Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

A READER, presumably interested in linguistics, writes inquiring anent my pen-name: “I know ‘To’ is the usual Blanche Bay prefix for ‘Mr.’ but the ‘lala’ has me stumped. It certainly wouldn’t have any connection with the edifices erected by Chic Sale’s Specialist, would it?”

None whatsoever, Mr. Inquirier.

“Totala” in the Buka dialect stands for “whiteman.” Its origin goes back to a day when the first sailing ship was sighted off Buka, and a native fisherman on the reef, seeing this huge something descend ing upon the island from out of the sea, shouted: “A tol a lana mayen!” (An island is coming here.) Whitemen were on board, and the first portion of the call was adopted to des cribe their white skins.

Incidentally, many Melanesian words for “whiteman” have an interesting origin, as naturally it is a word coined after their own language had been formed. The old Blanche Bay (New Britain) word was “parau,” similar to their old word meaning a large “ship.”

Go ’way up around Bena Bena and Mount Hagen, and there you will find that the natives will greet, and refer to any whiteman, with the word “Taylor”; resulting, of course, from Jim Taylor’s historic trip through that country in 1938-39. ♦ ♦ * “XTEW ordinances give them (native 11 labourers) wages of 15/- a month — formerly they received only 5/- ...”

Such is a renorted statement of Ad ministrator J. K. Murray, which gives the

reading public of Australia an entirely erroneous impression of the old labour system in the Territories. Not so long ago a check on over 700 contracts of ser vice at Lae showed the average native’s wages to be 10/9 a month on old pre war contracts.

But the real point is this: The majority of natives don’t “make paper” for the monetary benefit they derive. They are out after adventure. “See the world and join the Navy” sort of thing.

The Sepik and Aitape lads wanted to see Rabaul or Wau; the New Britain “boys” to spend a year or so at Sala maua or Wewak. It was not the money but the lure of travel and new experi ences. “Boys” grown old away from their home villages, usually had a very good reason for not returning: an irate hus band, or an aggrieved uncle were prob ably waiting with a handy spear or native poison to drop in the prodigal’s lime-pot. ♦ ♦ * POOR old Pidgin-English made the headlines last month when Sydney papers commented on a suggested broadcast by the Government in Pidgin to New Guinea natives. (See “Tropicalities.”) As usual the imitation Pidgin was a mixture of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Abo talk: “All-de-same time . . . Paper yabba ...”

In the social notes of another paper, the phrase: “Me You Wash” was inter preted as the wash-boy asking for the laundry! We might as well get down to something concrete like Basic English, than mess about in this fashion with the old Pidgin, which is gradually becoming more mutilated than ever.

TIIPSTERS for the Bureaucratic Stakes favour F. W. E'gglestone, lately back from Washington, DC, as a likely figure in future Pacific affairs. And it seems as though some new scheme is being cooked up for doing something with Island Territories. Anything is welcome, providing it means practical development, besides native welfare, with men who know something about local Island condi tions. Sir Frederick is Pacific-conscious — if only on paper. • • • A LOT of ink is being spilled these days over Manus, and its eventual status in the Pacific set-up. The one thing I like about it is its geographical isola tion from other parts of TNG.

Service personnel (Army, Navy or Air) of any country are not to be encouraged as contacts for Territory natives. Both wars have proved that. These men, here to-day and gone to-morrow, are not going to worry about the correct approach to natives. So Manus, the base, should be kept out-of-bounds for any other natives. • • • SEEMS as though Port Moresby and district-are taking a leaf out of Aus tralia’s Book of Bad Times. Cyclonic weather, causing floods, and folk being rescued in boats from their water-logged homes is something unusual. Worst floods for 21 years or thereabouts are re ported. And then on top of all that, the capital city has been short of meat, and fresh vegetables have been at a premium.

But all these vicissitudes do not deter the old-timers from returning In large lumps. * * • BIG BILL, over his lime-juice and water, one day thrust a newspaper clipping under my nose. It referred to “Battleground now echoes auction bids,” and stated that the jungles of Torokina are now growing over £2 million worth of equipment.

“Get a load of that,” he growled. “And my plantation’s down in Big Buka, and I can’t get permission to go there!” He showed me the usual courteous refusal from the usual Department handling per mits.

Poor old Bill, and what a job for In telligence he did behind the Jap lines, too! “That’s my so-and-so reward,” he

added bitterly.

“No, you’re wrong,” I told him. “That is your E. Ward!”

But he didn’t appreciate the pun; and I don’t blame him. ♦ ♦ * AND once again that gallant band of v(*lunteers, units of which did so much in taking the brunt of the initial Jap attack in 1942. and in saving Australia from invasion—the NGVR —was conspicuous by its absence on Anzac Day parades in Australia. They are certainly the “Forgotten Men.” * * ♦ AN incident, indicative of military atti tude, insofar as New Guinea is con cerned, occurred last month, when a few Army larrikins in camp at Bathurst, awaiting transport to Japan for the Army of Occupation, were taken off the drafts.

Report said they would be sent to Rabaul.

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