The Lighter Side Of A Policeman's Life

Fiji Police Rugby football teams (and the officials), who competed In last season s games In the Colony. They are:— FRONT ROW: Constables K. Kuru, T. Rabune. R. Saukuru, S. Delaibatiki, L. Late, M. Waqa.

SECOND ROW: Constables V. Tagicaki, P. Kubu; Assistant Superintendent J. A Moore (Secretary-Coach); Sgt. V. Nadaku (Capt. “A”); Hon. I. E. Lucchinelli (Commissioner of Police; President); Cpl. L. Bale (Capt. “B”): Inspector D. M McGusty (Coach); Constables V. Ralulu, L.

Kurumudu.

THIRD ROW: Constables K. Vakamila, K. Waqa, E. Qaraniqio, M. Cevalawa. M. Turaga, I Cobitu, W. Waqa, S. Valewai, W. Ketewai.

FOURTH ROW: Constables M. Bola, L. Veiguyaki, J. Sucu, U. Niukovu; Cpl. L Saladoka (Vice- Capt. “A”); Constables P, Sulala, M. Lomani, S. Ganilau, V. Raqauqau, L. Rabuli, BACK ROW; Constables J. Qalo, M. Labaibure; Cpl. P. Tuinakelo; Constables P. Denicagi, V.

Noa, L. Ketedromo; Cpl. W. Katonibau (Vice-Capt. “B”).

gat mak i putim pinis baimbai imas mekin dai faia long dispela mak na i noken kalap igo long arapela hap.

All of which seems to mean that a number of people who inhabit the region around Lae and Nadzab are setting fire to the kunai. Some do so to make gardens; some to catch small animals • Momot), rats etc. This was OK in the “good fella time before ’e no got bomb” (or if you prefer it: “orait long gudpela taim bipo ino bin gat ol bomb”); but in these days, many unexploded bombs are hidden in the grass in these districts and it is as well to go into a huddle before setting fire to any grass better to “wetim gudpela dei or taim turu belong laitem.” (Wait for a good fella day or time true belong light ’im.”) Mr Roberts finally gets off this telling broadside: “Faia i gudpela wokman tasol i nogudpela boss,” Which, being inter preted, means that fire is a good servant but a bad master.

Seems that the New Order flavour iS already entering Pidgin. Was “wokman,” for example, part of the pre-1939 Pidgin vocabulary? * * * IN the “Classified” part of the “Gara mut” we come across this interesting piece:

Husat I Laik Daraiva?

Palanti wok istap wetim em

Kam Tasol

Palanti wok long daraivim tarak istap tarak bilong Gavaman long Lae. rwa*, e * iumas lo Kiap' n*a' k.k-save*" W ° k kama *> Put a little plainer it goes:

Who’Sat ’E Like Drive

Plenty Work ’e Stop You Come, That’s All!

Y ork , drive ’ im truck ’e stop l°il g tr K C i k bel 9P£ Government long fSfo * Pay be Jp n g this fella work ’e good much ab the same £2 ’e go on top £6, one month. (£2-£6 per month) Suppose man ’e like this fella work UP long Kiap ’ now talk-savvy— * * * T HAT dangerous article, a “blown” tin A of meat, puffed into almost-spherical shape by tne expansion of internal gases, is customarily heaved-out by the storekeeper as a dead loss, as these are not safe enough to even feed to the pig. .^ be ", e were, however, natives who con sidered this jettisoning of food a most wicked wa ste, and would claim the item ft r °to eSfble con V d e ition method ° f ! have since found out what the re storers did. They just washed the “high” meat in the sea, after removing fat, and then, wrapping it in the leaves of the big Kota-fern put it to bake in the earth- P a P er-b ag cookery” style, until tb e fibres were well and truly dehydrated.

X h^’v, a P£ arently ’ destroyed ptomaines, though the stuff must have tasted like Camembert cheese.

Another “improvement” was to add to the bundle a crushed, ripe paw-paw, the papain apparently also taking away a certain proportion of the toxic quality of the beef, etc. I never saw anyone actu ally m convulsions after eating this stuff.

“Eti.”

A number of American civilians and Chinese have been at Finschhafen re cently making arrangements to transport to China materials formerly belonging to the United States Air Force ,and now taken over by the Chinese Government.