Charge That New Guinea Natives

Are Restless And Dangerous.

Details Placed Before Adminstrator.

A definite charge that natives in the Markham Valley area of New Guinea (through which passes some of the non-aerial traffic to the Morobe and Ramu goldfields) are getting out of control, has been made by Mr. C.

Hendry, a trader and recruiter, whose station is at Sangan, in the Markham Valley When the Administrator, General T.

Griffiths, was in this district in July, Mr. Hendry placed the following state ment before him: Early in February, Mr. E, J. Ubank and his boys were attacked by the Ragiampon villagers led by an ex policeboy, and in the melee Mr. Ubank was hit on the head with a club.

Two months later, a party of trading natives from Lehona were trading in the village of Marawassa, when one of the villagers tried to pull a bilum with out payment, and in the ensuing struggle, the Lehona native had his head cut open with a stone.

When Patrol-officer Kyle was collect ing taxes in that area last May, the villagers of Ragitsuma showed their re gard for the administration by com mitting gross indecencies. For this offence, 20 were given a whole fort night’s gaol and had to carry cargo about five miles a day and then cut the grass on an aerodrome.

Later, one of Mr. Kyle's policeboys was sent by him to ask for food for his carriers, and was punched on the nose by one of the villagers.

Also, a deserter of mine who was apprehended by Mr. Kyle and given two hours’ sand drill as punishment, picked up a stone and threw it at his police boys as soon as he was liberated, and then ran away into the bush.

Last month, my boys and I were attacked by the Ragisaria villagers; one of my boys is still seriously ill with concussion, and three of my recruits are still missing. I reported the matter to the D.O. at Salamaua and was told that they could not spare an officer to arrest the assailants, as they were so short handed.

Now comes word that two villages have had a big fight with sticks and stones, and that two policeboys and two mission-helpers were badly knocked about whilst trying to separate the combatants.

Previously, we had a very strong officer in Patrol-officer A. H. Ross, and there was no trouble then in the Mark ham Valley. For the last nine months we have been without any officer and, to quote Mr. Ubank, “A man will soon want a permit to enter the controlled area instead of the uncontrolled.’’

The plums of the district will be ably placed before you by your officers; I am trying to place before you, in my humble way, the aloes.

This area has been paying head tax for six years—10/- per capita (ablebodied men).

Watut-Langemark Area.

From another source, we are informed that conditions are very unsatisfactory

in the districts westward of the Morobe field; and we have been asked to pub lish a somewhat disturbing statement which contains very sharp criticism of certain district officers, who are named.

It would not be fair to attack, in this way, officials who have no opportunity of defending themselves. The gravamen of the charges may be thus indicated.

On Sunday morning, January 8, 1933, a Wein boy who had escaped from the Naylor and Clarius massacre, arrived at Isenbert’s camp and reported that the natives had attacked his masters and killed all the boys and that when he ran away his masters were still firing their rifles.

Bryan and Isenbert took him down to the Otibanda police post. Bryan offered to organise a well equipped party of miners and their boys and be ready to leave within two hours, in the hope of being able to save his comrades. His offer was refused by the officials. One of the latter flew to Salamaua that afternoon and, on the Tuesday, flew over the alleged scene of the tragedy and reported that he saw the natives dancing round what appeared to be a man tied to a stake in the village.

Two officers left on Friday in broad daylight. A miner with extensive New Guinea bush experience in that area, advised leaving by moonlight, so that the natives would not be able to “tele graph” their movements ahead, but was met with the curt rejoinder, “Are you trying to teach me my business?”

According to the official report, they had a brush with the natives and killed three. The policeboys, who were ques tioned by the miners, denied firing a shot and stated they never saw the natives.

Over six weeks later, two patrol officers went to the top of the ridge overlooking the Langemark Valley and saw the big villages on the opposite side. One had a very bad septic sore, and they were compelled to return for medical treatment.

Another patrol officer went in later and took ten prisoners from the Watut slope, from villages that had lifted up Naylor and Clarius’ cargo and had ad vised them strongly not to proceed further into the Langemark. (Naylor’s boy, who escaped, can substantiate this.) Five of these prisoners were killed when the patrol was ambushed.

“The only result to date (says the statement) is;—(1) Hitherto-friendly villages are now unfriendly and miners get little or no native foods. (2) The whole valley is in a state of turmoil. (3) Five innocent natives have been killed. (4) Five innocent natives are prisoners in Salamaua.”

There is a good deal more, the publi cation of which will not serve any use ful purpose. The police and patrol services of New Guinea have a fine record and reputation; and it is desir able that the suggestion that there was feebleness and delay in handling the Naylor-Clarius murder, should be brought into the open and investigated.

That may be left safely in the capable hands of the Administrator.

Dr. C. M. Dawson, formerly of the Government medical service, Tonga, has gone to reside in Apia, Western Samoa; and Dr. Brian G. Thompson has taken up the duties of medical officer in Nu kualofa.