NEW GUINEA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 17 September 1924, Page 10

NEW GUINEA.

TREATMENT OP NATIVMI CHARGES AGAINST AUSTRAtuft . ' B|(bt cable—press associatioh— comaea*i\ (ATJSTBAAIAJJ AXD H.Z. CABLK ASSOCUoJJfc 'it LONDON, September 15. I % A scathing indictment of Austi*hV« % administration of the mandated terrf. *f tory of New Guinea is being made ]» ¥< the "Sicifllist Review" and featured Jn <f the "Morning Post." The "Socialist f Review" is issued by the Independent ? - Labour Party. „ i The author of the &rtiol*. ;„ >r' 1

The author of the article is Jfp * Francis Ahern. He writes on the nutte | ority of Dr. Begley, "who was medical f officer at New Guinea in 1910, nnd who, !„ Mr Ahern states, fell foul of the offi. fcials socn after his arrival in tie terrii 1tory. " * :> The article alleges shocking abuse of ! Native women, ruthless plundering tad "' burning of Native villages, and tie flogging of natives of both sexes, aa « result of which, Mr tthern says, tfa ' Natives are> living in i\ state of t«ir«v The writer further alleges that der, arson, rape, slavery, and bxrtaHKare common occurrences. He says ibw is proof positive that the Australaui Government is not carrying <art fa duties in accordance with" the IB tittdtft ) from the league of Nations. ', - The "Morning Post " Canning's report upon similar tions of slavery and flogging, eral conclusion of which was thai Aq Natives appeared to" be well fe&.iai fairly to revel in their work. It dhti state 3 that German.missionaijes continl. ered that the British administrarkm was perhaps a little too mild. Answering this, Mr Johji.Scurr, e& tor of the "Socialist Beview," points ' out that Mr Canning spent under & j , m' nth at Netf Guinea, and of that time j 14 days were spent at Rabaul, the hal- J ance in cruising around the coast. Of J 53 whites examined, 2S were officials, f

In addition to the evidence quoted by ' the "Socialist Review," further reliable) - information has been provided by Mr " R. A. Preseott, a member of a British! scientific expedition, who states thai' ' at Marienburg he witnessed the cwk signing of 130 slaves for forced tratk, and by Miss Beatrice Grimshaw, who / <■ was surprised to find how brutallj ti»' J whites treated the IN stives at the 6opiit i-| rivor. 1

Dr. H. B. Cameron, medical assistant at Bnhnatti Island, reported on, the ill-treatment of the Natives inDtk cember last to the Commissioner,'.Jßr^• H. Garden, who ordered an tion, but the • investigation haa'ijjl,-;; taken place. • " ' -. Ji-v-" Mr Scurr's' letter quotes • Sen#|! Pearce's statement to Parnatneh'^ r ' j June 17th, when he said:—"lt-iJ^llh,'> possible,. owing to deliberate, \ mental obstruction, to Bheet bjpjs '' charges of a grave nature agamsk'fiiSk ¥ cials in the mandated territory.' ,^|; | ; "After this declaration,'' s*j«K|psJ j Scurr, «'itvis imperative that a J impartial enquiry should be is to be hoped that the Nations will undertake it foufeflfiyjU&l