Old Planter Outspoken On P-Ng Condition

Plea That Canberra Leave Top Man Alone

JJOME clear impressions were J gained by Mr. G. A. Loudon, ;teran Papuan rubber-planter, when e returned to the Territories and lade a round tour in the Bulolo in ugust; and, in his usual forthright anner, he expressed his opinions in i interview with PIM.

“The retirement of the Adminis ator, Colonel J. K. Murray, was umber one topic while we were ound” he said. “The introduction r politics into a thing like this is jplorable the appointment of ieut-Governor or Administrator ould be kept right outside of party >litics.

“If Brigadier Don Cleland is ap pointed to the vacancy, it will be i excellent thing for the Territory, e has the strength and the know ige; but he should have been sent ere five or six years ago.

“The control of the Territories ider Colonel Murray and Socialist ibour imposed a heavy handicap i development: and moreover it s built up a vast bureaucratic achinei quite -useless in a young d undeveloped Territory.

“Colonel Murray was handicapped cause he had very little practical owledge of the Territories and fir natives, whereas Brigadier Cle id was the active assistant admin rator of ANGAU for years and to n goes the credit of operating the lole of the plantations of Papua, d boosting production towards the d of the war, and the formation the Production Board under Gen ii Blarney’s instruction.

“Except for the Highlands labour, ire will be a serious shortage if y large development takes place, ould the APC discover oil, they mid absorb a vast labour force and my estates would have to close wn. Therefore it is essential for ' Commonwealth to consider the portation of other labour in the ar future.

“According to a New Guinea thority a native now costs £lOO r annum. The main reason for this the cost of feeding a native. The port duty on flour, rice, wheat ;_al, sugar etc. is now so high that is killing all incentives to plant up w areas or enter into other in stries. ‘The Commonwealth Government 11 supply funds to the Papua-New linea Government this year lounting to about £5,500,000; but will probably take back in export ty about one or two million mnds. Why should the Common

wealth Government levy export duty on its own States or Colonies?

“Prior to the war, all machinery

used for new development was al lowed in free of duty. There is now a tax of 10 per cent.; and yet poli ticians say they are anxious to de velop the Territories!”

Considerable areas of cocoa were now being planted in New Guinea,

iid Mr. Loudon. The Government Duld have to take immediate steps > check the spread of diseases and ests, and give more strict attention > scattered native plantings. Regu itions have been passed, but that as not enough.

Bureaucratic Farce

The quality of copra now being [ported from some areas was poor, id the British Government would ave a perfect excuse if they cut the [OF price. Copra inspectors and aders should be appointed at once, jd Mr. Loudon.

Rubber planters were inclined to j rather lax in treatment and pack g—the reason being of course that le manufacturers were now only lying Singapore No. 2 price for ipuan first-grade rubber.

When the export tax on rubber as introduced the new Legislative ouncil unanimously agreed that M/3 per cent, should be set aside ; a Stabilisation Fund. This was it allowed by the Minister; and anters now are convinced that the Council is just another ireaucratic farce.

Problem Of Land

“It is still very difficult for Euro ;ans to buy or lease land,” said r. Loudon, “and vast areas of ipua and New Guinea are still be g destroyed by native hunting irties and the native method of inually shifting their gardens. Over e centuries great areas of scrub nd have been destroyed and lalang :urakura) has replaced the scrub, id such land is now eroded and eless.

“The native system of planting in ost parts of Papua-New Guinea is select a small patch of scrub, fell id burn off and plant with ro, sweet potatoes, yams, etc. The llowing year they fell another area id the same process is carried out. ow the first garden has produced good crop of lalang which, in the y season, is fired, either by a hunt g party or from some other use. This fire burns some of the rrounding scrub. Each year the me system continues—new gardens -more lalang—more burnt scrub, itil there are vast areas of lalang id useless land.”

Mr. Loudon said the Territory is recently visitSd by a very high gal authority, he asked him the llowing question:— Why is it that in all parts of the )rld an employer or employee has give notice according to the period payment of wages, whilst in pua and New Guinea a native can ilk off the job without notice?

No reply was forthcoming!