Future of Primitive Men in New Guinea: An Appeal by a Wise Old Missionary

Address P. 1.10 Future of Primitive Men in New Guinea An Appeal by a Wise Old Missionary AVERY urgent message relating to mission conditions in New Guinea has been issued by Dr. J. Flierl, head of the Lutheran Mission in the Mandated Territory, under the title of Observations and Experiences—ls the New Guinea Primitive Race Destined to Perish at the Hands of European Civilisation?

Dr. Flierl writes as an old man, practically at the end of his life’s span, openly and fearlessly making suggestions to the powers that be on behalf of his beloved brown brethren in New Guinea.

His brochure contains some arresting appeals both to the Administration and to other missionary bodies. He is an earnest advocater of the zoning system, under which the evangelisation of the N.G. natives would be divided up into districts each of which would be allotted to the different missionary bodies.

Dr. Flierl describes among the things which threaten the future of the native race in New Guinea, the introduction of many diseases by Europeans; the “introduction of Hollywood creations per medium of the Talkies so that contract labourers see and learn much of the vices of the white man”; the method of recruiting native labour which has resulted in many tribes along the coast-line being bled white of young men; native life in villages which are subject to European influence; careless introduction of European influence to the natives of the “uncontrolled” areas.

This is a compilation by a very wise