The Minister And The
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Natives
AN incident at Manus, New Guinea, dur ing the tour of the Australian Minister, Sir George Pearce, shows how officialdom can blunder.
The ship came in, and the population, European and native, assembled at the wharf to meet the Minister.
Sir George landed; ignored a group of half a dozen planters who were standing, respectfully waiting: and walked immedi ately across to the natives, where he pro ceeded to shake hands with the luluais and tultuls.
It was done in ignorance, no doubt; but the planters were very angry. They have difficulty enough, as it is, in maintaining the proper relationship between Euro peans and natives; yet the important offi cial personage ignored them, and went at once to greet the natives. The distinction made was not lost upon the chiefs.
Some time later, when it was announced that “the Minister would be glad to meet the planters,” the indignant planters de clined to call upon him.
Mr. H. E. Woodman, Assistant District Officer in the New Guinea Service, re turned to Rabaul by the Macdhui from Brisbane on March 10. after spending leave in New South Wales.