Illegal Line-Ups In New

Guinea

Rabaul, Dec. 15

THERE is an interesting back ground to the prosecution of the natives of Raluana, near Rabaul, for refusing to line up at the order of an official who was try ing to organise village councils. (See December PIM).

The natives were defended by Rabaul solicitor, Mr. Dudley Jones; and the Court of Native Affairs de cided that the natives could not be called on to line up except for census requirements, once or twice per annum.

It appears that quite a number of officials who patrol independently of the District Office —representing Native Labour, Co-operative Societies, Village Councils—have been ordering villagers to line up at unexpected times. The village chiefs are weary of it —and so are many European employers, who have reported a high rate of ab senteeism among native labourers who have been held in their villages for line-ups, The decision of the Court means that these irresponsible line-ups can no longer be legally enforced: and the decision has been greeted with outspoken relief by district em ployers.

It also directs attention to tt extraordinary number of officia who, in these days, are cruisir around.