Natives, Says Clergyman

Our Civilization Can Be Good

THE 6,000 natives who inhabit the 13 Torres Strait Islands within the Church of England diocese of Carpentaria are more Christian in attitude than the people of Melbourne, in the opinion of the registrar of the diocese, the Rev. Peter Bennie, who was on holiday in the southern capital recently.

Mr. Bennie said that 98 per cent, of the islanders were practising Anglicans.

He does not agree with those who think the natives should be shielded from the impact of white civilisation by allowing them to retain their tribal territories and traditions. ‘'Civilisation, like peace, is indivisible,” he said. ‘‘White commercialism has a bad effect on anybody, natives included. But to deny natives the right to the good things that civilisation can offer is to regard them as anthropological specimens and not human beings.”

Mr. Bennie’s diocese extends from the southern New Guinea coast, through Cape York Peninsula to Cairns, and includes the Northern Territory.

He has been registrar, principal of the native theological college, and sub-dean of

the All Souls Cathedral at Thursday Island since August, 1946.

One of the aims of the mission’s work is to produce an indigenous clergy, and already six Torres islanders are working as clergy.

At Thursday Island there was a serious deficiency of fresh food, which was causing malnutrition in some of the white children, and tuberculosis among the natives was far too prevalent.

The superintendent of the hospital (Dr.

J. H. Barnes) was concentrating on tuber culosis, but supplies and equipment were badly needed. , , Mr. Bennie said that the work of the Queensland Government was well inten tioned and, despite many mistakes, much was being done. He believes that patience and perseverence will bring their reward. —From Melbourne “Age.”

The Director of Public Works in Fiji.

Mr. John L. Brown, has been transferred to Cyprus as Director of Public Works, and will probably leave Fiji in September, He has been in Fiji since 1939.