Papuan Settlers Did Not

"Run"

iA Letter to the Editor) WITH much interest I read the letter of Ron Henderson in a recent “PIM” written by him in Canada on the subject of the sneer of Mr. Bryson, MP, in relation to Papua’s soldiers. I have known Ron since he was a kid, and I know the boys he mentions who lost their lives in the fighting overseas; and every word he says is truth. All those boys, like many others of the Papua settlers, were brave men and loyal in their duty to their country and the British Empire.

If Mr, Bryson says that all the old settlers of Papua left the Territory as soon as the Japs attacked, he is a damned liar. I do not think 5 per cent, of the old settlers left willingly, or of their own accord. I, for one, was here for six months after the Japs attacked.

Then, with four other —J. Miller, Arthur Miles. Archie Witbourne, and George Martin—l was forced to leave by an official concerning whom the least said the better. In these days of unfairness and injustice, and bureaucratic malice, one is afraid to speak one’s mind, even in the interests of truth and justice.

But I am not afraid to say that those officials forced us to leave because they knew we old hands knew too much about their ignorance and their methods, and they wanted us out of the way. We begged them to let us stay—there were many ways in which, with our knowledge and experience, we could have helped in the defence of our country—but we were compelled to get out. Some of us were too old for the front line, but we could have given valuable help in recruiting j

natives as guides and interpreters, in charge of gangs of boys, in charge of stores, and so on. I, for one, can speak, write and read Motuan and other dia lects—but the officials who forced me cut could not speak a word of any dialect.

I am, etc.,

A. C. Piletti.

Aroma. Papua.