Trouble smoulders under the oil palms

From AAP correspondent

Donald Woolford,

in Hoskins, New Britain.

hi-a^ e t SUCC^ SS u f Pa P ua New Guinea’s

biggest agricultural undertaking, the

kSv 011 P 31 ? 1 . P r °i e ? t ’ r X 8Y ° D * b ° ld S ° Cial Thl . U- U i 12 7 111O1 J Proiect, which was _- p a non ♦ Uly r i b. e P r °ducwtn f ii tons of palm oil monthly fu 1 Production begins m five y it -o , • • i . firm ,o J n Jl y a Bntish tPiS’tnrv aDd + CrOsfield ’ and 1116 tei ™° ry government.

The project when completed will Snd S ‘ln Pr °f e nucleu j 1 100'small . acres !, and total of Tl son b S k 7 1,h > a Rnth ? r de T 011 palm officials sav all comp , a " ! l oniciais say all indications are that the highest X l ld SUC< H ed ’ v PalmS haVe oects h de^M d ’ pH’t ™y ket . in g Prosentrf; iJn! E? % Bntain s >< eminent excdlent he Common Market > are itc „ ‘r . holders °“ S ? aU 1968 and whn^haL h ° arrived in Ivt’fk ♦? have come from all over the territory. Most are from economic prXess PUlatl ° nS P °° r The u c , loyalties and tr«didn Ve i C an loyalties and traditional enmities.

Administration officials admit feuds could disrupt production and possibly destroy crops. So far, however, rela tions have been as harmonious as anyone expected.

The only violence has been be tween the Chimbus, tough and aggressive Highlanders, and the proud and sophisticated Tolais from the Gazelle Peninsula.

But few people on the project believe the danger is yet over.

“Sometimes relations are good, sometimes they’re not,” a company official said.

“We sometimes feel there is an undercurrent of trouble smouldering,” an Administration officer said.

There are also problems between settlers and the Nakanais, the local population. The Nakanais sold their land for the project and some now regret it. Many resent the influx of outsiders.

There was a flare-up early this year when the Nakanais tried to prevent settlers from speaking at a public meeting of the Select Committee on

Constitutional Development held at Hoskins.

The Nakanais’ spectacular develop ment also a PP ears to have given fresh life to an old Nakanai cargo cult, The cultists believe that when a new wharf built to service the project is opened later this year a warship will arrive from South America laden with cargo for them.

Government officers fear Nakanai resentment may increase when they see settlers enjoying the benefits of their blocks.

Settlers are now living on govern ment loans to tide them over until their crops are mature. The first of the crops will be harvested at the end of July and from then on settler income will steadilv increase Farh settler is expected to earn at least $2,000 yearly once his 15-acre block is in full production.

This is far more than most Nakanais could ever expect. Even an indigenous university graduate earns less on entering the Public Service.

The main hone for neace that some Nakanais have themselves taken up blocks and may act as a link between their own people and the newcomers.