Allow the Traders Back
pp. 45-46 · Read in the full issue
Fewer Controls Urged by BSI Missionary
pROM a letter from the Rev. J. F.
Goldie, chairman of the Metho dist Mission in the Solomons, who has been back at his station on
Guadalcanal now for eight months :
I HAVE experienced no difficulty in the work of rehabilitation except the lack of transport. The Navy noti fied me that our schooner, which they had taken would be released in March, but before they could deliver the boat, she was sunk in New Guinea, and it will be, necessary for me to get another vessel before I can get about very much.
The war has made a terrible mess of things, and the material loss to both Europeans and natives is great. But after all, there are things which war cannot destroy, and these are ‘the things which really matter.
There are great difficulties ahead of us, but the spiritual and moral rehabili tation of the native people ought not to be so **difficult. There is no doubt that the Civil Administration has done a splendid job during the war. Under tre mendous difficulty they have kept the machinery of Government running very effectively, and I think in all their work the officials have made the interests of the native paramount.
The officials have run risks of capture by the enemy, danger of being killed, of suffering great discomfort and incon venience, but have stuck to their posts, and rendered fine service. The future will severely test their constructive powers now peace has come.
The chief danger will be that, like all
other Governments, the Administration w ill be very reluctant to relinquish war time powers. Like others, the natives have more or less chee rfully submitted to regimentation and restrictions because they recognise the imposition of these things are necessary in time of war.
But they have a right to expect that as soon as possible after the war that the irreducible minimum of control rather than the maximum will be exercised, My own opinion is that as soon as possible these “controls” should cease.
The natives themselves are anxious to see the traders back as soon as possible, as they share the almost universal opinion that no Government can run a business venture satisfactorily. The old idea that the traders are there to “ex ploit” (much abused word) the natives has no present-day application. The in dividual trader renders a very useful ser vice, and the majority of the natives are well able to look after their own interests in their little business transactions, Transport will be the chief difficulty for some time, but as soon as regular shipping can be established a greater liberty for native and European should be given, I am anxious to get the medical and educational work going all over my -dis trict. I have already opened one hos pital and several schools and churches, and there are others waiting to commence.
After four years of campaigning with the New Zealand Forces in North Africa and Italy Sergeant D. Irwin, son of Ser geant Harry Irwin, of the Samoan Police Force, recently returned to Apia.
A well-known Apia resident, Sergeant Henry Krone, a popular member of the staff of Burns Philp SS Co., Ltd., returned home by the November “Matua” after three years’ service with the New Zea land Forces in Fiji.
It was announced on November 15 that the Royal Australian Navy is closing its bases in New Guinea, and by January 1, 1946, personnel in New Guinea will be reduced by half in comparison witlr war time figures.