PAPUAN NATIVES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 184, 30 April 1920, Page 7

PAPUAN NATIVES

REPORTS OF CRUELTY TO PLANTATION

WORKERS

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, April 29. Mr. J. Benstead, Government Agent for Papua, has returned to Sydney from a visit to Papua. ' He said the agitation against, the administration of the Lieu-tenant-Governor, Judge Murray, • was due to the Government's alleged pampering of tho natives, some of whom sorely needed pampering or more humane treatment. Ho quoted a Magisterial Teport on tho nativo labour on a certain plantation in 1918. The report stated that tho natives received one meal a day, consisting of a quarter of a pound of .rice and a few sweet potatoes, which wero given to them after they had been working from seven and a half to nine hours. They worked seven days a week, from 5.30 in the morning till Gat night. Fierce dogs were kept and used on the natives, who were continually beaten by the whites. Most of tho natives .received no clothes, and went naked on tho plantation, which was situated between 2000 and 3000 feet above sen-level, so that tho nights were bitterly cold. Several of them luid died.

Mr. Benstead said that although tho treatment described was not confined to ono plantation, tho majority of the planters treated their labourers well.— Press Assn.

MEXICAN REVOLT

FIGHTING ON THE OILFIELDS.

New York, April 28. Reports from San Antonio state that fighting occurred on the Tampico oilfields between. Carranza's forces and tho rebels. Obregon's force has entered tho States of Michoacon and Guerrero and is recruiting followers—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn

REBELS CAPTURE TOWN IN MORELOS. (Rec. April 29, 7.40 p.m.)

New York, April 28. Advices from El Paso state that the rebels, under the personal command of Obregou, captured the town of Cmuitla, in the State of Morelos. Federal bat talions, under General Urguzo, revolted while on route to defend Keuter.