Life In The Cocos Islands
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
THE social system of the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean was described by Group-Captain R. Stone, in a recent broadcast in the Home Service, as producing a standard of living sur passing any other he had seen in the East.
The system was evolved some 100 years ago by the Ross Family, John Clunies Ross having been one of the co-founders of the community in 1825 when a trad ing depot was set up on Cocos.
Under the present system children are recorded in the State Roll at birth. Boys come in the pay roll at 14 and girls at 13, if they want to work. Boys are taken into the workshop for a period of training lasting two years, before being given permanent jobs. The hours of work are nine hours daily, six days a week, for everyone. Boys marry at 18, girls at 16. The State presents young couples with a house and furniture on marriage, though this has not always been possible recently, due to the effects of the war on the supply of building materials, and Japanese air raids which destroyed houses. Boys get full wages at 20; women, irrespective of age, unless en gaged in specialist work, get half men’s wages. Everyone may cease work if this is wished, at 65, and draw half-pay for the rest of their lives. Sick pay is half pay and medical attention is free.— Crown Colonist.