Bad Language !

IN the early days of the war, the CO of a naval unit stationed at Port Moresby was fortunate in securing a furnished residence.

Soon after his wife (a nervous little woman) had arrived, he sent for a lieu tenant who had had some experience with the natives.

“I want you, Mr. Thompson, to go along to my house. There are three boys there whom my wife cannot understand.

Will you go and allot them their duties?”

The lieutenant, at the house, instructed the bovs (cook, laundry and house-boy) as to their duties.

The following week he was requested to report immediately to the CO. He found that officer in a bad temper.

"Look here. Mr. Thompson,” he snap ped. "My wife has just ’phoned me that the laundry boy is using frightful lan guage ! ”

“What did he do. sir?”

"He went into the lounge, where my wife was entertaining some lady visitors and. holding up an old shirt of mine with a tear in the back, said. ‘Look, sinabada, he all buggerup.’ Damn it, I’ll not have it!”

It took the lieutenant some little time to convince him that the term is one commonly used by the natives to indi cate an end, or complete finish, and car

ries no disrespect to employers.

M.H.

Mr. C. W. T. Johnson, Assistant Colo nial Secretary; Mr. J. S. Smith, Conser vator of Forests; and Mr. C. S. de C.

Reay, Commissioner of Labour, have been appointed official members of the Legislative Council in Fiji.