Moresby Quickly

Cleared

Of Idle Natives

P. MORESBY, April 2.

SINCE early March, when the outcry against sneaking natives resulted in a plan being launched to deal with unemployed in Port Moresby, 450 have trundled off to their villages, and another 93 have spent a short term in Bo mana jail before turning their steps back to the parental roof-trees. The latter appeared in court on a charge of being in the town more than four days without employ ment or excuse.

The 450 went off home without the spur of legal action, and the exodus was accelerated by the will ing and effective co-operation of their fellow villagers.

Back from a quick tour of coastal areas extending from Daru to Samarai, and a visit to the Nor thern District, Mr. Elliott Smith (in his capacity as District Inspector) found that his mission had a lot of backing from the native com munities. Village committees were set up to ascertain the names of tribal members known to be doing nothing in Port Moresby, and

orders went out from the folks at home for the “walk about nothing” boys to return at once to their vil lage responsibilities.

The Administrator (Mr. Cleland) said that the position (unemployed natives in Moresby) had greatly improved at the end of March.

Mr. Martin Moyer, of Seattle arrived at Suva on March 29 witl

sound-recording equipment an]

cameras. With Mr. C. A. Stinson of Suva, he will make short film for televising in the United States and some short colour films fo: cinema use.