Tropicalities

Mr. Gordon Sinclair, The Canad-

ian junior reporter, concerning whose libellous rubbish on Papua and New Guinea we said a few words last year, has been “Footloose in India.” That is the title of a book he has written, after fully eleven days spent in the ancient Empire. He does not think very much of India or the Indians, and he is quite illit erately scornful, at their expense. He decides that the romance of the immem orial east is a "‘washout,” and that he must “de-bunk” India; and he does it with the finest collection of American slang ever seen in one volume. It is a priceless example of puppyish journal ism, lacking either use or ornament, but probably it will amuse some of the illiter ate millions of North America. Perhaps the best comment on the book is provided by a photograph of the author him self. We see the young gentleman beautifully posed, hands on slim hips, open necked shirt, a sun-helmet on his head and a holster, containing a real revolver, around his waist. He spent an hour jeer ing at Gandhi; and he used his revolver to take pot-shots at turtles from the top of the Taj-Mahal. “A Hoodlum In India” would be a better title.

THIS occurred recently in a town in South Queensland: During the year the class had been given a lesson on the habits and customs of the Pacific Islands natives. On the occa sion of the periodical visit of the inspec tor, this subject came up for question and the following information was proffered by a promising lad, much to the chagrin of the school master: “The Pacific Island er eats very little and has an empty look.

When he beats on his tum-tum, it makes a hollow sound, which can be heard for miles.” A bright young thing, gifted with a sense of humour, blushed and giggled.

KINDLY little letters from friends all over the world, bearing witness to the interest and value of the P.I.M., are frequently received, but are not publicly acknowledged, for obvious reasons. There is one letter to hand in the last mail, however, over which we must publicly compliment ourselves.

Mr. J. C. Barley, the newly appointed Administrator of the Gilbert and Ellice Colony, recently received congratulations on his appointment from an old friend who has been wandering in out-of-the way places in Europe. This friend says that he learned of Mr. Barley’s new move from a copy of the “Pacific Islands Monthly” which he happened to pick up in the ante-room of a German doctor’s place in Berlin. Mr. Barley kindly re marks that this is somewhat startling evidence of the very considerable circula tion of the P.I.M.

As a matter of fact, the P.I.M. now has a surprisingly large circulation in Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Prance, the Far East and the United States. Not long ago a London firm advertised a special brand of whisky for sale. Writing to us recently, they said that they thought they were advertising to secure Pacific Is lands business; and they naturally were astonished to receive replies to their ad vertisement from residents of the western States of America. It just happened that the advertisement received publicity at the time that U.S.A. abandoned prohibi tion, and people in America were looking for sources from which they might secure regular whisky supplies.

ALL the civil-service superannuation schemes in Australia and M.L. have been described, at one time or another, as “actuarily unsound”; and Papua has come into the picture. During the last two financial years nearly £7000 has had

to be appropriated from general revenue to meet pensions, and if all retired who are entitled to retire another £12,000 would be required in the first year. The fund was launched in 1917. One officer paid £590 into it. He has retired on a pension of £530; and he is still a com paratively young man.—Sydney Bulletin.

IN reply to a good deal that has appeared in Australian newspapers lately on the subject of refractory natives Mr. J. T.

Bensted, late Director of Public Works in Papua, made an effective point. Writing to the “Sydney Morning Herald” on Janu ary 25, he said: “I think the answer to these complaints, or criticisms, may be found in the fact that the white man and his wife and children were not molested in this manner in the early days, nor was it found necessary to inflict corporal punishment upon one’s servants or em ployees. Then there was far less ‘protec tion’—no town patrols or European con stables, and the residences were more isolated—yet there was an entire absence of the class of offence now complained of.

In the opinion of many, who by experience should know, the cause of the present trouble is to be found in the conduct of many of the residents themselves, and the cure in the same direction.”

There is no doubt that immeasurable harm to white prestige has been done in the Islands by “cheap whites,” who adopt an attitude of easy familiarity with na tives; and also by cheap politicians who try to put into practice their mad-headed notion that all men are equal, irrespective of quality, colour or education.

IRRESPONSIBLE makers of talkies have joined irresponsible journalists in libelling the Pacific Islands. An American mass producer of travel pictures, Mr.

Fitzpatrick, has given us a film on Papua; and Sydney audiences have recently been informed in cinema fashion that, except for a strip along the coast, Papua is in habited by headhunters and cannibals.

The other day Sir Hubert Murray, Lieut.- Governor of Papua, who may fairly claim that a white man armed with a walking stick can walk in safety from one end of the Territory to the other, was in the audience and heard the fruity American gentleman “advertise” Papua, His Excel lency is a philosopher, and therefore merely looked pained. If he had been an ordinary Australian, he would have used language likely to cast aspersions upon the picture-producers’ parentage—and no one would have blamed him.