Papuan Plantations

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 162, 8 January 1914, Page 5

Papuan Plantations

RUBBER A DEAD LETTER. BEING REPLACED BY COPRA. NATIVE LABOR TROUBLES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, January 7. Mr. T. Craig, a well-known plantation expert in New Guinea, slates that rubber cultivation in the primp is practically a dead letter. Mosi of the .plantations are now turning Uieir attention to copra. None of the rubber properties, except that of Sir Rupert Clarke, has proved .a success. Para rubber is the only species that has shown promise oi success.

The Ccara rubber tree is attacked by a root fungus disease. One plantation had to be abandoned after several thousands had been spent. Sisal hemp grew to perfection, but for some reason several plants, after large amounts had been expended, had been abandond.

The whole trouble in connection with the native labor question arose through the natives not being always well treated. The jWks quickly spreads, and makes recruiting itiflicillt. One remedy is to get boys from outside their own district, then if they run away they eeme into contact with other tribes, wno i f they do not kill and eat them refuse to roof them and they are driven to return to their employers. While some planters treat the natives badly, on the other hand the Government handles them with kid gloves. "