On And Off The

Dole

Experiences of NG Planter's Wife

HERE is an example of how a strong Association of Territory evacuees could assist its members.

Mrs. Willmott, by herself, can do little more than submit her complaints against officialdom to the newspapers, for public ventilation, in the hope that some public-spirited person will take up her case. But Mrs. Willmott, as a mem ber of the Association, will have no need to appeal to the public—the Association has been formed to protect the just claims of every evacuee.

On April 24. the following letter, from Mrs. R. Willmott, late of Rabaul, appeared in “The Age”, Melbourne: — “I would like to point out the hard ship caused by the decision of the War Damages Commission not to pay any compensation until after the war. In the case of New Guinea planters like myself, who have lost their properties, livelihood and all personal possessions, it operates very harshly, especially as we are also unable to collect any credits due to us.

“In this respect the Government is one of the principal offenders, as from October 1, 1941, all copra was compul sorily acquired by the copra pool. So far we have received for 1941 copra only half the price at which all NG copra production was sold in advance for six months by the pool, and nothing at all for January, 1942.

“Further, in the matter of war dam

age insurance, even if the actual capital losses cannot be assessed till after the war, surely the insurance payable on loss of crops could be paid at once in view of the fact that premiums already paid have reached such an enormous sum.”

“Financial Assistance”

Someone noticed Mrs. Willmott’s com plaint, for the following appeared a few hours later in the Melbourne “Herald”:— “While it is true that New Guinea planters who have lost their estates because of enemy occupation cannot be compensated until after the war, they will be entitled to financial assistance as evacuees.

“This was stated by a Commonwealth spokesman to-day. He said that a scale of assistance for all types of evacuees was now being drawn up and would shortly be approved. He pointed out further that in addition to giving them financial assistance as evacuees the Com monwealth Government would endeavour to find suitable jobs for dispossessed New Guinea planters.”

“Off The Dole”

On May 6, Mrs. Willmott, of 29 Park Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, wrote thus to the editor of the “PIM”:— “The assertions of the ‘Commonwealth spokesman’, which are embodied in the second cutting, read like an attempt to answer the points raised in my letter.

“It is to be hoped that the financial assistance promised will soon be forth coming, that it will be adequate, and that it will be given in a more generous spirit than the inadequate loan of £2 per week grudgingly doled out as sus tenance to the unfortunate women refu gees from NG.

“My own experience does not incline

me to optimism. In common with other women evacuees from NG, in January, 1942, I was granted a weekly sustenance allowance of £2. In February, 1942, the NG Trade Agent took it upon himself, apparently, to notify me that I would be ‘off the dole’ with effect from the 27th day of that month. His letter reads: ‘As it is noted that your husband has now arrived in Australia, I have to inform you that no further payment of the evacuee allotment will be made. It is desired that as soon as 'practicable you will take steps to repay any advances made to you. (Signed).—C* Leake.’ (Our italics).

“I am not aware that the Common wealth Government has made any effort to find a suitable job for my husband, whose arrival in Australia —suffering from the effects of malaria and exposure after a long and hazardous journey, and possessing only what he stood up in— is given as the reason for the cessation of the allowance.

“The thinly-veiled hostility displayed by some Commonwealth officials towards refugees from the Territory is sufficient warrant for my belief that we are re garded, not as distressed fellow-country men, but rather as undesirable aliens.

It is possible that our enforced stay in Australia serves as an irritant, an ever present reminder of past neglect to ensure the retention by Australia of the TNG, a Territory of which the strategic value is now realised —too late.”

Mr. Christopher Legge, BA, District Officer of Taveuni, Fiji, has been trans ferred to Ra as Assistant Provincial Com missioner.

Miss Hilda Toombs, sister in the Fiji Nursing Service, is at present on three months’ vacation leave.