AUSTRALIA'S MANDATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18277, 19 December 1922, Page 9

AUSTRALIA'S MANDATE.

SUCCESS IN NEW GUINEA.

AN ANSWER TO CRITICS.

SOME INITIAL DIFFICULTIES. [froji our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, Dec. 8. An interesting review of the Australian administration of the mandated territory of New Guinea and a denial of recent charges concerning the Governmental policy there has been supplied by the Administrator, General Wisdom, who ia visiting Australia.

For the last two years, he said, the Administration had been engaged in forming an entirely new policy. Flogging of natives on the plantations had been abolished, as well as the system of compulsory recruiting. A comprehensive set of land laws, under which land could bo held either in leasehold or freehold had been introduced, together with a complete reorganisation of the civil law. The opinion had been expressed, said General Wisdom, that Australia had proved herself incapable in the administration of German New Guinea. It must, however, be remembered under what circumstances Australia had had to svriteh over from a military occupation to a properly _ organised 'civil administration, which involved the empiovment of almost entirely •untrained staff, both for the Administration and the Expropriation Board. Perfect control tharefore could not immediately be obtained, as appeared to have been expected by critics. It was, however, a striking commentary on the adaptability and the administrative qualities of the Australian that he has so successfully met the situation. With few exceptions he was making good, and Australia need have no fear in regard to the administration of the territory. Since the Expropriation Board was inaugurated about two years ago, the Administrator explained, over 300 plantations which had belonged to Germans had been taken over. These were now almost entirely managed by returned soldiers under the board's control. General Wisdom expressed the belief that with the return of normal trade conditions the territory would prove the Commonwealth's most coveted possession. Vast tracts of land, rich m tropical vegetation and inhabited by lage numbers of natives, were, he pointed out, as yet but barely explored. The rich undulating valleys of two of the principal rivers, navigable for hundreds of miles, offered immeasurable opportunities for the growing of rice, coffee, tobacco, tea, and industrial alcohol. The territory also had immense mineral possibilities. Referring to certain reports of alleged gold discoveries, General Wisdom said: 'I have no knowledge of any sensational gold finds, and strongly advise that such stories should be treated with great caution. The reports were not accepted bv the _ Administration, which had taken special steps t 0 be in a position to inqurie into the bonafides of any reported finds."