GERMAN NEW GUINEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 6

GERMAN NEW GUINEA

(Fkom Ode Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 19. An interesting review of the Australian Administration of the mandated territory of German New Guinea has just been submitted to the Federal Parliament. It is stated that some estimated that the native population was about 500,000, but it was thought that the real population was between 330,000 and 400,000. The legislative question was difficult, as even in the modest stage attained by tropical agriculture in tho°territory, of about 150,000 acres in actual cultivation the supply of labour for plantations was already inadequate. About the time the war occurred the German Government intended to repeal the existing native labour regulation, and it was decided to use as a basis for the new native labour regulation the revised draft regulations which the German Governor had intended to bring into force. The most important alteration was relating to corporal punishment. During the military administration the revenue hod each year shown a steady increase. The Customs duties were the main items of income. There was an export duty of 25s per ton on copra, and for the year 1319-20 the copra yield was £240,000. The native tax procluced in 1919-20 £11,210. The expenditure incurred to the Defence Department from the date of occupation to the transfer to the civil administration on May 9i 1921, was £1,192,200, and the levcmwe was £39BJ°*-.