Use of Men From Highlands

Native Labour In N. Guinea

THE decision of the Administration to make the natives of the Highlands District of New Guinea available as labourers in other parts of the Territory came as a surprise to employers generally —but a welcome partial solution of their labour difficulties.

A leading New Guinea planter states that there are at least 250,000 natives in the Highland areas affected by this de cision, and a sufficient number of men should be available therefrom to ease the labour situation, without interfering with the natives’ own social structure.

He states that the Highlands natives are men of good physique, and above the New Guinea hatives’ average intelligence.

New Guinea people feared that the intro duction of Highland natives to coastal areas would subject them to a risk of malaria and TB, but the medical depart ment has given much thought to this angle and has been able to combat the risk with (a) the use of the new drug paiudrine and (b) special measures against TB.

Highland natives are already at work in the mining areas and in some of the plantations, and employers speak well of them.

New Guinea employers’ main headache at the moment is the restricted indenture (one year). They point out that when they use primitive natives on the job, a large part of the year contracted for is used up in bringing them in and re patriating them; and giving them a suf ficient knowledge of European ways to make them useful.

It is not anticipated that the old 3years indenture system will be restored.

However, certain Papuan employers, after much thought and consultation, have pro duced a “Native Employee’s Agreement” which, it is believed, will provide against some of the difficulties and handicaps imposed by the present system. It is claimed that the Agreement provides all the protection given to the native under the present system, while making it easier and simpler for the employer to make more effective use of native labour.. The proposed agreement has been submitted to the authorities.