Anthropology In

Demand

New Job for Dr. Hogbin in the Solomons

THE appointment of Dr. H. lan Hog bin to the Solomon Islands Defence Force, with the rank of captain, has been gazetted. Until recently, he was lecturer in anthropology at Sydney Uni versity; previously, he studied under Malinowski in London, and gave a num ber of years to intensive field-work amongst a variety of Pacific peoples. He

is probably the world authority on the scientific angle of the Solomon Islander —and tempers his scientific angle with sound commonsense. It is understood that his present job will be to advise on the islanders’ approach to wartime and post-war conditions there.

It is cheering to see this brilliant young Australian receiving the recognition he merits. There is work for half a dozen such men in the South-west Pacific area under these difficult wartime conditions.

It is singularly unfortunate that Dr. F.

E. Williams, who did such outstanding work as Government anthropologist in Papua before the war, should have met his death at a time when his services were becoming most valuable.

It is also worth noting that, although Mr. Curtin manifests a great weakness for “experts” in all Government matters, and Mr. Ward and other learned gentle men are interested as never before in the future of Melanesia, Mr. Dedman & Co. did not see fit to include anthro pologists—or male anthropologists—in the University quotas until it was too late to do anything about it. Conse quently, about 17 young girls are taking lectures in Anthropology I, at Sydney University this year; and not more than two of them have any apparent inten tion of becoming anthropologists.

Universities which have a Chair of Anthropology can be counted on the fin gers of one hand; Sydney University has the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.

Oceania should be Oceania’s business; and anthropological field-work is a tough job. So Mr. Dedman’s approach to the problem of Oceania’s future anthropolo gists has been well described as “screwy.”

Dr. H. lan Hogbin.