Lottery Tickets And
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
Horoscopes For Ng Natives
THE Rev. B. Cherioweth, of * the Methodist Mission, who has spent 23 years in New Guinea —latterly in New Ireland—is at present taking a holi day in South Australia with Mrs Cheno weth. He told these stories about the post-war natives of his area:— The natives are steadily learning to read and write and, seeing illustrated advertise ments in papers, are sending to Australia for all kinds of gadgets, with little idea of their real use. Some have bought muscle-developing machines and other devices for buliding up the body. Others have brought books on astrology and fortune-telling. A few have bought lottery tickets and given the local
Methodist Mission as their forwarding address.
Democracy came to New Ireland when the Administration, trying to teach the people self-government, directed that an elected council of four or five replace the native headman.
In some villages the result was that those who talked loudest and longest wore down the opposition and had them selves elected—with self-appointed rules much in their favour.