CIVILISING PAPUA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17949, 29 November 1932, Page 9

CIVILISING PAPUA

NATIVES RULE NATIVES SUCCESS OF SYSTEM Captain A. Liston Blyth, a resident magistrate .in Papua, addressing the Legacy Club at Sydney, said that Papua, was now as highly civilised as any other native territory under British administration. He attributed that to the success of the Australian administration, and described Sir Hubert Murray as one of the best administrative officers in the service.

In districts where 10 years ago there. ,vvas perpetual head-hunting and constant warfare between the tribes, there was now peace and security. The establishment of natives as village constables had been an important factor in bringing about a more satisfactory condition of affairs. Another reason was that the natives were-as-sured that when there was a murder, or other crime, there would not be a punitive expedition against the village, but that the patrol officer in charge of the district, with native constables, would go after the man guilty, and when lie was arrested the Government would not take any part in additional punishment on the village or tribe. The policy of ruling the natives by natives for the benefit of the natives had been entirely successful. (Hear, hear.) Captain Blyth said lie could not speak too highly of the successful cooperation of the different missionaries with the Government officers. In one district whore head-hunting and cannibalism. were, rife 15 years ago there were now 800 natives as adherents of the Anglican Church. (Applause.) He had a tremendous admiration for the self-sacrificing efforts of the missionaries and the wonderful success of tlicir work in Papua.