Refugees

No Clothes!

Plight of Territories Refugees

EXCLAMATIONS of anger and indig nation came from many people at the meeting of the Pacific Terri tories Association on June 10, when a resident of New Guinea, who had arrived as a refugee only four days previously, described his experiences.

He was one of a party of nine men who were making their way southward, equipped with little beyond the light tropical clothes they were wearing.

Nowhere did they find any special arrangements made for their comfort and welfare Thev were granted trans portation-all else had to be fought for.

No accommodation was provided for them in Port Moresby. After hours of waiting, they were permitted to “sleep hard’’ in the wharf goodshed—no mos quito-net. no towels, nothing.

It was the same on arrival at a North Queensland port. There was train trans portation provided: and “tickets” were supplied which entitled them to a few very slender meals—wholly insufficient for hungry men. They had no toilet articles, nothing to keep'them warm dur ing the several bitter nights in the train, no money with which to buy necessities.

Eventually they arrived in Sydney.

They waited for hours upon Central Station, expecting some kind of assist ance. but none came. They telephoned —and those lucky enough to have friends in the city received help.

The real problem came whem they tried to purchase some clothes. “Ration ing” was now in operation and they were shunted on from one official to another, until they were nearly crazy.

Some got clothes—bv robbing their rela tions!—but others did not. Officialdom, while professing great eagerness to help, really did nothing.

The Association set up a committee, consisting of Messrs. Munday, Murray and Robson, to try and create some civilian organisation which might co operate with Commonwealth officials and make contact with refugees as soon as possible after their arrival in Australia, and assist them until they were in a position to assist themselves.

The committee was on the job next dav. It was ascertained that clothes rationing had passed on to another set of officials, and that provision has been made in the new clothing rationing plan, which is to operate from June 15. for granting special rations to refugees in the circumstances named.

The committee will try to assist refugees, after June 15, in getting their identity cards, and special ration allow ance for clothing, as quickly as possible.

Persons desiring this assistance should get in touch with the secretary of the Association (address on page 2).

Mr. David Collins, cadet officer of the Fiji Administration, who had been sec onded for service in the G. and E. Col ony. returned to Fiji in April, after spending vacation leave in Australia.

Dr. V. W ( T. McGusty, Director of Medical Services in Fiji and Secretary for Indian Affairs, was awarded the CMG in the King’s Birthday Honours on June 11. He is one of the best known and esteemed Fiji officials, having joined the Service in 1912 as a Government Medical Officer. His daughter is Mrs. R.

H. Garvey, now en route to Nyasaland with her husband.