Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

THE success attending John Antill’s “Corroboree” has started something.

And it won’t be surprising to hear from a concert platform, in the near future, the music of New Britain malaqenes or Buka guma. A member of the Perth Symphony Orchestra, claims to have collected no less than 40 native “melodies” during his period of army service in New Guinea. External Terri tories has the idea of appointing him to the post of Music Education Officer. Does this mean we are about to teach the native how to make his own native music ?

For many years now Mrs. Clive Back house, an ever-popular Rabaul pianiste of high standard, has been engaged re cording native songs and dance-music which should make a valuable contribu tion towards an authentic collection of native music.

Incidentally; the sweetest harmony I ve ever heard was rendered by a choir of native male voices, and a fortune awaits the organiser who can make a world tour with such natural harmonisers. * * * IHAVE just finished reading Eric Feldt’s “Coast Watchers,” and the thought uppermost in my mind is the pathetic irony which describes the present situa tion of so many of the men who did a job behind the Jap lines to save New Guinea and Australia: the stolid obstruc tionist policy which places so many obstacles in the way of these one-time Coast Watchers desiring to re-establish themselves in a post-war Island world.

That these men, for months at a time, were only a hop ahead of Death surely entitles them to equal consideration (at least) with the native inhabitants whose loyalty in many cases left much to be desired.

A grateful government could not do less than show its appreciation to these men in some material manner. A country’s debt is not paid by the award of war-time decorations alone. * * * APROPOS of a Fair Go (for which we Aussies are generally noted) it would appear that Territorian or ganisations are working very silently in the interests of their members these days —if they are working at all. I have heard nothing of the Returned Soldiers’ League in NG nor have any reports reached the printed spaces of the doings of the once so-energetic PTA. One cannot help but wonder what has happened to envelope these two organisations beneath a cloud of silence. Is it apathy or despair?

There have been signs of life, however, in the newly-created Citizens’ Association formed in Rabaul six months ago. Presi dent E. T. Fulton has been down in Aus tralia for some weeks attending to the Association’s affairs and trying to shape NG transport services nearer to his heart’s desire. Labour and transport are still the biggest bogies up there.

V * * SPEAKING of NG conditions reminds me of the series of observations published by a Sydney Morning Herald special correspondent “investigat ing conditions in New Guinea,” and ap pearing in Grannie last month. They were written apparently with the idea of maintaining a neutral attitude between

the official and non-official factions in the Territory. They could have been written in Grannie’s office in Hunter Street — perhaps they were.

What is needed, actually, in order for a pen-picture of NG to be placed before the Australian public, is for another Malcolm Ellis to “do” the Territory as is was done by that gentleman back in 1923, when he pulled no punches, and his vitriolic pen stirred up a hornet’s nest and, despite Government denials, remedies were effected. Those were the days of the Exproboard, and rehabilitation was in progress after taking over plantations from the German- owners. How much greater is the need for such a pen when the interests at stake are those of Aus tralian and New Guinea Servicemen!

As a matter of interesting history it may be noted that it was the present editor of the “PIM,” Mr. Robson (who was then general manager of the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”) who sent M. H. Ellis to Thursday Island and New Guinea.

Ellis is now one of Sydney “Bulletin’s” writers —the brilliant “Ek Dum.”

BOTH Editor Robson and Judy Tudor can take a bow for the very excel lent collation of Islands tales and word-pictures in “Where the Trade Winds Blow.” Illustrations are “tops” and sub ject matter holds interest and, generally speaking, is of a high standard, more especially as so many of the sketches come from the pens of amateurs. But it is that fact which gives the correct back ground and shows the Islands as they are —not overflowing with glamour and romance as so many of the professional writers would have us believe.

I would like to see just such a volume turned out by this pair every two or three years. It makes a delightful Christmas present to pass on to one’s friends.

WHAT with the clamour for indepen dence in the NEI and the more recent developments in Indo-China, it is clear that the Japanese occupation of these possessions has started something which will have long range repercussions.

Nippon leaders will be chuckling con tentedly while watching the anti-white movements they themselves started, and naturally will take the credit for forcing the volte-face policies of the intruding whites in the Orient, including New Guinea.

Our own Territory natives accept, no doubt, the New Order as being from the hand of Ward, but many, at the same time, will place the credit at the door of the Nips. This is an angle to be re membered by our administrators, anthro pologists and what-have-you, who are all so eager to accelerate the advent of this great New Order for the Dark Races. * * * BRITISH timber-buyers are looking to Australia for supplies in order to save dollar-exchange. As Australia is importing from New Zealand and Canada it’s time New Guinea got busy again in the export trade. Or will the lack of transport and labour knock this valuable business on the head, too? ♦ ♦ * BITS and Pieces: The NG Womens’

Club turned on a good show on December 21 at the Feminist Club rooms when many “one-talks” fore gathered to toast the Festive Season and wish each other Good Luck for 1947.

Sandy Meldrum (sitting tightly on the

water-waggon) had charge of the cocktail shaker, and did an excellent job. A good time was had by all. President Foxcroft and her willing helpers are to be congra tulated on the success of the evening . . .

Mrs. Amy Campbell, one-time of Buka, who spent the war years nursing in England, came over from Melbourne for the Christmas-tide to visit friends in and

around Sydney . . . Australasian Petro leum Company has a 1947 development plan costing £470,000 . . . Ken Douglas, of San Remo, in the Talasea district, arrived down in Sydney in time for Christmas. He intends returning to his estate on New Britain when transport is available, taking with him his wife and young son, John . . . WRC, on March 31, next will resume a half-yearly interim dividend payment at the increased rate of 11 per cent. Since 1942 the rate has been 5 per cent. . . . The tragic news of the unexpected passing of Gladys Baker on her Langu plantation in the Witu Group was indeed sad tidings for her many friends. It is only three months since she sailed away in the “Reynella” full of optimistic plans for the future, despite the advice of friends to delay her departure until both her health and condition of the Territories had improved. * * * NEW Caledonia’s administration has approved the erection of a casino at Noumea, and the idea is to make that capital city a Pacific Monte Carlo.

What a chance Australia has lost in not doing the same in New Guinea! Imagine, say, Samarai or Mioko (in the Duke of Yorks) converted into a bush tourist resort, with all mod. cons., casino, bath ing, speed boats and what-have-you to give business-tired Aussies a nearby Honolulu, where they could relax, dodge early closing and gambling restrictions.

Mr. Ward could collect a percentage for his native welfare fund. The idea of the Idle Rich contributing to the cost of civilising Black Brother should have an appeal to the promoters of the New Order. * * * LITTLE wonder that snails are over running New Ireland and New Britain! An English naturalist has worked out that one pair of snails is responsible for 776 eggs annually, and hatch out offspring to the number of 5,000,000,000. And a snail’s average life span is eighteen months. Forward a natural eradicator, please!