Better Compensation Urged

N.G.'S "Outside Men"

Better Compensation Urged For Patrol Risks

From a Special Correspondent

Salamaua, Jan. 12.

'T'HERE was a sad scene here on Dec ember 20 when fellow-officers of Patrol Officer T. A. Hough, who died from wounds received while on a patrol in the Markham River country, assem bled from remote outposts to pay their last respects to a comrade.

A feature of the funeral was the guard of-honour comprised of native members of the New Guinea Police and the Papuan Armed Constabulary. The latter were then on the goldfield prior to set ting out with the Champion relief party into Central New Guinea, In a moving address, Rev. V. H. Sher win paid tribute to Thomas Hough, who was a very promising officer of the N.G.

Service and was held in high esteem by his superiors, who hoped great things of him. Padre Sherwin stressed the need for adequate provision and compensation for field officers who run the risks of disablement while engaged in their haz ardous duties.

The following is part of Mr. Sherwin’s sermon: “I do not as a rule add to the poig nancy of a funeral by speaking at the graveside, but the present occasion and the circumstances associated with this tragedy, compel one to bring to the sur face certain aspects that conscientiously demand an airing. They may come under two headings: First, the personal and sentimental appeal; secondly, the appeal of our friend to remedy existing condi tions, that are little short of scandalous for men in the field.

“Before us is a terse inscription, which because of its simplicity of wording, is a monument to one of the saddest trage dies in the history of the Administration:

Thomas Hough, Age 23.

“You probably know his sterling quali ties as an officer in the Administration better than I do, but I have no hesitation in saying without fear of contradiction that he was among the ablest of our young officers in the field.

“I feel that his mortal remains before ns bear silent witness to the cost of the field service of the Administration in New Guinea a cost that has steadily been mounting up over the past few years.

“His spirit lays a solemn charge upon those in authority, to face a definite moral responsibility that has been too long and far too lethargically neglected —the adequate provision for those young men of his generation, as well as for those who are yet to follow on, who run the risks of partial or total disablement in the course of duty. The same also applies to those men who have grown, or are growing, old in the Service. The stress of fever, responsibility, and hard conditions in the bush make them worn, tired, and old before their time. Such men are giving, or have already given.

the flower of their years, the prime of manhood to the Service of this Territory.

Such a Service as this demands qualifi cations which can never be used or find any scope for application in ordinary positions down South.

“This open grave and the spirit of Tom Hough demand a new policy. These men, young and old, have plunged with a noble, self- sacrificing recklessness, their youth, energies of brain and body, as well as their ideals, into a life which holds hidden death from mosquito or am bush, spear or arrow, or the possibility of some partial disablement . . .

“It is not a case for philanthropy, but a solemn duty and moral responsibility upon the Administration to provide a definite scheme of insurance and pension whereby these men are given a wide mar gin between a commonsense sufficiency and semi-pauperism . . .

“I do feel sometimes that the growth of New Guinea has outgrown the capa city of those who administer it. This spendid youth before us issues a chal lenge and a warning which cannot be disregarded. An insurance scheme is sadly needed, whereby every man who enters the Service should be entitled to receive a definitely assured compensa tion in the event of incapacity during the course of duty . . .

“The man who dies for the State is beyond the aid of the State, but his widow who gave her all for the State should be rewarded by it —not given a mere pittance in a manner resembling a minimum given to an importunate beg gar. If the Territory were bankrupt, one would hesitate to advocate such schemes, but we have the unique posi tion of be ng possessed of a surplus budget . . .

“Administrative vision should extend beyond the Beehives (Notable rocks in Rabaul Harbour. —Ed., P.1.M.) and re cognise the importance and significance of the outstations and isolated outposts, where the real history of New Guinea is being largely made at the cost of young human life and health.

“We stand here this afternoon, with the immortal soul of our friend and comrade, Tom Hough, calling to us to attend to these things. I do feel that Tom’s greatest wish is to see that the conditions under which he served his country and this district are altered and that his present comrades and those to come, may see such improvements quickly effected.”