PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

Waikato Times, Issue 12166, 28 December 1911, Page 5

PAPUAN EXPEDITION.

REMARKABLEi STATEMENTS

STANIFORTH SMITH'S EXPLORATIONS.

ILL TREATMENT OF NATIVES

MINISTER'S SEVERE REBUKE

(Per Pre»s Association.—Copyright.)

(Received Dec. 28, 10.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 28

Remarkable statements are published regarding Mr Staniforth Smith's exploration in search of coal fields in Papua.

Papuan officers and the Department are greatly concerned as to the result of the expedition, 'particularly over the treatment of the native carriers. After reading Mr Smith's reports, and hearing evidence at the ioqueet of the dead carriers, the acting-Minister adfministered a severe rebuke to Mr Smith, and expressed surprise that he did not proceed to the locality reported to contain coal fields. The fact that only a small quantity of rice was taken for natives' food was a mistake, for had a good supply been taken it would have been better for their physical condition to withstand the hardships. Anothersserousi o us matter was the beating of carriers for stealing, when the pangs of hunger was strong upon them. It came as a shock to learn that they were treated in such a man-

The evidence of a native policeman states that owing to inability to find sago, the carriers became thin and weak and unfit for work, and when the raft capsized, they were drowned because they were too weak to swim.

Smith stated that the only 'beating given was for stealing from native gardens, which endangered the parties to a hostile outbreak.