Lazy Natives of Thursday

Island What’s Bred In the Bone Will Not Be Cured by Free Fishing Boats

From Our Own Correspondent THE large and increasing number of young darkies of both sexes, born and bred on Thursday Island, seems to have again at tracted attention and it is rumoured plans to provide the local men with fishing boats of their own, and other similar schemes in readiness for the coming generation, are under consideration.

In fact, the employment of T.I.’s coloured citizens has become the latest “problem” of philanthropists.

There is no necessity, however, to magnify the prevailing unemployment of local natives to such dimensions. As a problem it does not exist, or if so is capable of a very easy solu tion. The coloured boys of the town can always get work from the local shellers, at any rate till they prove themselves utterly useless, and the girls would be rushed for domestic service if only they were willing to do it.

The co-operative boats of the outer islands have always needed a lot of spoon-feeding, and some of the methods used to induce the boys to work would not go down with the local youth—he knows too much. In any case, good results, which have not been jacking, depend on the personality and industry of the captain and these may be lacking amongst our town bred lads.

When both girls and boys of local origin show an inclination to take advantage of what is actually offering at the present time, it will be time enough to offer the latter boats of their own. But if they are to come under the existing Act we doubt if any independent natives will rush them.

However, most people here know the root trouble responsible for the laziness of the local native. A single axe blow in one direc tion, would send some of our best known street ornaments rushing for a job at sea in order to keep the home fires burning. What about instituting reforms of that nature?

Legalisation of certain matters would bring them about, even if our Anglo-Saxon sense of fitness is temporarily shocked thereby.

It must not be thought that the T.I. nat ives have been totally neglected up to date.

Both churches have made efforts to remedy their condition, and the establishment of a school and station at Hammond Island was a step in the right direction.

But wider reforms must be political and may run contrary to our accepted notions if they are to succeed. The special problems of Thursday Island need different treatment from the rest of Queensland and, with the best will in the world, new fishing boats will not solve them.