Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

Amr. Ernest Tipson, Of The

British Foreign Bible Society, with 40 years’ service in Malaya, hit the Sydney news head-lines with some allit erative statements about bibles replacing beer and hymnals taking the place of hang-overs. Other signs of the new order in Malaya, according to E. Tigson, were: • Coolies demanding, and getting, higher wages than white-collared workers. • Communism rife amongst Chinese in Singapore.

And so civilisation marches on; much the same as in New Guinea. * ♦ ♦ SUN” Columnist Jim MacDougall told the world, during the Jock Garden trial; “These are Ed-Wardian days.”

New Guinea has been living in the Ed-Wardian years for some time. Did I say “living?” . . . Well, you know what I mean. * * * BUT the joke of the Ed-Wardian years was cracked recently, following publicity given to a statement by one Asher Joel, a public consultant (whatever that may be), touching on the comradely tendencies of Brown Brother in NG.

Mr. Ward, taking a leaf out of Mr.

Chifley’s book, said he knew nought of Commo activities in New Guinea.

The trouble, of course, is—and always has been—that any unofficial statement concerning NG conditions is always suspect and treated with quiet disdain by officialdom, and alleged conditions simply don’t exist unless reported by an ad ministration high official.

That policy only leads to trouble in the long run. Smuts’s Government in South Africa has just found this out.

For, in that country, the colour line still exists, without any sentimental complexes arising out of Britain’s more recent native welfare policy.

The wheel will make a complete turn yet in New Guinea, and the white will be recognised as something more than a slave-driver and exploiter of the “down trodden native.” * * * Whether the NG timber lease case be sub judice or not, one feature sticks out a mile: Departmental Secretary Reg.

Halligan comes out with flying colours. It was upon the Halligan rock that the pro posed lease foundered. “Reg.” can safely paraphrase that old-time ditty about “Harrigan,” and sing: H A double L I G A N spells “Halligan”; Proud of all the Irish blood that’s in me; Devil a man can say a word agin me; H A double L I G A N you see Is a name that a shame never has been connected with; Halligan—that’s me! ♦ * * TIHE BSI Protectorate, according to the “Crown Colonist,” is examining the possibilities of replacing the present indentured labour system by settling married labourers in villages on planta tions.

There’s nothing new in this idea. It was a common practice on the old Ger man estates in New Guinea, but became unpopuiar with the somewhat squeamish military occupation administration in the early 20’s, when it looked down its some

what bloated nose at many female native workers being on plantations where white bachelors were in charge.

Communal village life on plantations could well be encouraged where a married man prefers plantation work to sitting down idly in his own village. * * * IT was good to see that those “few”

Wirraway pilots who did such a glori ous piece of work over Rabaul just before the Japs came in in 1942, were re membered recently during the Empire Air Week celebrations. A touching ceremony at Bradfield Park; a toast by old Wirraway pilots and five turned-down glasses on the bar. It was the very least that could be done; but not the most that should be done. * * * MR. JAMES BURNS, the BP chairman at the annual meeting at the end of last month, said that his Company had had ideas of building a couple of ships in Britain, costs of each of which would have run to £2 million. In 1941, costs would have been only a quarter of that sum. This increase, plus delay in turn-around of vessels and increased run ning costs, decided the Company against placing the order.

Speaking of costs in the shipping world: I was told that it cost as much to re pair “Malaita” as it did to build her.

And the damage was not so extensive. * * * i MAROUBRA correspondent, writing in Sydney “Sun” on May 27, wants Minister Ward to answer a question asked by the “Sun” in January, 1945, anent the rather mysterious happenings on the Sepik back in April, 1942, when several whites met an untimely end.

Whether Ward’s department was/is re sponsible for classifying this “incident,” or whether the responsibility falls upon military shoulders, may be a moot point.

The fact remains that nothing of an official nature has ever been done to lift the iron curtain from that tragic Sepik incident—even for the benefit of relatives of those who were murdered, British Army, Air and Naval com manders in Malaya (Percival, Maltby and Tennant) have released their stories of the Singapore debacle in candid reports, which have been published. Isn’t it time similar action was taken by our own Service leaders regarding the New Guinea set-up when World War II broke? * * * JEAN SIMMONS, of “Blue Lagoon” fame, has put the skids under the alluring Tropics by de-glamourising the “South Sea Islands” on her return to the more-populated centres of the world, after the sojourn in Fiji. No gay lava lavas —only khaki shorts and skirts; no brightly-coloured birds—only a parrot she brought along with her. I seem to have heard the same complaint for the past thirty-odd years, but there are still some delightful pristine spots tucked away in areas that were left untouched by in vading or defending troops.

Appreciation of the Tropics comes from within more than from without. * * * THE Wales Bank has re-opened for business in Rabaul on its old site.

Eric Hill is manager. Another sign of the old town staging a “come-back.”

And this seems to be rather a general opinion these days, particularly in un

official circles. Matupi’s indigestion or flatulence is not so bad, by a long chalk.

Observers say much steam is coming out of the shores around the base of Tavurvur, which is a sign that the old safety valve is at work. Nevertheless, there’s certainly need for seismic instru ments to be installed and vulcanologists to keep their fingers on the earth’s pulse here. ff * * BITS and Pieces: lan Hogbin, Ph.D, (London), has been awarded a Re search Fellowship which “will enable him to complete his research on the effects of European culture in general and the Pacific war in particular on the natives of Busama, New Guinea.” An other break for the doctor. . . Mrs.

Emeline Maclean has returned to New Guinea once again after a short visit to Australia. She will stay with son Colin at Madang. . . W. R. A. Parker, pre viously with the D of A at Aitape, latterly relieving Colin Marr at Sogeri, is down on leave and to attend the ASPA at Mosman. His wife is visiting relations in NZ. . . Bert Perriman, big shot with the WRC (New Guinea) set-up, spent some weeks in Sydney last month, and is due to sail in “Merkur” back to NG, when he will be accompanied by Mrs. 8.8. p. They will live in the Mala pao area.