Europeans Ape

Kanakas

Letter to the Editor INHERE have been several articles in the “Pacific Islands Monthly” in re cent months dealing with the New Guinea and Papuan natives aping the white man by wearing boots, shirts, long trousers, etc. So far I have not seen any article dealing with the white man aping the native by walking about in public like a white kanaka and lowering the prestige of the white man.

Before the war, the average European was, at most times, decently dressed, par ticularly when in public. He also did what he could to uphold European pres tige.

During the war hundreds of American and Australian troops were in the habit of working and walking about in a semi nude state, dressed only on the lower part of the body. Those felows were only here for a short time and naturally could not be expected to know any better.

Some old-timers tried to advise them a number of times, but they naturally knew better than we did.

Since the war there has been a great influx of Americans and Australians to New Guinea to work for various private and mission organisations. I have seen dozens of these fellows working and walking about in public in a semi-nude state and I know that most of them have been advised by old timers that it is just not the right thing to do in New Guinea.

In addition to its being injurious to the health, it lowers the prestige of the white man. Needless to say, most of the ones that have been given good advice are too thick in the skull to take any notice of it. They are of the type that knows everything after being in the country a day or so. > It is well-known in New Guinea that the average native has the intellect of a normal white person of 10 or 11 years of age. Pre-war he always looked to the white man to set an example. Is it any wonder that these days big-headed natives ape the white man when they see the white man aping them?

I am, etc.,

Old Timer

Rabaul, March 8, 1948.