P. Moresby
pp. 25-26 · Read in the full issue
Disrespect For
Administrator
Unfortunate Incident In P. Moresby
SO much disrespect was shown by members of the Port Moresby Oicket Club to the Administrator ("Colonel J. K. Murray) on a recent occasion that the affair was the subject of public com ment, and the President of the Club (Mr.
Tom Flower) resigned from that office.
The occasion was a match between teams representing the Club, and the native village of Hanuabada. The Ad ministrator was interested in the event, and made a special visit to the cricket around. He was met at the gates by Mr.
Flower, and escorted to the ground, and the competing teams were introduced.
According to reports which have reached Svdney, the Europeans on the ground either greeted the Administrator in a very surly fashion, or ignored him altogether.
The native cricketers stood smartly at at tention, and greeted him respectfully.
When afternoon tea was served, no re freshment was offered the Government House party, although people were drink ing tea all around them. Mr. Flower, who was with the official party, felt the position so keenly that he resigned from the Club.
We are informed that the demonstration —if the incident could be so described— was not directed against Colonel Murray personally, and was not organised: it was merely an indication of the bitter resentment felt by Europeans generally in the Territories against their treatment at the hands of the Australian Govern ment.
A large proportion of the Europeans present on the cricket ground were public servants, and Colonel Murray, of course, is their official head. The rank and file of the public service is very indignant at the wav in which their claims for higher emoluments have been treated by Canberra. Details of their grievances, and a report of their “stopwork meeting,” were published in this journal in June.
Europeans generally resent (a) the economic conditions which have been created by the Wardist Administration, and under which they all suffer and (2) the way in which the Administration, in all circumstances, gives most favourable treatment to native interests: and. during the oast year or so, the attitude of many of them towards the Administration has become unfriendly—and with justification.
The cricket ground incident, however, does not stand to the credit of the Euro pean community. Colonel Murray, as Administrator, carrying out the policy laid down for him by the Socialists in Can berra. is in a difficult and most un enviable situation. Even although we do not like his native policy, we must agree f hat he has done nothing to forfeit the respect of Territorians: and the attitude of Europeans towards him should be dictated by that knowledge, and the fact that he is a cultured and courteous gentleman.
Rise in Living Costs CAUSES of the growing discontent in the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea can be seen in the following prices of essential goods in Port Moresby. These show the general level of prices throughout the Territories.
Flour now costs 19/- per 25 lb. bag.
The price of the 4 lb. loaf of bread is now no less than 2/8, Fresh eggs are 5/- per dozen.
The price of rice was increased recently
by £l5 per ton, making the total price over £6O per ton, in store. Moresby.
As probably the great majority of Europeans in both Territories are on fixed wages and salaries, it can be understood that their burden of living is very heavy.