PLIGHT OF NATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1920, Page 3

PLIGHT OF NATIVES.

TRYING CONDITIONS IN PAPUA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, April 2D. Mr. J. Benstead, Government Agent for Papua in Sydney, has returned from a visit to Papua, He said the agitation against Judge Murray's administration was due to the Government's alleged pampering of the natives, some of whom sorely needed pampering or more humane treatment. Mr. Benstead quoted a Magisterial report on native labor on a certain plantation in WIS, which stated that the natives received one meal daily, consisting of a quarter of a pound of rice and a few sweet potatoes, which were given tbem after they had been working 1h to 9 hours. They seven days a week from 5.30 in the morning to (i at night. Fierce dogs were kept and used against the natives, who were continually beaten by the whites. Most of the 1 natives received no clothes and went naked on the plantation, which was situated between 2000 and 3000 feet above sea level. The nights were bitterly cold and several died. Mr. Benstead concluded that although the treatment described was not confined to one plantation the majority of planters treated their laborers well.