Kwato’S Reply To Criticism

Letter to the Editor.

WE feel compelled to reply to the increasing number of letters that are being published in your columns with reference to the Kwato Mission and Trading.

In the first place, Mr. Fletcher’s state ment in your November issue, that these criticisms express the “views of the popu lation of the Eastern end of the Terri tory,” is both misleading and quite un true.

There certainly is, to use your own words, “a very strong feeling in Eastern Papua regarding Kwato’s trading activi ties,” but it applies to a very small minor ity who happen to be directly affected.

They have every right to voice their point of view in the press, but should not con vey the impression that this is the feel ing of the majority.

You add that the Samarai Chamber of Commerce should prepare a case for sub mission to the Lieutenant Governor. The Samarai Chamber of Commerce is a rep resentative body of keen business men who certainly would have no hesitation in preparing a case—if there were a case to prepare, or if they considered such ac tion necessary. The fact that these griev ances receive no support from a body of prominent Samarai residents is a fair indication of the relative strength of this feeling.

The large number of business firms and local residents who have employed or bought the products of Papuan crafts men at Kwato include: Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., Steamships Trading Co., Ltd., A. H. Bunting, Whitten Bros., Ltd., The Bank of New South Wales, The B.N.G.

Development Co., Ltd., at Waigani, The Milne Bay Rubber Pty., Ltd., The Commonwealth Copra

Company Ltd,, Gili Gili. The Oroville Dredging Co., Ltd., Misima, Quartz Mountain (Papua), Ltd., The Ahioma Desiccating Co., Ltd., The Cosmo politan Hotel, The Samarai Hotel, The Papua and Pacific Produce Co.. Ltd., the Hon. G. Nels son, Mr. Norman Izod, Mr. F. Evenett, Mr. Brudo, Mr. D. L. Pullen, Mr. H. Spiller, and many others.

These firms and individuals are benefitting by the service that is being rendered to progressive business enterprise in this part of the country.

The Papuan is making his contribution towards recovery in the very departments for which the Government technical training has fitted him. The demand for skilled Papuan workers is greater than it ever has been, and appears to be in creasing. Every white tradesman in this locality seems to be fully occupied, and some have more work than they can cope with. There is room for all just at present, and plenty of room for a little healthy competition.

The above facts will serve to show that a real cross-section of local public opinion would un doubtedly reveal some “strong feeling” in quite the opposite direction.

By far the most serious charge made in the letters you have published is that the Kwato Mis sion is misusing and mishandling public funds — e.g., the Government Subsidy—and donations from supporters overseas. In your issue of November 22, Mr. Fletcher states that, with the help of this grant, “given OSTENSIBLY for the purpose. of conducting technical schools for natives at Kwato, this Company can underquote any traders or tradesmen in the Territory ... If they (the Government) give a subsidy for technical purposes it is up to them to see that the WHOLE of that amount is spent on the business for which it is given. If it is, neither Mr. Harrison nor myself can complain.” (The capitals are mine.) We take this opportunity of reassuring your readers and the many friends of this Mission throughout the Territory and elsewhere, that every penny of the Government subsidy for Technical Education is used for Technical Education. More over, our figures show that more is spent on this department than the amount granted to us by the Government. We hope Mr. Fletcher will be satis fied with this statement, but we feel obliged to

point out the extreme seriousness of making an absolutely groundless charge of misappropriation against a philanthropic body without first taking the trouble to investigate the facts. It should also be made clear by those who complain that facts are hard to obtain, that these facts have never been asked for, nor have we ever refused to give information about the administration of public monies.

In his letter published in your February issue, Mr. Izod states that “the donors of the generous gifts” we receive, “only hear one side of the story,” and implies that they are not aware that their gifts are being misused for commercial purposes or to undercut white tradesmen. We have no hesitation in saying that these fantastic statements are absolutely untrue. The fact is that every gift— whether money or kind—that is given for Mission purposes, be this educational, medical, or evan gelistic, is devoted entirely to this object, and to this only.

Finally, we feel it is necessary to state very briefly: That the Incorporated Kwato Extension Asso ciation, a non-dividend paying Company, was incorporated in London in 1919, and that all profits are devoted to the objects of the Mission.

That we do comply with all Government regula tions affecting registered boats, and we do not claim immunity from the Native Labour Ordin ances and Regulations.

That the total amount of gold taken out of Milne Bay by anyone connected with the Associa tion amounted to 1½ ounces! (And that was on a claim more than ten miles from where Mr.

Fletcher was working.) That so-called “Kwato natives” are free agents, and are at liberty to leave Kwato when they choose, and peg claims in Milne Bay, Normanby Island, or wherever they like. They work as pri vate individuals for themselves, often trading with, and sometimes buying gold from other natives.

That the reply “Kwato,” in response to a ques tion “Where do you come from?” does not neces sarily mean that that native is in the employ of Kwato. The term “Kwato native” is often used very loosely of anyone living in the Kwato district, and sometimes by unscrupulous natives who have no connection with us whatsoever.

That Mr. Henry Dexter, our erstwhile neigh bour, during the whole time he lived and traded in Milne Bay, never found any cause to com plain of Kwato undercutting or competition, and specifically said so in a letter to the “Pacific Islands Monthly.”

That we hope all who have a grievance against us —real or imaginary—will communicate with us or come and see us. We are reasonable people who are concerned about the happiness and welfare of every section of the community, white as well as brown.

I am, etc.,

Cecil C. G. Abel

Managing Director, Inc. Kwato Extension Association.

Samarai, Papua, 10/5/’35.