Planters' and Traders' Assn. Sees Progress
pp. 69-70 · Read in the full issue
Rehabilitation In New Britain
A PROGRESS report was submitted to the Planters’ and Traders’ Associa tion of New Guinea by the secretary of the Association at a meeting on De cember 13.
A controversy raged in Australia and New Guinea in October and November concerning the supply of goods and ser vices to the New Guinea Territories and particularly New Britain. The report in dicates that by mid-December the Asso ciation was generally satisfied with the rate of progress being made in the Rabaul district with regard to rehabilitation, pro duction, etc.
The report deals with the following items:
Native Labour
PRIOR to the introduction of the New Native Labour Ordinance, a number of members of the Association de cided to try and arrange for a supply of native labour from the Mainland. Mr.
J. C. Corrigan, of Wewak, was contacted and he undertook to recruit for the mem bers of the Association. This arrange ment was started early in October and, despite the time lag in mailing and ship ping arrangements, 104 recruits had been delivered at various plantations in the Kokopo district before the end of No vember.
The average cost per unit was £9/7/-.
The most expensive item in this under taking is the cost of 2/- per day main tenance cost per unit whilst awaiting transport. The cost, ten pounds per unit, is very high when consideration is given to the fact that these labourers are only indentured for twelve months. On the average, the planters will have about ten months at most of effective employment from these. Nor can they be re-engaged but must be returned to their villages after their twelve months of indenture.
The new Native Lab(?ur Ordinance has created added burdens in the way of cost.
Acting on a suggestion made as the re sult of correspondence between the Pre sident of the Association and the Ad ministrator, members have formed them selves into an Employers’ Association in order to conform with the requirements of the new Ordinance. However, the As sociation has encountered all kinds of petty technical difficulties regarding the registration of the Association or its mem bers as an association of employers.
It must not be misunderstood that any friction exists, or has existed, between th?
Association and the District Labour Officer. This officer has done everything he can to assist us. The difficulty seems to be in placing a correct interpretation on the various requirements of the new Labour Ordinance, and where this inter pretation is in doubt, obtaining advice from Moresby. The lack of mail facil ities between Rabaul and Moresby is deplorable—there are no surface mail facilities and in-coming airmails cannot be replied to until the following week as the plane leaves Rabaul within a couple of hours of its arrival.
To date, under the new arrangement, members have made application for up wards of 400 recruits. A number are awaiting shipment and it is expected that early in the New Year a consider able number will be available.
Co-operative Buying
A NUMBER of planters are interested in co-operative buying and more planters than were at first expected have placed their estimates and require ments for the next six months with the Association.
Buying in this manner will ultimately result in very considerable savings to the members. A much more detailed state ment regarding this business will be sub mitted to the members after December 15. It is expected that by that date we will be able to tabulate the quotations for the various plantation items required, as several business houses here and in Australia are prepared to quote and sup ply goods.
Facilities for the despatch of all goods ex Rabaul can be arranged and should
any planter desire storage facilities this can be arranged through the Association.
The shortage of fresh food and copra sacks was recently brought under the notice of the Minister of External Terri tories, by this Association. His prompt response to our appeals will ensure almost immediate relief as a large consignment
of freezer cargo will arrive this week and a much greater supply of copra sacks than was expected will arrive before Christmas.
Visit of Govt. Secretary RECENTLY the Government Secretary visited Rabaul. During his stay the opportunity was afforded us of plac
ing before him the various matters affect ing the progress and welfare of the Territory. Subjects discussed were medical services, native labour indenture, shipping services, the matter of essential supplies for both Europeans and natives, arterial roads, dynamiting of fish, the tele phone services between the Kokopo dis trict and Rabaul, etc. The Associaiion hopes to be in a position to communicate progress at an early date. The roadway between Rabaul and Kokopo and the North Coast road has been greatly im proved. The telephone system between Kokopo and Rabaul will be completed shortly.
Shipping
INTRA island shipping is improving but the size of the ships available for this service is still a severe handicap. This matter was particularly stressed to the Government Secretary on his recent visit and the matter of having such ships as the “Malaita” and the “Montoro” call at the main outports was submitted to him.
A serious matter, and one that affects practically all planters throughout the Territory, is the allocation of quotas on goods available in Australia and the allocation of shipping space on vessels trading between Australia and che Territory. This matter has been brought before the Administration and the Min ister of External Territories.
If some improvement in these two items cannot be effected at an early date it will seriously impede the progress and main tenance of all productive activities.
As wages keep rising, you must expect an increase in the cost of living. The whole spiral is like a dog chasing its tail the faster he goes, the farther away his tail gets.—Lord Nuffield.