Luncheon!
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
Mekeo Boys at Luncheon!
Official Incident Which Startled Old Hands of Two Territories
From a Special Correspondent THE action of the Papua-New Guinea Administrator, Colonel J. K. Murray, in entertaining two natives at luncheon at Government House, Port Moresby, has aroused comment in the Territories —some of it unfavourable.
The two natives are Mekeo boys, and they were prisoners of the Japs. I do not know how they became prisoners.
Possibly they, like many other Mekeos, ran away from the carrier lines on the Kokoda Trail in 1942, and were caught by the enemy. Old residents do not like Mekeos, anyway—generally, they are born thieves, and untrustworthy.
The two Mekeos were brought from Rabaul, after their release. The Ad ministrator, faithfully following his official policy, decided —evidently as a gesture—that they should be officially honoured, and they were invited to lunch, with his Honor, and six startled “high officials.”
Two of the high officials “ducked,” and escaped the function, on some excuse.
The other four grimly saw the luncheon through.
Angry residents are asking if the Administrator has ever heard of Mr.
Peter Bosgard or Mr. William Gossner.
Both young men were highly respected residents of Papua; both served with credit in the war; both were POW for a time; and both are now back in Papua.
If the Administrator wished to honour returned POW’s, why should he overlook those men, in favour of two Mekeos?
The incident has revived memories of another occurrence, when the Adminis trator and his lieutenants had met some of the Hanuabada people in conference.
The time came when Mr. Lyons, in charge of public works, began to speak.
Naturally, he spoke from his place, where he was seated. The Administrator startled everyone by requesting Mr.
Lyons to stand when he was addressing the gentlemen from Hanuabada. ris very difficult for most senior officials. They esteem the new Administrator for his many fine qualities; but they distrust and strongly dislike this policy of treating the natives as equals, and they fear that it may be misunderstood by the natives. They say it is decades ahead of its time, and may lead to trouble.
My neighbour said: “I know it is the limit that the Administrator should enter tain natives in this way. But, actually,
what is the objection?”
My answer was: “Rightly or wrongly, we cannot live in this country as the equal of the native at this stage of his development. We can only be here as his superior—or not at all.”
taken with High Chiefs and heads of Government Departments, on the eve of the departure of Sir Alfred and Lady Turnbull, from Western Samoa. From left to right: A. Mackenzie, P. Gratton, Hon. Malietoa, Sir Alfred Turnbull, Hon. Mataafa, Lady Turnbull, Hon. Tamasese, Judge J. R. Herd, T. Robson.