Native Buys A New

Motor Car

Transaction Causes Stir in Rabaul

Contributed.

THE natives of Matupi, a village situated a few miles south of Rabaul, New Guinea, recently purchased a new sedan Chevrolet motor car—the latest model —and paid cash for it, £290.

The event, which is a precedent, created a mild sensation and, as was anticipated, even by the natives, gave rise to ex pressions of the most conflicting views among the Europeans in and around Rabaul.

A sane, logical and thoughtful section, with a sympathetic interest in native welfare, said: “Why not? This must of necessity come here, as in all parts of the world. Natives have demonstrated their fitness to drive and repair cars for Europeans. Why not permit them to em bark on the enterprise of working for themselves?”

This reasonable plea, however, was far from being unanimous. In the clubs and hotels, small, but noisy groups, whose fixed and settled views are that the colour of the native’s skin condemns him to the unchangeable state of a beast of burden, set up “straw courts,” and belched forth heated rhetoric drawing attention to the possible and probable dangers to the Empire unless this latest move of these dark skinned potential enemies is reduced to impotence. Every expedient was suggested and examined but apparently with little hope of finding relief.

The Mandate expressly says that the “moral and material welfare of the native races must be the first consideration of the Administration.” No law or ordinance hinders or restrains a competent native from owning a car. Australia is only a caretaker not an owner of the Mandated Territory and, willingly or unwillingly, she must accept instructions from Geneva and do what she is told.

Vincent Lo Popat, the registered owner of the car, is a highly intelligent and no less industrious native. For years past he has, with a staff of Matupl natives, conducted a laundry for a ship ping company, and is well liked by shipping officials and passengers- As the natives of the Matupi and other villages, contiguous to Rabaul often find it neces sary to hire a car late in the evening, or in inclement weather, Vincent Lo Popat reasoned that as approximately £6O had been spent in this way during twelve months the purchase of a car would be a wise investment. He communicated his views first to a few of his native friends who enthusiastically offered assistance.

Lo Popat’s next move was to mention the matter to a number of Europeans with whom he came daily in contact in con nection with his work. Many urged him to act at once, others while favouring the proposal had a vague idea that the law did not permit a native to own a car.

In his uncertainty, Lo Popat referred the matter to the missionary of his village —Father J. G. Madigan—with whom he could fully discuss the matter in the native language. Father Madigan ex plained the law and pointed out that it was a big undertaking for a few natives to invest such a large sum in a car, and afterwards maintain it. The natives were determined to purchase and, naturally sought the assistance of the missionary in attending to the details of the transfer.

Father Madigan urged a little delay until he discussed the matter with the Superin tendent of Police and the Administrator, remarking that if the Administration al lowed the natives to purchase the car the natives could, if molested, seek the pro tection of the Administration.

The outcome of these interviews was that the case was sent to the Crown Law Office and the answer was that there was nothing in the law to prevent a native from purchasing a car.

A few days later the new Chevrolet, proudly displaying itself at the mam entrance of Burns Philp’s store, passed into the possession of Vincent Lo Popat.

Lo Popat secured the services of a friend, a careful driver and skilled mechanic, and intends to reimburse himself and his friends for their outlay by hiring his car- This latter intention seems to have caused some criticism. It is alleged that groups of natives, on a few occ f s^ ol J s ' have hired cars from Chinese and have gone to and misbehaved themselves m distant villages. The accusation is Pro ably correct, but the abuse of a thing does not take away its lawful use. T-he writer has observed Europeans OT J ® cor of occasions doing the same thing and going to greater excess than anything

that has been imputed to natives. It is also urged that people may be disinclined to use a car which has been used by natives. People are not so sensitive. All the hired cars here to-day are used by natives more often than by whites. Prac tically all cars have native drivers.

Natives are the only cooks and domestic servants for the Europeans. No one objects to consuming the foods native

servants have prepared nor wearing clothes that have been washed by natives.

The missionary has been criticised for assisting the natives, although they are his own people. He has been blamed, not because he failed to give correct advice, but because he did not give deceitful in formation. With his influence with the natives, he could, when approached by them, have crushed the ambitious scheme by alleging they were not allowed to purchase the car- He lost an opportunity of rising in popularity.

The manager of Burns, Philp Ltd. has been blamed for permitting the purchase at all. As if his refusal would have hindered the natives securing a car when the law favours them! Many Europeans would have gladly acted for them for a pound or two.

As one interested in native welfare I am of opinion that, while the natives taken in globo in this Territory are not yet sufficiently developed to undertake business propositions, individual natives and groups of natives are fully competent and, as in the present case, when the initiative came from the natives them selves, it is deserving of consideration and encouragement.