Highland Labour

Good Reports of N. Guinea Highland Labour

Prom A Special Correspondent LAE, New Guinea, June 16.

BY proclamation in the P & NG Govern ment Gazette, of January 6, 1950, authority was given for the employ ment of native labour units from the Highlands of New Guinea. Before this, however, New Guinea Goldfields. Ltd., of Wau, operating under a special permit, were utilising the services of Highland boys, and are, in fact, still using them.

The first contingent—a plane-load— arrived in Port Moresby shortly after the proclamation, engaged by Australasian Petroleum Company, and have proved very satisfactory, not only from the viewpoint of their work. All, before leaving for their new destination, are given BCG vac cination against TB and very few cases have occurred where physique has not proved satisfactory. Generally, these boys are fine physical specimens and there is a continuous demand for their services.

The Administration recruits the labour which is, at present, freely offering, and the applicant for labour appoints an agent at Goroka, to whom the Adminis tration passes on the recruits. Two very well known island identities—Messrs. J.

Leahy and Jerry Pentland—are the agents at Goroka and the period of service for the boys is 12 months, at the completion of -which they will return to their villages.

As no boy has yet completed the full period, their impressions of life in the new spheres will be awaited by the Ad ministration.

The boys are fitted out at their place of employment and issued with such items of gear as provided for in the Native Labour Ordinance —a blanket, cup, spoon, plate, mosquito net (where necessary), two lap-laps, with a replacement of one every two months, and a box, case or ruck-sac. These items cost approximately £4/4/- and the boys are paid 15/- per month with food provided (food for one boy costs 22/6 per week in Lae).

THERE is a steady demand by private people and commercial firms for their labour and already boys are working at Kanasea, Robinson River Plantation, near Abau, Papua, Sagari and Itiki. They are to be found also in New Britain, Madang, Wau and Bulolo. Plan tation owners say that the boys pick up plantation work very quickly. Recently the Department of Agriculture, at the Bubia Experimental Station, Lae, and the Buambub Estate, secured a batch of boys and express satisfaction.

Shortage of labour, primarily, was the cause of the discussion to open up the Highlands as a source of supply; at the same time the boys have an opportunity to see what goes on away from their homes. At first, they are very raw. Many have never seen the sea or motor trans port. But they soon settle down and follow instructions readily. A new con tingent who recently arrived in Lae was taken to Milfordhaven, where they ran into the sea and scooped up the salt water, not knowing that it was salty.

There is little or no friction between the boys and other sections of the native community although it is a well known fact that boys from different districts don’t as a rule mix. (Editorial Note: It is reported elsewhere this issue that recruiting in the High lands has now been suspended. Whether this is merely a temporary measure we do not know.)