A PAPUAN ROMANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1924, Page 2

A PAPUAN ROMANCE

WHITE MAN SAVES AN ISLAND From a position of starvation and misery to one of affluence, the natives of an island, of. the Torres Straits have been raised by the initiative and enterprise of one white man—Mr. F. W. Walker, managing director of the Papuan Industries, says the “Daily Chronicle.” The story of this notable example of what the white man can do for the backward native races of the British Empire was detailed by Mr. Walker in a paper given before the . Royal Societies of Arts meeting recently.

When a missioner for the London Missionary Society some years ago Mr.: Walker came across these wretched natives, and, instead of applying for Government relief, as is usually done in such circumstances, he decided to try to help them himself.)

“Is offered to buy a boat for them out of my own money, and give them a chance to work, and thus enable them to provide for themselves and their wives and families, instead of always depending upon the Government for doles of food. They very eagerly accepted my offer, and worked with such energy that within eighteen months they not only provided

for their own requirements but they paid* off the whole cost of the boat. “The late Mr. John Douglas, a former Premier of Queensland, who held the office of Government Resident for the North at the time, was so .pleased with this experiment that he arranged for the whole of the business transactions in connection with the working of this boat to be dealt with through his office. When it proved such a great success, he started jOther boats, and when the Papuan Industries, Limited, arrived on the scene conditions were ripe for further developments. “At the present time there is a fleet of twenty-six native-owned boats at work, of an average value of £4OO

per boat, making a total value of over £lO,OOO for the fleet, all of which is owned and has been paid for by the natives out of their own earnings.” Ill: one year £16,000 worth of produce was collected. Everything is done on a strictly business basis. All the marine produce is sold in Thursday Island by public tender, under the Supervision of the Protector of Aboriginals. Five per cent, is banked by the Government as an island fund for “lean times,” and each man is rewarded according to the work he has done. The Government auditor supervises the books. Under these conditions, explained Mr. Walker, the natives are working with surprising energy, they generously contribute to tfleir churches, and their physique and .character are improving.