PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 29 December 1911, Page 2

PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

REMARKABLE STATEMENTS. DID STANIIFOIRTH SMITH FAIL" ALLEKJEID Uli-TRHAffMBNT OF ' , NATIVES. (Per United PreM Association.) MIELBOIJRINIBj Deaember 28. KJemaii^k'aibjle sitaltemeinits are published concerning the iStaiiiforth Smith expedition in search of Goal fields in Papua. The Papuan officials Mid depa'rtmenifcare gfeatly doncerned as to the result of the expedition, particwlarly oiver the treatment of naltive oarriem. After reading Smith's reports and evidence at the ir.quesit on the dead earners, the Acting Minister administered a severe rebuke, Mb 4 Staith exprtlsses suqwise, and will not procieed to thie locality reported to contain coal fields. The fact that only a small quantity of rice was taken for the natives food was a mistali.e for had a good supply been taiken they wotild have been in better physical condition to withstand -the hardships. .Another tserious matter is the beating of oarriers for stealing when the. pang's iof (hunger were strong upon tlxesn. It came ss a shock to learn they had been treated in such a manner. The evidence of a native policeman stated that owing to the inability to find sago the carriers bedame thin, wteaik and unfit for work, and wfien a raft capsized they wore drowned because they wiere too welalk to swim. . ' . ■; S"mith stated tihait the only beating given was for stealing from native gardens, which endangered the parties to a hostile outbreak.