Bank Accounts Take

Place of Head-hunting Strange Sepik Interpretation Of Thrift Campaign

rAT the untutored savage is having a tussle with many of the blessings conferred upon him by a benevolent Government is indicated by the report of a man who recently visited the Sepik District of New Guinea.

It appears that after distributing large amounts in War Damage payments to these natives, who used it mostly for gambling purposes (there being little else to do with it) the Administration suddenly began a campaign to foster thrift, and persuaded many villages to open “com munity accounts” in the Commonwealth Savings Bank, with the idea of greater benefits to come later, when the Territory was more normal.

Like many other apparently simple in novations, however, the thrift campaign was interpreted by Brown Brother in a variety of different and extraordinary ways.

It is reported that in some cases the community bank account has now taken the place of the good old Sepik head hunting foray and that one village chal lenges another to go one better than it, per medium of the credit in the village bank account.

Other villages have interpreted the Administrative propaganda as “orders” and contribute to the account as they formerly paid head tax, believing that non-contributors are liable to imprison ment.

Others, again, regard it as some sort of

lottery, with prizes for everyone; a sort of preparation for their legendary great “sit down” and arrival of the much heralded cargo in short, a super cargo-cult.

But, whatever the interpretation, the campaign seems to have had one general effect it has made the natives money conscious and money-hungry. They have adopted, in some cases, most improper means of raising funds.

Eventually their misconception may be ironed out and they may then be grateful that they did some good with their money instead of frittering it away.