ILL-TREATED PAPUANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 5

ILL-TREATED PAPUANS.

NAKED AND HALF-STARVED.

JUDGE MURRAY CHAMPIONED. A- and N.Z. SYDNEY. April 29. Mr. J, Benstead, Government Agent for Papua in Sydney, has returned from a visit to Papua. He said the agitation against Judge Murray's administration was due to the Government's alleged pampering of the natives, some of whom sorely needed pampering or more humane treatment. Mr. Benstead quoted the magisterial report on native labour on oertain plantations in 1918,' which stated that the natives on the plantations received one meal daily, consisting of a-quarter of a pound of "rice and a few sweet potatoes, which was given them after they had betn working 74 to 9 hours. They worked seven days a week from 5.30 in the morning to 6 at night. Fierce dogs were kept and were used against the natives, who were continually beaten by whites. M9st of the natives received •no clothes, and went naked on the plantation, which is situated between 2000 and 3000 feet above sea level, the nights being bitterly cold. Several of them died. Mr. Benstead concluded that although the treatment described was not confined to one plantation, the majority of the planters treated their labourers well.