Native Curios

Export Prohibited from B.S.I.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Tulagi, July 14.

A REGULATION has been promulgated which will be received by B.S.L residents with mixed feelings, although it must be acknowledged that something of the kind has long been needed. It is now no longer possible to take curios and works of native art out of the Group in the carefree way of the past.

There is a small collection of museum specimens at “Top Office,” but one or two past attempts to establish a worth while museum have been abortive. Those who were lucky enough to get specimens of local craftsmanship, and objects of interest just kept them in their homes, or passed them on to friends—frequently to casual acquaintances who had little enough appreciation for them.

Curios are not easily procured here, and it is usually a man from “out back” who has them. Meeting one of his own kind over a glass of beer, in the joy of the long denied social touch, he passes irreplaceable articles over to his new friend. This at least will be no longer possible.

There are, however, old residents who really appreciate and value their speci mens, and in retirement would like to take them away. On these folk and others who do genuinely want the articles for their scientific or artistic value, a brass-bound Regulation may be hard.

However, even if in its full present form the Regulation should allow of no excep tion, these things are subject to amend ment and provisos.

During the depression, the laziness in duced by prosperity had to be overcome, and a little interest in native crafts was revived, with the result that a few natives now produce works intended, like most works of art, to keep the pot boiling.

These, however, are so few that the local demand should cope with the supply, but the market should not be so restricted that these craftsmen are denied a reason able outlet for their work.