Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

IN January a German priest arrived in Sydney en route to the Catholic mission near Rabaul. Sydney papers reported him as complaining about con ditions in Germany, and that he blamed the Democratic nations for having brought the Germans to near-starvation.

The priest brought down upon himself a certain amount of criticism, possibly justified, for Britishers are keenly sen sitive of Britain’s own ration sacrifices for ex-enemy nationals. Political pro nouncements from priests—especially German priests—are dangerous fuel for the critics’ fires and it was not a sur prise when references appeared in the Press anent “foreign missionaries in New Guinea” and questioned loyalty, in some instances, before the War.

In some RC mission societies in NG there are representatives of nearly every European nation, to say nothing of Ameri can and Australian workers. Invariably they go to NG with no idea of return ing to their home-land. They dedicate their lives to mission work. I have often wondered why, in view of possible in ternational complications, they do not become naturalised subjects of the in dependent, neutral Vatican City State and thus avoid becoming suspect in the case of international hostilities. * * * THERE has been some plain speaking of late concerning China’s Chiang Kai-Shek, all of which reminds me of the time when W. H. Donald, the Generalissimo’s adviser, passed through Rabaul on his way to spend a well earned respite “Somewhere in the South Pacific.”

W. H. was loud in his praise of Mjidame who, during the bombardment of Chungking, bravely made the rounds of the casualty stations and tended the wounded while the Generalissimo dreamed in his dug-out, reading the Chinese classics and writing poetry. Donald’s influence did much to keep the war game clean and honest in China, and I am inclined to think that Chinese history might have been different had Donald been spared a few years longer. * * * N£lW GUINEA, said Acting Minister Chambers on his return from his tour, could supply Australia and world markets with coffee, cocoa, tea, rice and jute. Yes it could, but not under the present set-up. He omitted to mention copra, tobacco and sugar. Incidentally some of the best sugar cane in the world has been produced in the Madang area, and sugar experts from Hawaii used to make periodical trips to NG for new cuttings (or whatever they use for propa gating sugar cane).

Commenting on the Acting Minister’s remarks a Sydney daily pointed out that “others will use New Guinea if we neg lect it,” and adds: “Create the oppor tunity for a man to profit from the risks of pioneering and you’ll get pioneers.”

And that’s just about the crux of the whole matter. Every country worth while has been developed by the adventurers who were game to pioneer the country, not by bureaucratic blue-prints and political planning.

ACCORDING to reports the Acting Minister made a bit of a “blue” when he visited Kokopo. Planters from near and far wanted to have a pow-pow with the Minister, and an evening hour was chosen by them. He turned it; down: mentioned he had travelled 3,000 miles to see them and was working on a 40-hour week!

Close to where he made the remark Diggers of the First War had scrawled on a shed, belonging to the old New Guinea Compagnie the phrase, so wellknown to travellers: “1,850 miles to So and So’s Tea.” His observance of Trade Union rules was just as expected even if his judgment of distance was a bit out. * • * THE Nationality and Citizenship Act came into force on January 26. con-

Australian'^cltteenl^on”VkT’bom in

Australia. New Guinea parents would like to know what is the nationality of their offspring born in the Territory under the League of Nations or the UNO set-up. There have been a few headaches over this question in the past.

Has it been clarified in recent years? * * * AUSTRALIAN Chambers of Commerce have decided they should make an effort to produce cheap goods to capture the native trade in Darkest Africa. A delegation visited that continent in September and October last year and its report has recently been released. If (and I say it advisedly)

Australian manufacturers are capable of producing cheap goods (which I very much doubt with their 40-hour week) then why not look to the Near North, where Australia’s territories are crying out for trade lines. Supplies in pre-war years came principally from the UIS, Germany and Japan, and these countries will once again head the list if Aus tralian Chambers of Commerce don t ™ ve . Quickly Securing suitable trade l™ es is one of the biggest head-aches for the NG planter-trader these days. But Australia, .apparently, couldn t care less, * * * rpHERE has been much ink spilled lately over twen ty-odd half-caste abo rigines who have been pushed around by the NT administration and

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dation ’ Emigration and nationalisation.

Native Affairs man, Moy (whom we all kn ew well when he was on the District Service staff in NG) has a man-sized head-ache “implementing” government policy.

Had the Australian water-siders shown as much interest in their own coloured countrymen as they have done in the Javanese, the matter would soon have been settled. White Australia is a land of enigmas where the coloured races are concerned. It is either fussing or pushing them around. And the craze to publicize native members of visiting island vessels is out of all proportion, One such youth, not so long ago, hit the head-lines by saying (or was reported

as saying) that Sydney women were “too skinny,” and the men “wore too many clothes.”

NEW GUINEA has called back many of her pioneer womenfolk, who have rolled up their sleeves (and I’m not speaking figuratively either) and are now doing a wonderful job of work all over the Territory. The latest one to hear the call is Mrs. Rhoda Coote, who sails shortly for the New Britain area. Her husband was the general manager for BP in TNG and was lost in the “Montevideo Maru.” * * BITS AND PIECES: To the Dunbar- Reids on Christmas Eve at Rabaul —a son (lan Ross) . . .Miss Elizabeth Turner (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.

V. Maunsell-Turner) recently returned from NZ where she spent fourteen months hitch-hiking around Maoriland. She leaves in the “Esperance Bay” for Europe this month. Before the NZ tour she was in PM where her father was in the Crown Law Office . . . Miss Norma Fin layson, of Fiji, recently married John Dobbie, of Manly, at St. Stephens Church, Macquarie Street. Norma’s parents flew over from Fiji for the wedding . . . Nor folk Island now has a branch of the CWA with 25 members. Mrs. C. R.

Christian is president.