Elkin Defended

Native Labour-Professor Elkin Defended

Letter to the Editor ONE of the hames frequently seen in the “PIM” is that of A. P. Elkin, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Sydney, and sometimes associated with it are disrespectful re marks about anthropologists in general and Professor Elkin in particular.

Professor Elkin has definite views on indentured labour in New Guinea and Papua; and, from references made, one is apt to get a one-sided picture of the man. I have just completed two years’ work in social anthropology under Pro fessor Elkin, and I found him to be a brilliant teacher and lecturer, easily sur passing most of the many professors and lecturers to whom I have been compelled to listen. He is possibly the greatest living authority on the Australian abo rigine, and he never loses an opportunity to fight on their behalf. There are few people with a better knowledge of the natives of Papua, However if he is responsible for state ments attributed to him regarding the treatment of natives under the indenture system in the Territories, then, as far as Papua is concerned, he has been mis informed on some points, and shows a lack of experience of the commercial side of European life in the Islands. I have no doubt, however, that the point he is urging—as do most other authorities throughout the world —is that the inden ture system is unsatisfactory as a per manent method of employment of primi tive people, no matter how Europeans or other employers treat their native employees.

Raymond Firth, in “Human Types,” writes that the interest of civilised people in native societies is broadly of four main kinds —humanitarian, religious, economic, and political. It is easy to see to which group or groups the various factions sub scribe. The poor planter, and others caught up in the whirl of circumstances, while mainly concerned with the third group, are willing to concede them all providing that they are allowed to live.

I do not think that the time has arrived when the indenture system in Papua and TNG should be abolished. Under pre -1941 conditions, the natives were well treated and protected, and most of them preferred to “sign on.” But the writing is on the wall—a change seems certain.

In the long run, I don’t suppose it mat ters much if the change comes now, or in a few years’ time —except that now it might throw a still greater burden on an already long-suffering section of the European population of the Islands.

IF the native tax is continued, there will be the same amount of labour available, and the readiness with which such labour will be obtained will,

as in thq past, depend on the reputation of the employer or plantation concerned.

And, perhaps, when the legal sanction goes, in time, a moral obligation and sense of responsibility will take its place as employers will tend to refuse to employ natives from villages or districts which have a bad reputation.

Even if the tax be abolished, it does not follow that labour will not be avail able, In the Wedau district of Papua, a few years ago, the native tax was abolished, and it was thought in certain quarters that this would mean the home coming of all of the tax-earners. But that did not take place—natives were working, not only to get tax monay, but because it fitted into their scheme of things at that time. In other words, they were working because they wanted to.

If, however,' the cost of native labour is greatly increased, then, judging by pre-war markets, the lot of planters and others will not be enviable —unless they adopt the philosophy of letting B.P. do the worrying.

I am,-etc.,

Sydney,

E. J. Wright.

Dec. 7, 1944.

Rev. J. F. Goldie, head of the Methodist Mission organisation in the British Solo mons, and one of the best Known and highly respected missionaries in the Paci fic, received official permission to return to his post recently, antf he left Sydney, en route for New Georgia, on December 7.

His headquarters were on famous Roviana Lagoon, but he will find only devastation.

The Japs built tl>eir naval and air base, which was called Munda, on the mission station and on Mr. Leslie F. Gill’s adjoin

ing plantation; and, by the time the Americans had rooted them out, nearly two years ago, there was little left of Munda