NEW BRITAIN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3466, 21 April 1920, Page 7

NEW BRITAIN.

THE COMMONVVEALTH. ’S NEW’ TERRITORY.

I The Rev. W. H. Cox, who has spent ‘ 18 years in New Britain as a member lof the Australasian Methodist Misfsoin, and was for seven years chair‘man of the district, when interviewed by the Christchurch Press, gave some interesting inforination regarding this portion of one-time German territory over which the Commonwealth of Australia has been given a mandate. The territory, which is a. valuable one, comprises 90,000 square miles Bf country, the principal product being copra Large areas have been taken up and much money invested in these islands and it is anticipated that the export of copra. ‘will greatly increase. There is still much country to be developed, but New Britain, like many tropical countries, is not a country for small capitalists. The population of New Britain is about 250,000, the natives being Mel-.-rnesians. Not more ‘than one-third of the native population has been reached by civilising influences; the other two—thirds still live their primitive, wild, and barbarous life. The German settlers continue to carry on their plantations and businesses, and_, as yet, thorn are no indications as to what the Commonwoalthv Government intend doing with. them. New Britain is still under military rule, and the policy of the Commonwealth Government in respect of many matters being awaited with a good deal of interest. Sonle—lnonl‘hs ago 9. Parliamen‘r:n'y Commission visited New Britain for the purpose of I'()porl'ing‘ on the islands, and a“<lVisin_q the (‘revernment, but its report has not been mzule pnl)li(.-, and as far as is known the (hivermnent has not taken any» autimi as a result‘ of the ('.‘mnrni.=.<inn'>' visit. and report. l'llrler the Clernnzm regime theh i’reehol<l of the land was obta,iil:il)le, but it is zmtieipatexl that “the Comnronwdalllr Gov.ernlnlen,‘t will

not allow any more ’fo be taken up under that tenure, and will substitute tht-I‘el‘m' HlO 99.‘) ynal's' 10:1.<0h0ld_tCu-

The natives :I'l'p :Llll<.nlg.<: the backward 1'21c.0.~40.t' the world, Mr Cox Stated, and have not reached the s:1111o stage as the Samoans ‘or Tonga.ns. They zu'c_.‘howevel', an intelligent people, capable of a, good deal of education and tl'aining'. Collnooto<l with the ".\:[c-thodist Mission is a stafl? of 280 native teachers, who preach and who also tom‘-.}'l in the Mission primary schools. Some of the nafives have learned to‘ drive oil-éngincs, and at the Mission prihting offico prifiting and bookbinding arp done by natives.

In (',olln(3c.f.ioll with the Mission HlOl-r»: is 3, })jg* plantufion’ where 200 iSi21Il(101's work under Cllrf.~lti:lli collditions. As an indication ffmt" {Tm nafivcs ap‘p]'f_‘C'illf(! the Mission, Mr Cox mmtionod i:h:lt they have c-ont‘rii)n.‘r-<1 ovor £5()00 to tho "F1111(i's of tho Z\‘il'.<sion.