NAKED AND HALF-STARVED.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 102, 29 April 1920, Page 7

NAKED AND HALF-STARVED.

TREATKENT OF PAPUANS. mecelred in n.m.) ' SYDNEY, this day. Mr. J. Bon-tend, Government Agent , ' for l'apua in Sydney, lms 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 trcutmcut. Mr. lienstead [ ; quoted the magisterial report on native {labour on certain plantations in 1918, ! which stated that the natives on the ', plantations received one meal daily con- .; sifting of v quarter of a pound of rice ! and a few sweet potatoes, which was . I given them after they had been working ,TA to 9 hours. Tlipv worked seven days j; a week from f>."o in the morning to 0 .at night. Tierce dogs were kept and ! were n«ed against the natives, who were J continually beaten by whites. Most of , the natives rcrpivod no clotlies and went [ naked on the plantation, which is situated between 2000 and 30(10 feet above ; sea level, the nights being bitterly cold. . Several of them died. Mr. Bonstead con- , eluded that although the treatment described was not confined to one planta- : tion, the majority of the planters .treated their labourers veil.—(A. and ", X.Z. Cable.) ' 1