How To Treat Natives

Some Useful Hints by an “Old-Timer."

THE islands of Torres Strait, between Thursday Island and New Guinea, come within Australian boundaries and are administered by the Aboriginal Department of Queensland. On each of the larger islands a European official is located, who performs the duty of schoolmaster, supervisor of general af fairs, storekeeper, and various other jobs, for various departments, and is known as the “Government Teacher”.

The position is one which requires tact, commonsense, and practical ex perience of native conditions, and one official, since retired, who spent some years in the islands, compiled a very useful compendium of information for unofficial circulation amongst those new to the work. The following extracts, taken from the list, are so applicable to similar conditions wherever there are native communities that their publica tion may serve a useful purpose.

On election of native councillors: For convenience and felicity get a black board and write names of those whom you recommend to be elected; do not forget the native custom of tribal in terest. Each tribe may want a repre sentative. This cannot be if only three are allowed to be appointed and there are five tribes. . . After your man has been appointed (by a show of hands), move the board to another part of the village to where you want the other councillor to have authority, and again write down the names of those you re

commend; then move the board as be fore. and you will have names appointed in rank according to your knowledge of their fitness. Their duties are to support you in the administration of island affairs, to carry out orders of the Protector of Aboriginals, etc. Let them believe they run the show, they love authority; but be sure you guide, hold and prompt. Do not encourage individual “rising” to as sume authority.

On native court affairs. —You will be looked to guide native councillors in this duty, in fact, almost to run the show, but do not rise to the position of a magistrate, you are not one. If you find out anything wrong, question your native police and order a meeting of the court. You will find that when court meets they remain dumb, and squat looking at you. Find out what is wrong, ask questions of both sides; but take no side in the case, then refer the matter to the councillors. They will say who is at fault. Then pass a slate round, asking them to write what punishment they think fit, unseen by each other, and you can fix the punishment, the slates guiding you. Remember, not to be too hasty in coming to conclusions, weigh evidence, think well and long before meeting out punishment, both here and in school with the children. Never for get that you too stand at the bar of justice and mercy, and let mercy govern all your doings.

You are in charge of the police and sometimes the councillors will try to boss the police, threaten to disrate them.

Do not allow this and the police are to carry out your orders, make arrests, take charge of prisoners, report sickness, and bring to you all visitors that land on the island. Do not encourage them to confine people without your advice, as this may land you in trouble.

Be friendly with all natives but fami liar with none. Never forget this. Never enter a house alone. Be careful how you act towards women and girls, give no cause for talk, for be sure where there is smoke there is fire. Discourage beg ging. Accept no presents (make return for what you receive in fair payment).

Discourage hand-shaking, make them salute, you saluting in return.

Attitude towards pearlers, visitors, recruiters, etc. —Be courteous and oblig ing as far as it is in your power to be.

In your attitude towards the natives, also to all others, avoid making reports; settle as far as you can your own af fairs. The office will not thank you if you give them your dirty work to settle.

Be very careful how you act concerning Section 16 of the Aboriginal Act (which deals with “persons prohibited from fre quenting camps,” etc.). For your own sake, be warned by Section 19 of the Act (which deals with the support of a half-caste child by the father). Boats recruiting must first hand in their re cruiting permit. No visitors are allowed on shore after sundown, but use your common sense when dealing with re quests. Do not allow your police author ity to confine visitors, nor put in irons any Oriental, without your direct order.

If Japs., etc., are confined in irons, you cannot foresee what international ques tion your thoughtless action or officious police may open up. Remember, they are Eastern and subtle. A case once happened where a policeman put a Ma lay in gaol, kept him in irons, all night, and fined him £1 the following morn ing! Support your police by ordering a man off to his boat, then write to his employer about his conduct, sending a copy to your superior official. Do not be hasty; write your report and think it over next morning. If you see error

and defiance through eyes unclouded by anger, write out your report and send it in; it is then your duty to do so. Do not speak to an Oriental in such a man ner as to rouse his anger. Be gentle and he will return respect. Do not forget he is human, and many mistakes made are unintentional, and often acts and Western feeling and pride are violated by the Eastern’s ignorance of our feel ings. Be firm and quiet, determined; re member, we, too, more often offend and shock the moral feelings of coloured people. Treat them as you would like them to treat you in their country.”