Most Of New Guinea’s 2m People Poorly Educated

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 15

Most Of New Guinea’s 2m People Poorly Educated

(N.Z Press Assn.—Copyright) PORT MORESBY, Feb. 6. Papua-New Guinea has more than two million people —most of them young, Christian and poorly educated. This is shown in the territory’s first full census, made in June and July, 1966, and released yesterday. The territory’s total population then was 2,184,986, including 34,669 non-indigenous. Port Moresby was easily the biggest town with a population of 41,848, including 9865 non-indigenous. It was followed by Lae with 16,546 people, and Rabaul with 10,561. The census shows that about 51 per cent of the population was under 21 and that only 14,500 of the indigenes had any secondary education.

Only 7 per cent said they followed either. no religion or a customary one. Roman Catholics had the biggest Christian following with 31 per cent, then the Lutherans with 27.6 per cent. Some 233,642 indigenous people were mainly in the money economy, with another 442,109 earning some cash income—mainly as hunters, fishers or farmers. Another 572,215 were wholly subsistence workers.

Actress Dead.— The actress, Thelma Ritter, died in New York today at the age of 63. Miss Ritter, a success in supporting roles since her film debut in 1947, had a heart attack at her Forest Hills home on January 27.—New 'York, February 5.