The Uncontrolled Rai Coast In New Guinea

Letter to the Editor

REFERENCE has been made many times to the natives of the Rai Coast, south of Madang, in the Territory of iNjew Guinea.

They have come into prominence again recently in connection with the attacks upon a patrol, under the control of A. D.

O. Nurton. As has been recorded in the one of these attacks was the cause of this official being badly wounded, and having his leg amputated.

Several causes have been suggested in the Pacific Is.ands Monthly , in regard to Lhese attacks. First, it was stated by some that the cause had been religious fanaticism. This is ridiculous, as the natives concerned with these attacks had very little contact with missions, if any at all. Although this “wave of fanati cism” had peculiar results, and was the cause of much unrest on the plantations adjoining the Rai Coast, it has nothing whatever to do with attacks upon the

police party.

Later, it was reported that the native police on patrol with Mr. Nurton were badly disciplined, and had more or less caused discontent amongst the natives, by interference with their women. To one having any experience of natives, the cause of trouble can always be found in pigs or women. We all know how hard it is to control native police when on patrol, and. this theory may be near the truth.

But as one who has lived on the Rai

Coast, and ciaims to have quite an ex tensive Knowledge of tne wnoie of this area, l oiten wonder when the Admini stration win really arrive at the trutn, and study me make-up or tnese natives a littie more closeiy. The Kai Coast nat ives have, as long as we can remember, been a ferocious and warlike people, and are not the type to come readily under control. The only law they know is the spear, and force is to be met wuth force.

There has been a Government Patrol to the Rai Coast periodically, and several of our best officers have been stationed there; but, as yet, we can safely say that half the Rai Coast is not under control.

These officials have been tied by the ad ministrative heads in Rabaul, and the opening up of the Rai Coast has been governed by the “go-slow” and peaceful policy.

Is it not time that the Administration did away with this peaceful penetration policy, and displayed a little more force and the strong hand? If they continue with their present policy, it can be safely said that it will be long before those thousands of natives on this Coast are brought under control, and it may be with further loss to limb or life. The Ad ministration have the men fit for the job.

The patrol officer there, Mr. G. Great head, is an ideal man, and there could not be a keener. Let him go ahead and open the country up.

Unless contact is made with the white man, these natives will never be brought under control, as, like all natives, they will not go to the white man. He must come to them and force contact.

At the present time, except for an odd recruiter who, after scaling a 2000 feet climb, arrives in a village to find that the inhabitants have beat it for the bush, and an odd patrol officer, who finds much the same thing, their present contact with the outside world is nil. It appears that at the present time they resent any intrusion into their domain; therefore, a little force and determination in one area, may have a sobering effect on all the others.

Again, in order to discourage any fur ther attacks upon patrolling parties, it is the duty of the Administration to al low an example to be made upon any natives offering resistance. When all is said and done, as fighting is part of the natives’ everyday life, and comes next in importance to eating, no harm can be done to future relations with these peo ples by meeting their resistance with force.

The blame for these attacks upon A. i). 0. Nurton’s party cannot be put down to “religious fanaticism” or solely to in terference with the native women, but simply to the Rai Coast native being m his natural state, and resenting an in vader, as his forefathers have done for centuries.

I am, etc.,

Quartpot.

Madang, T.N.G. 27/12/1936.