Young Chinese In New Guinea

IN New Guinea to-day live over 1,500 Chinese —in scattered Chinatown communities at Rabaul, Kavieng, Madang, Namatanai, Kieta, Aitape and elsewhere in the Mandated Territory. Originally in troduced as plantation labourers by the New Guinea Company, during the Ger man regime, in the 80’s of last century, the Asiatics have increased in numbers and status until now they earn their living as skilled carpenters and joiners, adroit storekeepers and —but very rarely —as servants to European residents.

Partly responsible for this change in the social position of the Chinese are the Catholic and Methodist Missions, which have played a large part in educating and “westernising” the younger genera tions. In Rabaul, where there is a large Chinese community, 200 girls and boys attend the Mission schools—namely, the Overseas Chinese School, conducted by the Methodist Mission, with Mr. Thomas Mow as headmaster; and St. Theresa’s

Yang Ching School, under the guidance of Roman Catholic Mission sisters and a Chinese teacher.

The above photograph (by courtesy of the “Missionary Review”) shows the old scholars and present girls’ relay teams at Rabaul Baseball Oval on the occasion of the recent Overseas School Sports Day. It gives a clear indication of the good, clean-cut type of young Chinese being turned out by the Mission schools.

Mr, R. Melrose has now been formally appointed to the position of Director of District Services in New Guinea in suc cession to Mr. E W. P. Chinnery. The same Gazette announces that Mr. E.

Taylor, who was so well and so favourably known in the Morbbe district as District Officer, has been formally appointed Assistant Director of District Services.

Both appointments will be popular in the Territory.