RUBBER IN PAPUA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 633, 10 January 1914, Page 3

RUBBER IN PAPUA.

HOW NATIVES ARE TREATED,

Sydney, Wednesday. Mr T. Craig, a well-known plantation expert from New Guinea, states that rubber cultivation in the group is practically a dead letter. Most of the plantations are now turning their attention to copra. None of the rubber properties except that of Sir Rupert Clarke, has proved a success. Para rubber is the only species that has jhown any promise of success. Ceara rubber is attacked by the root fungus disease, and one plantation has been abandoned after several thousands had been spent. Sisal hemp grew to perfection, but for some reason several large plantations, after large amounts had been expended on them, had been abandoned. "The whole trouble in conncetion with the native labour question," said Mr Craig, "arose through the natives not being always well treated. News of this treatment quickly spreads, and makes recruiting difficult. One remedy is to get boyß from outside their own district. Then if they run away they come in contact with the other tribes, who if they do not kill and eat they refuse them shelter. They are then driven to return to their employer While some planters treat the natives badly, on the other hand the Government handles them with kid gloves."