Moresby

The Month In

From a Special Correspondent

Port Moresby, Aug. 6.

A NATIVE was killed during the month in the main street, just outside BP’s, when he tried to climb on to a moving vehicle, and fell under the wheels. It is a matter for wonder that no fatalities have been recorded before this. Natives seem to lack the quick judgment, anticipation, and foresight necessary to sound driving. It is common to see a native driver approach a blind bend at full speed, or hugging the crest of the road, with no thought of what mav be around the corner. THE Census figures have confirmed the obvious: that there are well over twice as many European people in Moresby to-day as there were pre-war.

The actual figure for Moresby was 1,516, compared with approximately 600 in 1939.

TJANUABADA. or the Bush!

In late July a tense, almost inter national, situation developed between our Hanuabadans—of the local (somp day) “model village”—and the Kerema people, who . merely work in Moresbv ui nU a £ a village council conscripted all villagers to fight for the values of civilisation, Hanuabadans apparently feel that their adoption of European clothes and their superficial fluency in English are matters for self-congratulation and arrogance That, at least, is the Kerema story 3 Tn rpnlv , , , „ piarmp/ 1^ als N who . w . ere reall y the Keremas^werp^ sist f d , th^t u,..* ® Wore if 111 heart head thS^?bn^°«?r^ af S r bl °v? d i and that their choice of the Hanuabadans as an enemy was unprovoked and probably due to jealousy.

One week-end an ultimatum was delivered to Hanuabada- Either the sophisticated locals would ‘ disrobe them selves, forsake their airs and graces and affirm their humble status bv returning

to the traditional rami, which is good enough for Keremas and therefore dis tinctly too good for Hanuabadans—or the Keremas would perform these tasks for them.

The Hanuabadan menfolk stayed home from work for several days, and on one occasion the Keremas persistently marched with ferocious grimaces and blood-curdling noises towards the village —until they reached the first policeman.

The Keremas have thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but the Hanuabadans were very, very concerned about the situa tion. ■ ■ ■ MEMBERS of a RAAF Searcher Party, under Sauadron Leader Rundle returned to Moresby at the end of July. They had spent some time in Dutch New Guinea seeking the remains of Allied planes shot down during the war. One member of the party had pre viously walked across the Territory from Lae to the coast near Yule Island looking for information and folllowing up clues.

B ■ ■ THE sinking of the “Gippsland,” off the Papuan coast, placed us at the head of the ABC’s national news one proud night in late July. But daily bul letins had kept us so well informed that no one showed much interest in the thirteen survivors. However, when diver J. E. Johnstone loaned a film of the “Niagara” salvage operations to the Edu cation Department for screening in, a programme of educational films, apathy fled, and the whole town turned up.

Johnstone gave an interesting commen tary on the film.

Bbs

THE Education Department’s film offi cer Mr. Cox, formerly of the Rabaul Theatre, is showing programmes on a regular fortnightly schedule in the Mores by district. The regular programmes at the RSL Clubrooms (for Europeans) and at Hanuabada, Elevala, Koki, Kila, Sogeri and all nearby schools, are immensely popular with their audiences. As the Department expands, it is planned to have film circuits in each district, with a permanent library at headquarters.