Do You Wish To Swap

Your Job?

Letter to the Editor MUCH in your publication keeps me fascinated. I find it very interesting to read how different human natures react to loneliness and the deprivation of civilisation.

“Tropic” (in “This Tropic Life De bunked”), published in the May issue does not seem to be very happy with his fate.

What a difference between his and Father Vocat’s views (also published in May issue).

I am 35 years old, and have lived in the leading capitals of Europe, America and Australia, under the blessings of this

century’s civilisation (including a world war and several minor wars and revolu tions). I also have spent four years on a lonely island and I envy Father Vocat the prospect of spending the rest of his life in his isolated situation.

If “Tropic” is longing for civilisation and the amenities of city life, and “Mel bourne will do him”, I am prepared to swap my executive business position for his open-air job on that lonely island.

Although so many men who live in the tropics consider their jobs an ordeal, I have not been so far successful in con tacting one man who could offer me a job on one of the islands, though I am enthusiastic for and capable of such work.

I am, etc.,

Robert Hoyt.

12 Milton Hall, 574 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Miss Elsie Brammell, M.A., an ethno logist on the staff of the Australian Museum, Sydney, delivered an interest ing illustrated lecture on “Canoes” at the June meeting of the Pacific Islands Club.

She tra'ced the development of the canoe from the Australian dugout to the war canoes of the Polynesians. Miss Brammell, who was born in Papua, is a member of the Council of the Anthropological Society of N.S.W.