Mrs. Bignell, M.B.E.,

Prepores for Goo!

Rabaul Incident Suggests Need for Inquiry

IT is hoped that the Minister for the Territories (Mr. Hughes), when he visits New Guinea, will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the pro secution —some call it persecution of Mrs. Kathleen D. Bignell, licensee of the Rabaul Hotel, in the matter of mosquito larvae.

The grounds of the hotel occupy some nine acres, and Mrs. Bignell, like every other householder, is expected to take steps to prevent mosquitoes from breed ing on her property. It is no easy task.

Whenever it rains in Rabaul, there are puddles: and, since the eruption, accu mulations of volcanic dust everywhere have formed hidden pools.

The Health Department inspectors looked over the hotel grounds a couple of times, and warned Mrs. Bignell about her mosquitoes, and Mrs. Bignell patiently set her labour team to work and cleaned out the puddles. Then the officials came again: and Mrs. Bignell was duly prose cuted for permitting mosquitoes to breed in a broken flower pot, in a tank, in some empty tins and in a puddle under a tank.

Mrs. Bignell, now thoroughly exasper ated, went to Court and pleaded guilty: but she pointed out that she had spent much money on the restoration of her gardens, while adjoining properties still were in a ruinous state; that she had done her best to comply with the never ending demands of the inspectors; and that it was unfair to prosecute her while a large part of nearby Chinatown was in a filthy condition.

The Magistrate imposed a fine of £5, or one month’s imprisonment.

Mrs. Bignell said this was outrageous, and she would not pay it. She was told that gaol was the alternative. “Very well”, she said, and went home and made preparations to spend one month in prison.

This caused great perturbation. The gaol is not suitable for the accommoda dation of a white woman. Besides, it is only a few months since Mrs. Bignell was publicly awarded the M.B.E. for heroic services performed during the eruption.

About 70 residents got ready to go as a deputation to the Administrator. Offi cialdom gnawed its fingernails.

The matter ended when someone hur ried to the Court and paid the fine.