Extraordinary Charge Against New

Guinea Officials

Well-Known Missionary Suggests Sex Offences and Motive of Revenge

IT is reported in the “Rabaul Times” of August 23 that very strong representa tions have been made in Canberra against the action of the New Guinea Administration in removing seven Roman Catholic Missionaries of German nation ality from their stations in outlying places, and placing them under guard.

It is stated that the Administrator re fused to give any information to the Roman Catholic authorities, and it is contended that the missionaries “have been loyal and devoted citizens and have confined themselves solely to their mis sion work, never mentioning war matters to anyone”.

Charge Of “Sex Perversion”

117RITING in the “Catholic Press” of TT August 1, Rev. J. D. Madigan, of Rabaul, refers to the arrest of the missionaries in strong terms; and then makes this statement: — “I have been now a long time in the Territory of New Guinea and I think 1 can form a fairly accurate estimate of the methods and motives employed by those who to-day gloat over the fact that a few Catholic missionaries have been removed from the villages and 'that others may soon share the same fate.

“It is an extraordinary fact, common to all tropical regions, that a certain type of person throws off all restraint when removed from civilisation. Overseers on lonely plantations, and Government officials also, adopt the practice of barter ing with the native chief for a native girl while they will be in the locality. If the unfortunate native girl, who is the nroposed victim, is a Catholic or is at tending the village mission school, she at once seeks the protection of the mis sionary with the result that the official or overseer is reported and quietly re moved.

“For the sake of the prestige of the white race very few of these cases ever become public. Unfortunately for native welfare and for the prestige of the whites, these sexual beasts without re ligion, morality or respect for themselves, not only move from place to nlace but even boast of their conduct.

“The Administrator remarked to one of our missionaries soon after the be ginning of the war that he was seeking the reports of his officers in outside places on the conduct of the local mis sionary in reference to the war. Imagine the Administrator writing to one of these officers and asking for his confi dential opinion of the local missionary.

If the person to whom the application is made is a good man. all is well, but if, as too often happens, he is a sexual pervert whose only restraint in the dis trict is the presence of a missionary, here is his golden opportunity of secretly as sisting in the removal of the missionary from the village. Devoted missionaries should be protected from such people”

Editorial Comment

WHILE conceding to Father Madigan the authority given to him by his long, splendid work in the mission field, and his well-known zeal in defend ing the natives against Depression and in justice. we feel that he has gone too far in making so foul a charge against officers of the New Guinea service.

Father Madigan says, in effect, that many of the administrative officials are “sex nerverts”. who misuse native girls, and he frankly infers that these men have revenged themselves upon Roman Catholic missionaries, who have rescued

native girls from their clutches, by re porting adversely upon the missionaries, thus causing them to be arrested and re moved.

This outrageous charge against the men of the New Guinea field staffs —men whose record is most creditable to them selves and to Australia—has been given such wide publicity that it cannot be allowed to remain where it is. Father Madigan has made the charges, deliber ately, in cold print; Father Madigan now should be given the opportunity of prov ing them, or withdrawing them, and apologising to the body of men whom he has vilified. It obviously is a matter for the Administrator, whom we presume is jealous of the honour of his service. If the Administrator does not take action,

then the matter should be brought up in the Commonwealth Parliament.

Father Madigan, in making his charges, must have had some particular case in mind. But he must not be permitted to go irresponsibly from the particular to the general, in this fashion. The New Guinea Public Service Association should see to it that so foul a calumny is answered.

The arrest of the seven Roman Catho lic missionaries is not a matter that can be discussed, without permission. But this may be said: Is it not possible, in view of the fact that enemy raiders are prowling about in the Pacific, and the Empire is fighting for its life, that the action taken was purely precautionary, and had nothing to do with the activities and opinions of the individual missionar ies?

Mr. H. S. Taylor, of A.W.A., Ltd., re turned to New Guinea in August from five months’ holiday in Australia. He is now stationed at Manus.