Coronation Medals

Tabu!

Extraordinary Situation in the New Hebrides

A CURIOUS and embarrassing situa tion arose between the natives of the New Hebrides and the British Admini stration over the distribution of Corona tion Medals.

During his recent cruise through the Islands, the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (Sir Arthur Richards) made a gracious gesture by presenting to native chiefs and teachers a decorative medal, as a token of friendship and good will on the occasion of the Coronation.

But, to the astonishment of both British and French settlers, the distribution evoked no demonstration of loyalty and affection from the natives but, on the contrary, everywhere provoked resent ment and even disaffection.

In no quarter did the disconcerting

reaction cause greater surprise than ih Government circles, where the officials were completely at a loss to account for the apparently hostile behaviour of the natives. To investigate its origin, the two Resident Commissioners, British and French, in accordance with Condominium regulations, issued a joint summons to the paramount chief of one of the north ern islands, to appear before them at Vila, and explain the objections of the, chiefs to the Coronation medals.

At first, it appeared as if the natives, acting under the influence of herd psy chology, were carried away by an alarm ist rumour that the Coronation medals were a prelude to the imposition of a poll-tax. In recent years, the dread of this levy has been a disturbing under current in native life; and when, oni the distribution of the medals, the scare mongers proclaimed that a poll-tax would come into operation in 1938, the legend spread through the islands like wildfire and was sufficient to inflame the natives into a ferment of excitement and appre hension.

But the real reason lies deeper,"

When the labour traffic between Queensland and the New Hebrides was in operation, 40 years ago, the natives, on being signed-on, were presented by the recruiting officer with identification discs, which- he euphemistically called “medals.” They were worn round the neck and the bearer was known, not by his name, but by his number. As might be supposed, from the circumstances, the medal was not popular.

As soon as the Coronation medals were introduced, their likeness to the Queens land discs was quickly noted and the memories of the “old hands” went back to the medals of the. recruiting officer.

Apprehensive lest their introduction was an adroit move on the part of the Govern ment to enlist recruits, they warned their fellow islanders against accepting the medals.

So widespread and deeply rooted was the hostility engendered that it could only be explained by the sudden emer gence of a surge of tribal feeling. Expos tulate with them as one might about its absurdity, it was impossible to dislodge the obsession from the native mind.

The panic has brought to light a move ment which, in recent years, has been latent in native politics and. though freely discussed around native camp-fires, has hitherto been working Underground —A Melanesian Nazism, whose'slogan is: “the Islands for the Islanders.”

Mr. V. C. Gabriel, accountant at Messrs.

Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., Samarai,

Eastern Papua, arrived in Sydney with his wife and small son by the November Macdhui on three months’ leave.

Brigadier-General W. Ramsay Me- Nicfoll, Administrator of New Guinea, who came to Sydney in November to confer with the Federal Cabinet about the future of Rabaul, departed from Sydney for N.G. by the Neptuna on December 15.

Mr. Carl Vasey, a graduate of Longerenong Agricultural College, Vic toria, has been appointed manager of the Methodist Mission’s Ulu plantation, New Britain.

Mr. R. S. Duff, of the Samoan Depart ment of Native Affairs, has received an appointment as ethnologist at the Canter bury Museum, Christchurch, New Zea land.

Mr. H. H. Geoghegan, a well-known New Guinea planter who owned Old Mas sawa estate, Gainings, New Britain, died in hospital at Randwick, Sydney, in mid- November.

Mr. F. H. Croaker has been appointed a Commissioner of Customs in the Gil bert and Ellice Group in place of Mr.

J. K. Albfrell, who recently left the Colony.