AUSTRALIAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN.

r *USTBAMAN N.Z. CARUE ASSOCIATION]

PAPUA TREATMENT. - (Received this day at 10.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

J. Benstead, Government' Agent for Papua in Sydney, has returned from a visit to Papua. He said the agitation against Murray’s administration was due to Government’s alleged pampering of the natives, some of whom sorely needed pampering or more human treatment. Benstead quoted the Magisterial report on native labour on a certain plantation in 1918, which stated that the natives received one meal daily, consisting of a quarter pound of rice, and a few sweet potatoes which were given them after they had been working 7) xp 9 hours. They worked seven days a week from 5.39 in the morning to. six at night. Fierce dogs were kept awl used against the natives, who wore continually beaten by the . whites. -Most of the natives received no clothes, and went naked on the plantation which was situated between 2000 and 3000 feet above the sea level. The nights were bitterly cold and several died. Benstead concluded that although tlu> treatment described was not con* fined to one plantation, the majority of the plantations treated their labourers well.

SYDNEY NEWS, SYDNEY, This Day. The federal Seamen’s Union has appointed C. Burke of Queensland as a delegate to the Genoa Congress. SYDNEY, This Day. Justice Ewing has''accepted a Commission firm the State Government to enquire into the ease of the. Industrial Workers of the World prisoners. SYDNEY. This Day. The City Council voted £3,000 to entertain tlm Prince of Wales. AEROPLANES. MELBOURNE. This Day. The first instalment of 100 gift aeroplanes has arrived. POLITICAL MELBOURNE, This Day. Government is introducing a hill in the House of Representatives, providing for representation of Northern territory in the Federal Parliament and an elective Council in Papua, which is not represented in Parliament.