Magazine Section

Territories' Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

BRITAIN’S Under-Secretary for the Colonies, Mr. Ivor Thomas, who led the UK delegation at the South Pacific Conference in Canberra last February, says that the white man in the twentieth century is “doing his best to wipe out the evils he inflicted on the South Pacific islands in the nineteenth century.” And there, in a nutshell, is the key to Britain’s present colonial policy towards the black races. There can be no argu ment as to the rights or wrongs of treating native races with paternal kindness, consideration and justice; but this general volte face needs care ful implementation. And that is ex actly what we are not guarding against. Moderation is the key-note of all change. * * * NO doubt there are some people who will point to this apologetic policy as being a contributing factor in the present partial disintegration of the British Empire, which flour ished so extensively in the “evil” nineteenth century. * * * SPEAKING in London a few days after Ivor Thomas’s remarks, Australian High Commissioner, J. A.

Beasley, said: “It is our duty as a white race to show the world that our policy is one of helpfulness so that native races may take their rightful place in the world.” The occasion was when he laid a wreath on the grave of an Australian aborigine, who in 1793 accompanied Governor Phillip back to England, died and was buried in an English parish churchyard. It is to be hoped that members of the UN Trusteeship Committee did not miss the report on this touching cere mony. Truly, the pendulum is making a full swing the other way in this twentieth century. * * * A PARAGRAPH, which appeared in some golfing notes in the Sydney “Sun” on May 15, caused considerable speculation for a while amongst some old Territorians. Reference was made to a promising young golfer—one Les Bolger—who, it was stated, was “one of the few survivors from the tor pedoed Montevideo Maru. He spent f9ur days on a raft before being picked up by an American submarine.”

Anxious inquiries were made-only to discover that the promising golfer was captured in Singapore and was a survivor of the prison ship Rukyo Maru. The Montevideo Maru still re tains its tragic secret. * * * AND this reminds me of a para graph in last month’s “PIM” coming from Rabaul, and referring; to the grave in the local cemetery of Mr. Thompson, “who was thought to

have been lost on the prison ship.”

Tommy Thompson was a member of the Vic Pratt party, and was not brought to Rabaul until some weeks after the Montevideo Maru had been torpedoed. * * ♦ YOUNG Territorian lasses are often featured in the daily news. Sev enteen-year-old Pam Mossman— noted for her swimming, back in Rabaul days, with her sister June— hit the headlines last month when she and a young girl-friend paddled their surf-boards from Coogee to Maroubra and back, despite the cold weather—and the sharks. Another young Rabaul lass was mentioned in cables from London which told of the tennis champion, Joan Hartigan, in partnership with Judy Street (daugh ter of the late Jimmy Street) winning the “patball” tournament on the luxury liner Orion. “Winning the ‘patball’,” said Joan Hartigan mod estly, ‘was simply due to the fact that I had a good partner”. . . . There’s no doubt about these New Guinea lasses; they get around —on anything from surf-boards to luxury liners. * « ♦ Mr. burton graham, of 44 Northcote Road, Armadale, Vic., is sending out a SOS for anyone to contact him who knew the late Dam ien Parer, the war photographer. Mr.

Burton is writing his biography. * * ♦ QUIET, unassuming Paul Mason, who took such an active part in war operations in Bougainville, is now contemplating Operation Benedict.

His engagement has been announced to Miss Noelle Taylor, of Linden Lea, Warrawee. The score is: Wedding in September at Rabaul; honeymoon in London and Paris; home at Inus Plantation, Bougainville. Happy Days, Paul.

ATERRITORIAN writes: “I am under the impression that an old Bulolo resident, who joined up early in the piece and enlisted in the RAF, collected a posthumus VC in an action over Dakar. Can you verify?”

Has any reader any information? * * * THE NGVR never sought publicity, nor did they receive it, but there is a mute link with that gallant band occupying a place of honour in the Fonse Parer tavern. Over Merle’s bar hangs the NGVR unit placard, car ried in the Anzac Day march this year. The bearer was Geof. White who, after a brilliant war record, was tragically killed in a jeep accident at Rabaul the day after his arrival there from Sydney. Beneath this symbol of the unit many a silent toast is drunk to old comrades who have passed on ♦ * ♦ BITS and Pieces: Bob Melrose, Gov.

Sec., from Port Moresby, is down on holidays ... Rev. B. Chenoweth, of the Methodist Mission, has re turned to Rabaul ... Gilbert Ren ton, of Rabaul, spent a few days in Sydney recently before proceeding to England by air ... . Bob Parer has returned to Bougainville.

Bill Knox, who journeyed to his plantation in the Buka Passage last November, has returned, having “had” the labour situation in the Territory. . . . Here’s a chance for owners of isolated islands who want to give New Guinea away: Sir Robert Stevenson, cousin of the author, RLS, is looking for a tropic isle with shoot ing, fishing and gently-waving palm trees. He is in Sydney. . . . When US Ambassador Butler returns from his talks with President Truman he will be accompanied by Admiral Louis E. Denfeld, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, who will discuss Pacific matters with the Australian Govern ment—particularly Manus.