Poisoned

Minds Of Natives

New Guinea Opinions

Praise For District

Officers

From Our Rabaul Correspondent THE interview with a “well-known planter” appearing in your issue of September 16, on the subject of natives being taken to Australia, has aroused a good deal of comment, both favourable and unfavourable.

Most residents deprecate the practice, and there is no doubt that a great deal of harm results. The “boy’s” morale suffers by the unwonted attention paid him by the curious-minded, and, in some instances, the undesirable atten tions of low-class whites.

On his return, he relates his experi ences —much distorted and invariably to the detriment of the white race—to his associates. In the majority of cases there is no real need to take natives to Australia, and, considering the few who really need servants en route, the prac tice should be stopped.

It is perhaps hard to believe, but, with quite a number of people, the mo tive underlying the wish to be accom panied by native servants is pure “swank,” occasioned by a desire to cre ate an impression on friends in Aus tralia. In such cases, it appears that in order to satisfy a foolish conceit, the mind of a native is poisoned, and the prestige of the white man lowered.

It is well known that, when natives ac company private residents to Australia, they usually become a hindrance, and are frequently left much to their own devices with disastrous results. Except under the care and supervision of the or Education authorities, no should be permitted to leave the

Efficiency Of Public Service

But in ventilating the above subject, your informant rather covertly attacks our District Officers.

The writer would not refer to this, except that the impression may be con veyed that our District Officers are a regiment of rag-tag and bob-tail indi viduals, undertaking the difficult task of administering our Ordinances with no experience or qualifications for such work. Admittedly, we have not men highly trained in Colonial administra tion, and this Territory, being self-sup porting and not in receipt of subsidies, has probably not been in a position to offer conditions that would attract such men.

Our public service was necessarily built up from the material available at the close of the military regime, and we now have, by a process of elimina tion, a body of men of sound common sense and intelligence, who have very successfully tackled their jobs.

The reference your “well-known planter” makes to the previous occupationss of certain of our District Officers is unfair and, in so doing, he treads on exceedingly thin ice.

If an investigation were made into the previous occupations of many of our planters, prior to their acquisition of plantations, you would have a list so varied that many of your readers would be puzzled to know how such men could manage even a coconut plan tation successfully.