Twelve Officials In

One.

Busy Teachers of Torres Straits,

[Letter to the Editor ]

I AM sure the advice by “Old Timer” on “How to Treat Natives” will prove of great interest to many readers of the but I feel that some of his “Hints” may convey an erroneous impression.

I have lived in Torres Strait for a number of years and have come in con tact with most of the so-called “Government Teachers” and hundreds of their native charges. The very name “Teacher” is a misnomer and “Govern ment Storekeeper” would be just as applicable. The most suitable designa tion would be “Jack of all trades,” or Island Administrator.

These officers certainly teach in the Islands schools but they also preside at native courts, keep meteorological and many other records. They act as lay medical officer, supervisor of native owned boats, registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, collector of taxes, health officer, paymaster for pensions, wages, etc. On several islands they also manage the local branch of aboriginal industries store, as mentioned in your article headed “State Stores” (May issue).

The “Teacher” also supervises the erection of all buildings, construction of roads, drains, wells and other works of improvement. On the larger islands hospitals have been erected and, as there are no trained nurses, the “Teacher” fills the position.

In some cases these officers admin ister several islands, to which periodic patrols have to be made. Each officer is responsible for the general welfare of about four hundred natives.

An Irish foreman once said, “While ye are spellin’ ye can shift those bricks.” I am of the opinion that there must be a large streak of Irish in the “Teachers.” They work with Native Scouts and Girl Guides during “spell” time. They have also been known to conduct Sunday schools, prayer meet ings, and Bible classes on “The Day of Rest.”

The “Teacher” is expected to carry out duties for the Aboriginal, Educa tional, Registrar-General’s, Justice, and Meteorological Departments. I am therefore surprised to note that they have time to carry blackboards around the native villages when councillors are to be elected, as suggested by “Old Timer.”

On making enquiries I have ascer tained that only one councillor is elected annually, not three as stated, and that they retire in rotation in accordance with an Island Regulation that deals with the election of coun cillors.

“Old Timer” appears to infer that the “Teachers” resort to underhand practices at such elections. Natives would certainly love “to run the show and assume authority” even over the European officer, but if such were countenanced by the Aboriginal De partment would it not quickly breed tribes of aggressive natives?

Did “Old Timer” mean to insinuate

that the “Teachers” have been, are, or are likely to become fathers of half caste children? I have yet to hear that a Government “Teacher” has been prosecuted under Section 19 of the Aboriginal Act. Perhaps he is advising them to practice discretion in their amours with — “Such luscious, dark beauties as dazzle their sight!” (Apologies to M.M., of “Tropicitis” fame.) I am, etc.,

Waiben.

At the last meeting of the Anthropo logical Society of New South Wales, held at the Sydney Museum on July 18, Mr. Gregory Bateson delivered an inter esting lecture on the tribal customs of New Guinea natives. Mr. Bateson has recently returned from New Guinea, where he was engaged in research work.

He spoke in detail of the burial customs of the Sepik River natives and the extent to which these natives’ lives and actions are influenced by their belief in spirits.