RUMOURS OF MUDDLE AND WASTE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 17, 20 July 1921, Page 5

RUMOURS OF MUDDLE AND WASTE

Is all well in New Guinea? Is the former German territory, now under Commonwealth control; likely to become only another vast sink, down which public money is to be poured recklessly and lavishly? Theso questions (says Melbourne Age) may well be asked, in view of the extraordinary, and disquieting reports' which are reaching Australia from many sources in regard to the condition of affairs at Rabaul, and in the .territory elsewhere under Common wealth, administration. Residents upon the spot, travellers and business men all tell stories of waste, of a valuable territory .deteriorating, arid of a condition of drift and muddle. In the meantime the Government itself maintains a remarkable silence about these matters, and when the Act-ing-Prime Minister' is asked in the House of Representatives whether the Government has yet framed-a policy in regard to the territory, he contents himself merely with the statement that, civil administration l".as been set up, and with .^the suggestion that.the detailed question ol future developmental policy is still under consideration. This kind of answer will not satisfy the taxpayer. The Government has already created a large number, of well-paid billets in connection with the territory; it has set up a.n expropriation board for the purpose of valuing, and taking over the German plantations there. It is high time that the public were made acquainted withthe details of all the work that lias so far been accomplished in the territory, of the amount of money expended there, find of the condition of the. plantations; and were told, what the Government intends to do with the plantations it is taking over.

Disturbing reports as to the gradual deterioration of the properties in the Territory, for instance, are made by two leading Melbourne business men who have recently returned nfter a.visit to Rabaiil and to the mandated districts. Some time ago the Government appointed a large number of returned soldiers as managers of some of the big plantations which have been taken out. of Gernian hands. With the policy of employing returned men, of course, no fault can be found. But it is stated by the two business men concerned that very many of these managers have had no experience whatever in the maimge.ment of coconut or any other plantations, and have no idea at all as to how they should, be worked. A good deal pf technical and expert knowledge is required for the successful management of any of the properties; and one returned-soldier, who has had an intimate experience with New Guinea conditions-in recent times, pointed out that it was very necessary that any planter should have some skilled knowledge of the native pests, and of how they can be dealt with, if his plantation was not to go to rack and ruin. Yet in many cases this knowledge is entirely absent. A' recently-appointed plantation manager told one of the Melbourne visitors 'that, were it not -for the advice volunteered to him. by the former German owner he would not know what to do, as. he knew nothing of rilantation work. Thus,.it is alleged that while the Territory was originally a very valuable asset when it was taken over by the Commonwealth, it is now in danger of serious depreciation, and it is suggested that, at any rate, some experts "should be retained in the capacity of instructors and advisers, so that the managers and others could learn, the technical details of their business, and the plantations bo maintained .at a high standard of pio duction. As it is, it is stated that the former German .owners, anticipating failure of, the Government's present policy, declare that they will be back in New Guinea in live years' time.

Complaints are also made as to the treatment of the native labour. It is generally admitted that for. the proper handling of natives some experience is needed. But this experience is also in many cases lacking where the authorities are concerned, and the result, as one of the recently returned visitors pointed out, is that the natives are beina;-allowed to drift as they please.. Labour is hard to secure, and in many cases the natives will not work. The position, if continued, is likely to. lead to very serious difficulties. .' ■

.As to the excessive cost of the present Commonwealth Administration many rumours are in circulation, and it would be well if the Government were to supply the public with details of the expenditure in all directions. An an example of extravagance, one of the visitors mentioned the former German wireless station at Pitapaka.. He states that fifteen men are now employed in running this station, although it is one with, a comparatively small a-adius of action, and the work it does could be carried out by an ordinary good ship's wireless set, employing two or three men at the most. At the same time, at the station itself, there was a large amount of valuable machinery going to waste and deteriorating, of which no use was made. Locally it was said that the authorities were losing many thousands of pounds per annum in operating this station.

Complaints were also made in Kabaul- as to the Government's lack of policy in regard to the German stores there, which have beeri taken over by' their original owners, 'f ho authorities, it was stated, had not renewed the stocks at these stores, but -were apparently letting matters drift until some decision was arrived at as to the ftlture. In the meantime a Sydney firm hatt opened a big store in the town, and was rapidly capturing the trade. Thus, if the Government should decide eventually to hand the former German' stores over to any private --individual to carry on the business, the latter would find himself severely handicapped. Business men and others, in fact, complain that there is an entire absence of businesslike control in many directions ..in the Territory, and that tho result is likely to be very costly in the long run, unless some clear-cut and sensible policy is decided upon and put into opVation in the near future. The sooner such a policy is announced by the Government the bettor it will be for Australia. As it is, a returned soldier with considerable experience in New Guinea conditions, expressed the definite opinion yesterday that if the present policy of drift were allowed to -continue the Territory was doomed;