PAPUA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2145, 21 March 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

PAPUA.

WHAT IS BEING DONE THERE. A British possession of more than 20 years, and a Commonwealth possession .for more than two years, British New Guinea might still he referred to as a “terra incognita.” As portion of a. strip of' earth known for centuries as New Guinea, the land had some fame in the world, but under its new designation of Papua —a baptismal act ’-erformed by the Commonwealth on November 16, 1905 —it is known only to a handful of Government officials, planters, and gold-seekers. In their dealings with English speculators the officials have still to refer ,to iPVrpun as that portion of New Guinea controlled by British people. It has been demonstrated to be one of the richest patches within the tropics; it is within a few miles of Australia, and up to a couple of years ago, it was unexploited, except- by a few officials, whoso compulsory residence there tempted them to employ the fine yielding lands at their doorsteps as a subsidiary amusement. The Royal Commission appointed by the Commonwealth in 1906 to report upon the best means for the improvement of the territory gave it as their opinion that “tho hour has struck for the commencement of a vigorous forward policy, and the laudable Imperial policy of simply protecting the native population of half a million or more, and never seriously facing the question of white settlement, should be abandoned.” “The time, in its, original sense,” added the Commissioners, “for guarding the persons and lands of the natives against lawless and evil-disposed persons is past.” It was in this spirit that the Commonwealth became the controller over two years ago. What is of chiefest interest now is to 'know what progres has been made under the new rule. In its last stages as “New Guinea” the territory carried a white population of about 700, the two largest sections of the community being miners and officials. Planters were a rarity, although those most keenly concerned bold that the future of the land lay in .its rich agricultural productivity. The richest rubber tree in the world—-the Para—grow as luxuriantly there as it does in Brazil; but two years ago only two planters—Messrs I). Ballantyne and English—had shown enough enterprise to embark in .the industry. Last year, however, a decided, impetus was given to the industry by the advent of a British syndicate, which were granted 20,000 acres. These have since been planted with rubber trees, cocoanuts, and sisal hemp, and the crop is awaited. It is perhaps, due to the fact that the pioneer planter is compelled to stand for several years and watch the oncoming of his trees that he has been so rare in the land. The golddiggers at the Louisiades, Woodlark Island, the Gira, the Yodda, Milne Bay, and Iveveri Valley’ have been' blessed with instant recompense for’ their labor, and consequently they have reigned as the majority amongst the wealth-seekers up to the present. ’ The establishment of a Department of Agriculture, under Mr Staniforth Smith, with soil maps, Government nurseries, experimental gardens, agricultural libraries, plantation implements, seeds, and everything that will conduce to the ultimate success of the planter, has already had the effect of encouraging the latter class. Since the Land Ordinance of 1906 was passed 142,860 acres of land have been applied for by 211 persons or companies, and the desires of 133 of the number, representing 89,383 acres, have been met to date. This in itself - signifies a big influx of both population and capital—for it is no 'speculation for the poor man, this rubber and cocoanut business. But if the few years between the sowing and the reaping can be tied over—and tho conditions of living in Papua are . more! closely approximating to those in every other part of the world —the recompense is calculated to bo enormous. Adding those of the latecomers who have taken possession of their lands ; the white population ot Papua is now given at 850, the number comprising for the first time a substantial percentage of planters. -. Tho conditions for obtaining land are extremely easy. A 99-years’ lease involves no rent for the first 10 years, with a charge of Cel per acre only for the next 10 years, the rate thereafter to be decided. A fifth of the land must be planted within five years of taking possession, and two-fifths within 10 years. It will be seen, therefore, that the 89,383 acres already granted, as well as the largC' aiea applied for, aro about to become a very valuable asset to Papua, the authorities hold out the strongest inducements for the growing of rubber, cocoanuts (for copra), and sisal hemp. An estimate has been made tor the profits on these ventures. The figures are certainly alluring- . An acre ot land can be made to yield a ton ot sisal hemp in two and a half years from sowing, .at u cost of £lO per ton The market price for itihe fibre is : £3O per ton. Bo that here is a profit of £2O per acre. Rubber,, it is computed, will yield an even liighci profit, and cocoanut is known to return from 15 to 20 per cent, on the monev invested. Bo true is this last estimate that cocoanuts in Ceylon are called “the consols of Ceylon. Above all not one of the industries requires skilled labor. The value of the timber "rowing in Papua lias not yet been ascertained; but big things are be abundantly clear that the revenue of Papua last year, which was £23,000, and the exports, which totalled over £BO,OOO, are about to b°e adedil’to. But, because of the very nature of the industnes, no great accession of wealth can bt looked to for .a few years In E e meantime the .Commonwealth stakes its confidence in the future of I apua to the tune of £20,000 per annum fo administration expenses. In a of further confidence the P C'doral_ Government have tins year l’" 4 r° ,J , on the estimates for the making > roads. The last amount is due entirelj to the taking up of land, and tho taking up of laud should menu wealth to Papua.