AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 134, 27 May 1926, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

SCHEME FOK FROTOCTXON. Separate State Proposed. Proposals for the establishment of an aboriginal State in some portion of northern Australia to provide a permanent home for the Australian aborigines still alive in the Commonwealth are contained in a petition which has been prepared in Adelaide for presentation to the House of Representatives. The preparation of the petition has been organised by Mr. J. C. (renders, of Adelaide. The petition suggests that the aboriginal State should be constituted forthwith, and managed as far as possible by a tribunal of aborigines. It is suggested that the laws and customs of the aborigines should be observed in the State, but that cannibalism and cruel rites should be prohibited. Unjil a sufficient number of aborigines C&n be trained to carry on the work of government and administration, it is suggested that white officers should be appointed, but it is considered that in time the administrator of the State should be an aborigine.

It is suggested that the entry of white people, except missionaries, Government officers, and teachers into the rStfute should be strictly prohibited,)-/ and -that steps should be taken to itgain the aborigines in a <3£r icultural sciences, and to provide them with proper facilities for medical treatment. *Dbe .petition recommends that the State should be represented in the Federal Parliaiment. Jt is jtiot suggested f that ,q,ny a -* itempt should be made to force aboriwill. It is suggested that, upon the establishment of the proposed State, more stringent regulations should ;be framed to govern the between aborigines and white people, is suggested that ‘annual returns she- 1 be furnished by all white personsn ve ploying aborigines. The petition states that the ginal races in Australia a re fast . out because the experiments w W-' * have been made to improve their effi ditions have not been successful. Case-” of cruelty and oppression still exist 1 ; with .which Governments haye been an able to deal. The extension of railways and settlement to central AusV tralia and other areas which were formerly the hunting-ground of the blacks is slowly diminishing their food supplies, and as settlement coutinues their hunting-grounds will slowly pear.