RUBBER-GROWING IN NEW GUINEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 7 January 1914, Page 5

RUBBER-GROWING IN NEW GUINEA

CULTIVATION A FAILURE. PLANTATIONS BEING ABANDONED. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr T. Craig, a well-known plantation expert - at "New Guinea, states that rubber cultivation in the group is practically a dead letter. Most of the plantations are now turning attention to copra. None of the rubber properties, except Sir Ruper Clarke's, proved a success. Para rubber was the only species which had shown promise of success. Oara rubber was attacked at the root by fungus disease, and one plantation had been abandoned after several thousands had been spent.. Sisal hemp grew to per-v fection, but for some reason several plantations after large amounts 'had been expended on them, were abandoned. The -whole trouble in connection with the native labour question arose through the natives not being always well treated. News quickly spreads and makes recruiting difficult. One remedy is to get r .bovs from outside one's own district., then, if they run away, they come in contact with other tribes who, if they do not kill and eat them, refuse to roof them, and thev 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.