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BEVOLKINGSLANDBOUW
Export figures
Exports of New Guinea in 1951 (Trade Section D.E.T.A.)
Pre- and post-war exports of some agricultural products (Trade Section D.E.T.A.)
1 1933/1935.
As regards the labour division within the family there is a strict line of demarcation
between the traditional task of woman and that of man. On the whole the
work requiring bodily strength, such as timber-felling, hunting, house-building
and the protection of the family, are among the duties of the male, whereas the
lighter work, including planting, the tending of the plantations, harvesting, the
beating and washing of sago, the care of the family and the pigs, is done by
woman. Through the pacification of large parts of New Guinea and the introduction
of the iron axe and the chopping-knife the task of the male native has
been considerably lightened. The traditional social structure, however, has not
changed, so that woman is now often unduly burdened and her husband has a lot
of leisure time, which he cannot make productive in his village community,
without violating existing adats (native customs).
In principle, there can be little objection to the employment of natives in nonnative
population centres, provided the outflow of male workers does not exceed
certain limits and reasonable standards are set for the labour conditions and
social care of the workers. This should, of course, be controlled by the Government.
A post-war dietetic enquiry (nutrition survey), made in five coastal and mountain
kampongs (villages) in Australian New Guinea, has shown that, though in
normal conditions, the Papua is able to produce enough food for his livelihood,
the diet is, according to modern standards, often ill-balanced. It probably contains