SOUTH SEAS AND PAPUA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 10 April 1916, Page 3

SOUTH SEAS AND PAPUA.

I LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ! WHAT EDUCATION IS DOING FOR | THE NATIVES. 1 GILBERT GROUP AND SAMOA. i PICTURESQUE PAPUA. ! (Received 8.50 a.m.) Sydney, April 10. I ' A deputation of ministers from the 'headquarters of the London Missionary Society have returned from an extended visit to the Society's stations in the South Seas a.pcj Papua,. One thing that impressed the deputation was the re-ults of secular education which the Society provided practically throughout all the islands. Not-an adult was unable to read or write, which is a fact comparing well with England and Australia. In many of the Islands, Government has not long been established, hut everywhere it is becoming more and more acceptable to the Natives, and is doing greater and greater work. In the Gilbert group, especially, and in New Zealand's administration of Samoa they found the wannest interest being taken in the natives' welfare. They earnestly hoped' there would be no desire to introduce Indian and Chinese labor to Fiji; it spoiled the Natives, as they found that there was no reason to worth, and they shaiild bo encouraged to develop the plantations. Similar conditions applied to Papua. The latter country had a great future, and realised -what a' beautiful.countrv it was. '