide the natives over until thev had time to re build their villages and re-plant their gardens. Within three months of plant ing, sweet potatoes, tapioca, com and °tber native foods are mature and can be harvested. If the natives are starving it is their own fault—and is a good indi cation of how they have deteriorated dur ing and since the war.

They are too lazy to plant their own gardens, and have arrived at the state when they are quite satisfied to sit down and be dependent on the Government, who have been supplying food to them at intervals.

I understand the Administrator has more or less admitted that what Mon signor Hannan states is correct. But why does not the Administrator tell the politicians and the Australian public of the fact—that the natives have only them selves to blame.

Paludrine, the newest and most effec tive counter to malaria, is at present being administered to approximately 10,000 patients in Australia by the Re patriation Commission. Present distri bution of Paludrine tablets by the Com mission is nearly 300,000 a month.