How Bougainville’s Copra Productiveness Is Being Hamstrung

Cinderella Of The New Guinea Territory

Prom a Special Correspondent

Bougainville, April 9.

THIS area has become known to its residents as “Forgotten Bougain ville.” Being at the. extreme south eastern end of the Territory, the district certainly misses out on many things that more favoured localities receive, so- that the disabilities of the geographical posi tion are severely felt.

A Missionary from the district attended a conference at Port Moresby some while ago and remarked, upon his return, that there was a tendency amongst Adminis tration officials and others there to over look our needs when proposals were put forward.

It is as well to remind those in authority that this was formerly one of the heaviest copra producing districts in the Territory and can be made so again— with shipping and labour, and a modicum of supplies.

Plea For Air Service

THIS must be the only district in the Territory that is without a plane service, which is such a vital need these days to enable quick receipt and despatch of mails. It would also allow fast and comfortable transport for offi cials, planters, and others who have busi ness to do in Rabaul and Moresby. Un der existing circumstances these people and their wives are often held up for weeks in Rabaul through lack of trans port.

It is very galling for those §o situated

to see residents of Manus, New Ireland, Madang, Lae and Port Moresby being able to flit home at regular and frequent

intervals. The Buka and Bougainville unfortunates, when their turn comes — often after many false starts and altered dates—“pig it” homeward in small, in convenient and often overcrowded vessels.

There is a drome on Southern Buka — of pre-war origin and enlarged by the Japs—which, it is generally considered, could be quickly put into shape to take planes. This despite certain official re

ports (which strongly suggest that the whole matter is being conveniently “side tracked’’).

It is a matter for speculation as to what happens—somewhere along the line —to our air mail from Australia.

Quite recently, several air mail letters, posted in Australia in November, reached nere in March, after a tedious trip of four months. The envelopes looked jaded!

However, the best effort of all was when air mail letters posted in Australia in May turned up at this end in September— fortunately, in the same year! Their wanderings cannot be traced as they bear only the original post-mark.

Strangely enough, air mail letters from the USA are always among those bearing .the latest post marks when mail arrives!

It is all most annoying and, obviously, snows gross carelessness somewhere.

Insufficient Ships

DISTRICT copra production seems to i> be keeping on at a steady late—ootn plantation and native trade copra— but tne Directorate ships are not keeping pace with transporting it.

A short time ago it was estimated that 14,000 bags were awaiting shipment, from various plantations and stores, and, at tnat, no plantation is producing to capa city. Quite a number nave not been re opened since the war ended.

Appeals from the District Officer and Planters’ Association have in the situation being only partly relieved.

If the ships had big enough carrying capacity tne number coming heie would be sufficient for our needs, but as it is these toy vessels “huff and putt’’ and ar rive with a hatful of cargo and depart with a hatful of copra.

One explanation offered us is that want of port facilities in Rabaul prevents a quick turn around. Whatever tne reasons, the fact remains that the shipping ser vice is inadequate. The biggest vessel on the run—the “Katika” —carries 2,uuo bags of copra and is a veritable giant amongst the rest of the fleet.

The smaller vessels have no pinnaces, but only a surf boat in which to offload cargo and handle copra where there is no wharf. It is becoming a frequent occurrence for customers at the Chinese stores at Buka Passage to be told that there is neither flour, sugar nor smoking tobacco, whilst other items are often in

short supply.

The store proprietors for some reason most probably for want of shipping space—are unable to get all their cargo out from Rabaul, but, at times are able to also charter a vessel to bring out a load. There are often some hundreds of tons of Bougainville cargo backed up in Rabaul. It is no uncommon thing for cargo, consigned from Sydney to Bougain ville, to be held up for months.

Local residents are indignant at the state of things as there is an increasing population, and absence of essential com modities affects morale, more particularly when there are such a number of women and children included in the community.

Not Enough Labour

THE difficulty of getting local labour— one avoids using the term “efficient labour” these days—for plantation work is increasing in both Buka and Bougainville.

This is probably due to War Damage distributions of cash, generous education schemes, native copra production and an over-riding disinclination to either toil or spin.

Most plantations are hoping to get natives over from Aitape, as soon as re cruits and shipping become available, and several plantations in Bougainville are now being satisfactorily worked by Aitapes. Those fortunate enough to be thus situated wear a happy smile and are

content for the locals to sit in their vil lages, attend their frequent religious ob servances, chew their betel nut, and fol low their own devices. Trying to get work out of them is much like trying to extract blood from a stone, and the process weareth a Christian down.

So is the well-known “Buka boy”—once famous for his ability and for general faithfulness and reliability—now descend ing into the depths! Owing to the present Administration policy of extreme indul gence to the natives, and with so much easy money about, they have become quite independent and are contemptuous of Europeans; though—as a matter of policy —they give some lip service to Adminis tration officials whom they contact.

Those who heard the Administrator’s address to a crowd of Rabaul natives in

October last—wherein he stressed 'the need for all natives to work faithfully at whatever job they undertook, and the necessity for them to produce plenty of native foods, and not to forget village health, sanitation, roads and coconut groves—wish that such a doctrine would be promulgated by all District Offices. On the occasion referred to, D. O. Charley Bates, of Rabaul, interpreted to the mul titude with ability, emphasis and some relish!

Cargo Cult Again!

THE old familiar “Cargo Cult” has been raised again in this area by its de voted followers, who cannot be con vinced, or greatly deterred, by friendly ana fatherly talks by District Services officials. The high priests of the cult

merely observe more caution in their proceedings, and, if need be, go under ground.

Those most closely in touch with natives —the Missions —are well aware of the disturbing effects of this cult on the native population, its ordinary life and morals, and their Micawber-like tendency to wait for something to turn up in the way of ready cash and all kinds of desir able cargo—thus killing all desire to work.

One native recently constituted himself a Central Bank in Buka, and invited

credulous natives to lodge deposits with him and see them grow miraculously! He got together quite a number of cus tomers and, among them, most of the Head Men of the area, who, with sport ing instinct, “gave it a go.”

Another old-time and respected Luluai, of one of the largest villages in Buka, developed the idea —after consultation with the initiated —that for many years he had been missing a good income be cause of his failure to demand toll from every vessel that passed between his island and the Buka mainland! He wasn’t too sure about this rule applying to small launches and canoes, though!

The “Cargo Cult” supporters had ses sions in 1932, 1935 and 1939 in Buka and parts of Northern Bougainville, though in 1932 they were a bit unlucky in having ADC Ken McMullen to deal with at Buka Passage. He took prompt and effective measures with those concerned.

The whole business has an anti-Euro pean flavour about it and is both mis chievous and disturbing, and might well develop into something worse. In both 1932 and 1935 part of the doctrine put forward was that white people should be got rid of, either by moral suasion or force.

It’s a question as to whether or not there are still Japanese firearms in the area, and it is quite a possibility that there are. And it must be remembered that since the last manifestation of the “Cargo Cult” a good number of these natives have learned the use of arms and have fought either with, or against, the Allied cause. But in the matter of “Cargo” all these former friends and foes are brothers in a joint cause, as they maintain that the White Man receives goods that really belong to them.

Further, the prestige of the White Man has been distinctly lowered of recent years through various causes.

The recent murder of Mr. Alf Robin son, and his eight accompanying natives, in New Britain, not to mention the mur dering of Upper Markham natives, by other natives armed with Japanese rifles, should be a warning to officials and others of the futility of the “it couldn’t happen here” attitude of mind. Experience over the years shows that it could happen any where in these days of grace.