EFFECT OF WORK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 November 1924, Page 5

EFFECT OF WORK.

ON NAURU PHOSPHATE FIELD. NEW GUINEA NATIVES. TO BE REPATRIATED. BY CABLE—PRESS 'ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received Nov. 6, 10 a.m. GENEVA, Oct. 5. Sir Joseph Cook told the Mandates Commission that owing to the deleterious effect of . work on the Nauru phosphate field on New Guinea natives, tlie administration had taken steps to repatriate them. The administrator emphasised that the Phosphate Commission had done’ all that was humanly possible to safeguard tlie health of New Guinea natives, but the nature of the work and diet, to which they were unaccustomed, was inimical to their welfare, and in some cases inimical to their health. Further entry of natives would be prohibited. \ Delegates lengthily' questioned Sir Joseph Cook concerning slavery, labour conditions, arms traffic, manufacture of alcohol, the prohibition of abuses thereof, liberty of conscience in tlie military clause, economic equality, and education policy. ■Sir Joseph Cook stated that with the exception of small allotments held by the Government and missions, the whole island was owned by individual natives. The board was now engaged in defining the- boundaries. Each owner would be given a certificate when the survey was completed. The commission generally was very satisfied with the administration of the mandate.