THE PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12647, 28 December 1911, Page 5

THE PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

.STARVING CAH li I F;RK

MINISTER'S SEVERE IMDRUIvIi.

(Press Asbh.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) (Received December 28, 9.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 28.

Remarkable .statements have been published concerning Mr Staniforth Smith's expedition iv search ot coal fields m Papua. Papuan officials and the Department are greatly concerned at the result of the expedition, particularly' over the treatment of native carriers.

I After reading Mr Smith's reports and 'the evidence at the inquest on the de;i.d carriers, the Acting-Minister administered a, severe rebuke to Mr Smith. lie ex preset, d juirpi'ist- that they did not proceed to the locality reported to contain coal fields. The fact that only a small quantity of rice was taken for the natives for food was a mistake. Had a good supply been taken they would have been m better physical condition to withstand the hardships. Another serious matter was that of beating carriers for stealing when the pangs of hunger were strong upon. them. It came as a shock to learn that the3' had been treated m such a manner. The evidence of a native policeman states that owing to inability to find sago the carriers became thin and weak and unfit for work. When the raft -capsized they were drowned because they were too weak to swim. Mr Smith stated that the only beating given was for stealing from natives' gardens, which rendered the party liable to a hostile outbreak.