Civilians
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
New Guinea’s Lost Civilians Personal and Economic Disaster
ON page 49 of this issue, there' is a list of over 300 civilian residents of New Guinea, most of whom were taken prisoner by the Japs when they invaded Rabaul in January, 1942. They are officially described as “Missing”; but it now seems almost certain that they are dead. A search for them has pro ceeded throughout the Southwest Paci fic and the Far East since Japan sur rendered, but no trace of them has been discovered.
Apart from the personal tragedy, this is the greatest economic disaster in the history of the South Pacific Territories.
These were mostly exceptional people, pioneers by choice and individualists by force of circumstances, and in their in dustry and ability lay the economic strength of New Guinea. To show the Territory’s administrative and economic loss, it is necessary only to quote the following analysis of the missing people: Heads of Government ■ Depart ments 8 Plantation-owners 25 Merchants, commercial managers, professional practitioners 58 Plantation managers 68 Administrative officials, approx. 100 Small traders, clerks, etc 60 Missionaries* 11 *Not including over 300 missionaries, mostly personnel of Roman Catholic stations, whose whereabouts are at present uncertain.
The replacement of those people, nearly all of whom possessed a wide practical experience of New Guinea con ditions, is one of the many problems of the immediate future. Among the men who are missing, and now feared to be dead, are the following well-known figures: Mr. H. A. Adams, a leading planter and a member of the Legislative Council.
Mr. E. Banks, who conducted one of the Territory’s principal hotels.
Mr. R. L. (“Nobby”) Clark, head of a principal construction company, and a prominent public figure.
Dr. R. W. Cooper, Administration Medi cal Officer.
Mr. P. Coote, general manager of the extensive Burns Philp enterprises in New Guinea.
Mr. A. Evenson, manager of the Carpen ter desiccated coconut factory at Pondo.
Mr. C. R. Field, Director of Public Works.
Mr. V. A. Florence, solicitor, of Rabaul.
Mr. E. C. D. Green, superintendent of the Keravat Experimental Plantation.
Mr. Gerald Hogan, head of the Crown Law Department.
Mr. H. D. Holland, AWA manager in Rabaul.
Mr. Jan Hoogerwerth, manager of the “Rabaul Times.”
Dr. H. C. Hosking, Administration Medi cal Officer.
Mr. F. W. Mantle, Senior Magistrate.
Mr. George Murray, Director of Agricul ture.
Mr. H. H. Page, Government Secretary and Deputy Administrator, Mr. F. V. Saunders, a leading planter.
Mr. G. W. Snensley, manager of Colyer Watson, Ltd.
Mr. J. L. Street, Registrar and Official Trustee.
Mr. H. O. Townsend, Administration Treasurer.
Mr. H. J. Washington, a leading planter.