THE PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 155, 29 December 1911, Page 5

THE PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

SOME REMARKABLE STATEMENTS. MR. STANIFORTH SMITH REBUKED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, December 28. Remarkable statements have been published concerning Mr. Staniforth Smith's expedition in search of coalfields in Papua. Papuan officials and the Department are greatly concerned at the result of the expedition, and particularly over the treatment of native carriers.

After reading Mr. Smith's reports and evidence at the inquest on dead carriers, the Acting-Minister has administered a severe rebuke to Mr. Smith. He expresses surprise that Mr. Smith did not proceed to the locality reported to contain coalfields, and at the fact that only a small quantity of rice was taken for the natives' food. This was a mistake, as had a good supply been taken they would have been in better physical condition to withstand hardships. Another serious matter was the beating of carriers for stealing when the pangs of hunger were strong upon them. Jt came as a shock to learn they were treated in such a manner. The. evidence of a native policeman states that owing to their inability to find sago the carriers became thin, weak and unfit for work. When the raft capsized they were drowned because they were too weak to swim.

Mr. Smith stated that the only beating given was for stealing from a native garden, which caused danger to the party from a hostile outbreak.