Magazine Section

Territories Talk Talk

By "Tolala"

LITTLE wonder that the US and other countries in the UNO set-up, cast jaundiced eyes on Australia’s admin istration in NG, when you read this sort of rubbish, about wages paid to native labourers: — The plantation kept back 4 - for poll tax and any fines boys might in cur for either real or fancied infrac tions of plantation rules.

A nice description of the workers’ de ferred pay!

It comes from no less a source than “Seventy Thousand to One,” by Quent’n Reynolds, who writes the storv of Lieut.

Gordon Manuel, of the US. who “hit the silk” while on an air raid over New Britain, and then lived for nine months with natives.

Incidentally, Manuel is anything but complimentary in his remarks concerning Territorians Alan Roberts and Malcolm English, whom he met on AIB duties.

Something ought to be done about it.

Manuel is only small fry, but Quentin Reynolds is a man of some tonnage in the writing world, and notice is liable to be taken of what he says. * * * A FEW days after the Papua-New Guinea Bill was rushed through the Australian Parliament, New York cables intimated that a searching examination would be made soon of Aus tralia’s administration in New Guinea by the Trusteeship Council because • Natives receive slave wages. • Natives have no real voice in the Government. • NG has only 38 schools for 200,000 natives.

There is something more than meets the eye in this “searching inquiry” stuff.

Has someone else got their eye on the place? ♦ * * rpo step up Public Health activities in X NG, medicos are being flown from the Old Country under the official migration scheme. First three are Drs.

William Boyd, G. C. TWeedle and A. P.

Maruff. The latter served six years in India. * * * SIDE by side with overseas’ criticism of Australia’s job in NG, comes a fea ture plug from New York about the US’s control of the former Jap mandated islands. The 60,000 natives, they say, are far healthier, more prosperous and com pletely free. A few days later a banner heading hit the news with “Guam Island Parliament Rebels at US Navy Rule,” which is rather a contradiction. How ignorant is the civilised world of the work ings of the primitive mind. And what news-space these misunderstandings oc cupy in these days when native races, all over the world receive so much publicity. * * « ONCE again the Territory Capital ques tion is raised. About the middle of last month Cabinet decided (so it was reported) that Port Moresby will be administrative centre of P-NG. It stands to reason, though, that the Trusteeship Territory of NG must have a capital of some description and, though Kokopo (or somewhere in that vicinity) is favoured in

some quarters, there are many who think that poor old Rabaul is in the running as a popular business centre.

I’m still inclined to have a coupla bob on the old capital site, around the shores of Simpson Harbour, despite gurias, Jap invasions, and whatnot. It’s the natural shipping centre for copra and. ac.ording to reports about the British Mnistrv for Food contracts, copra is coming into its own again—until 1958, at any rate. ♦ * * 11HE smiling face of a Papuan behind a typewriter recently graced a page in a Sydney newspaper. The title told of his work as an Inspector of Co-opera tive Societies in Papua. He appears an in telligent lad, said to be 30 years of age, and no doubt such a photograph is good publicity for the progress natives have made under the Australian administra tion. Nevertheless, it is a dangerous angle to play with, giving outsiders and (particu larly UNO officials) the impression that the NG jungle is full of such types, in stead of there being about one in ten thousand capable of such advancement.

This is reminiscent of the old Adminis tration’s first report to the League of Nations, in 1922, when a lad of similar in tellectual appearance was portrayed be hind a typewriter and described as “being trained in Architecture!”

Publicity chickens come home to roost, and not always to the advantage of those who rear them. It’s stunts like this which make UNO start its “searching examina tions,” and wondering why all the native; are not dressed up in white shirts and flash ties. . . .Evolution, Brother, not revo lution. ♦ * * MORE notoriety for the Territory; Aus tralian Auditor-General Joyce, in his latest report, says that, last year 52 Public Servants were responsible for deficiencies totalling £17,000. Second biggest haul was made by a clerk in th 3 P-NG Administration, amounting to £1,270, none of which was recovered. He got two and a half years in the boob—but maybe it was worth it.

INTO the silence has gone Skippe’.- 'Donaldson, one of the old islands identities in BP ships. During War I he skippered the “Matunga,” which got pinched by the German raider ‘ Wolf.”

For many years he ran the “Marella” to Singapore. In War II he collected the OBE for his good work. Bluff and biusque in his manner, he had a host of friends amongst the old-timers who will miss him.

He collapsed and died after a round of golf in Sydney on March 27. * * * BITS AND PIECES: Viscountess Stone haven, a former GG’s wife, plans a trip to NG and will stay with Ad ministrator and Mrs. Murray in Port Moresby. . . . Frank Clune is tripping to NG to finish off his book on the Terri tory which he started in 1940. He usually tries anything once; he’s trying NG twice. . . . John Schoppee, younger son of L. C. Schoppee, well known on the goldfields in pre-war days, is engaged to Patricia Arnott, daughter of Dr. and Mrs.

Arnott, of Vaucluse. . . . Bunny Hammond and wife plan a trip back to NG next to Bulolo, and with them go Flying-man Harold Durant and wife. . . .Mr. and Mrs.

Bill Washington have a baby daughter, born in Sydney, March 25. . . . W. R. A.

Parker and family have returned to NG, He attended a course at ASPA had a holiday in NZ and now goes to tak- up duties with the Department of Agricul ture, Rabaul. . . . Dennis Mullaly, from Natava plantation, is down on leave.

Brother Jack holds the fort up there meanwhile. . . . The Wal Ewins. from Fiji, are holidaying in the Scone dis trict. . . . Others from Fiji on holidays include Mr. and. Mrs. A. V. Tarte, of Taveuni. . . . We have all had some experience at one time or another with “handling charges.’ How’s this one? Mr.

X returned to NG by air, he wished to send a suit-case by sea. Measurement: three cubic feet. Freight charge was 15/-; forwarding-agent’s charges £2 9 6, Anv control of these things? . .

A Port Moresby Family.

Photo by Whites Aviation.