NEW GUINEA MANDATE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11648, 12 October 1923, Page 6

NEW GUINEA MANDATE

MANY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. HASTY CRITICISM UNWISE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. SYDNEY, October 11. The Federal Parliamentary Party has returned from a visit to the mandated territory in New Guinea. The members generally express satisfaction with the administration and the future outlook of the territory, but are impressed by the difficulties of the problems still remaining to be handled. There has been much adverse criticism regarding the Government management of the plantations, but the visitors found that only half a dozen out of 259 controlled 1 holdings are unprofitable. Until the pacification and control of the natives have been further advanced, it is doubtful if the supply of labour can be augmented and the area of cultivation substantially increased for some time; but w in a few years the controlled plantations should! produce annually 20,000 tons of copra. The natives are being well loosed after medically and otherwise, and the I officials, as a body, most of whom are returned soldiers, are now becoming experienced and are endeavouring wisely to direct the destinies of the country under the most difficult' conditions. The advice of the visitors was that those who have the wojfare of the mandated territories at heart should hesitate to offer harmful criticism, and should show toleration.