PAPUA OF TO-DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16923, 23 December 1922, Page 9

PAPUA OF TO-DAY.

CANNIBALISM NOT RIFE. By Telegraph—Frees Association—Oopyriiebt Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 23, 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, DOccember 23. Judge Murray, Administrator of Papua, who is visiting Sydney, said that there is very little territory in Papua now left for exploration. Most of it haa already been examined by various expeditions. The popular impression that ordinary native life there was one long orgy of cannibalism and head-hunting was quite incorrect. The majority of natives never had been cannibals or head-hunters, and anyone would now have to go very far afield to find a cannibal or head-hunter. Some of the tribesmen were still treacherous and hostile. In the recent expedition to Kunimnipa Valley, where natives were still frankly hostile, native carriers were attacked and a lucky fall saved the leader’s life, but a policeman who was marching behind was killed and two others wounded by tomahawks. More shipping facilities were required to enable agricultural development to proceed. Increased prices were again stimulating the rubber industry and there were prospects of cotton production being undertaken on a fairly large scale.