White Woman Gaoled In
p. 62 · Read in the full issue
New Guinea
Letter to the Editor, SOMETHING unique happened here in Wau recently, which does not en hance our reputation for justice in this Territory.
On October 15 last, a white woman was sent to prison for a month. From what I can ascertain, this is the first time a woman—either white of black —has oeen sent to prison in this Territory.
The woman in question was fined £5, or one month, under a vicious clause in the Licensing Act (either 52 or 62) whereby a person may be fined, or gaoled,
or both, for not paying board at an hotel, and can afterwards be sued for the debt.
The woman did about three hours in gaol and, it is stated, someone then paid her fine. Many here believe that the authorities thought better of it, and let the woman out, after they discovered that she could not pay the fine and was prepared to do the time in gaol.
I am, etc.,
Morobe.
Edie Creek, N.G. 22/11/37.
Editorial Note
We publish the above letter, as re cived. We admit that, on the face of it, it Looks as if the authorities must have acted under great provocation. Yet only a major crime certainly not a petty thing like a, hotel bill—wou’d justify the gaoling of any white woman in a country like New Guinea. The incident seems to call for inquiry.
Miss Harkness, a new worker for the N.Z. Methodist Mission, sailed for the Solomon Islands by the November M,alaita.