Magazine Section

Territories Talk-Talk

By "Tolala"

I SEE that the Jubilee celebrations in New Guinea have been cancelled owing to the Mt. Lamington debacle.

It is somewhat reminiscent of the big Coronation celebrations held in Rabaul in May, 1937, when streets and buildings were be-decked with hundreds of flags, many of which were still flapping in the dust-laden breeze when Vulcan built itself up out of the sea and Tavurvur blew its muddy entrails over the town.

AND talking of Tavurvur (or Matupi, as it is often called) I heard that a bomb disposal squad has dug out a dud 2,000-pounder from the crater dropped there during the Jap occupation by the Yanks with the idea of stirring up seismic forces to make life unbearable for the occupiers of the town. As a matter of-fact, during the Jap occupation it seemed that Vulcan and his allied forces were definitely pro-Jap, for there were practically no seismic or volcanic dis turbances during the whole period.

Tavurvur stopped belching its grit and grime in November ’4l, when the first “unidentified planes” started their work, and the biggest quria for the whole period occurred in August ’45, after the signing of the Armistice.

SO vital war materials are being ex ported once again from NG to foreign countries, according to a Sydney Sunday paper. History repeats itself. Before War 11, Japan bought up some old Islands vessels and shipped them back piece-meal to the Flowery Kingdom.

No doubt they returned later in the shape of bombs and bullets. Well, you know what red-tape is. Can anything be done?

THERE was a near panic in Melbourne last month when a suspected case of malaria was reported and made the headlines. The first for 30 years, the papers said. Just as well every case that occurs of Territorians suffering from malaria while down South on leave does not get publicity. With Moresby within a few flying hours of Melbourne, there’s every possibility of friend Anopheles be coming a stow-away on some of these planes.

I HAVE always admired the pioneer spirit—the urge which takes the adventurous types out into the far flung corners of the Empire or UNO territories (whichever you like). But I couldn’t restrain a smile when I read recently in a Sydney paper about a young wile who was to join her husband in New Guinea Highlands. I quote:— “Mrs. X is busy buying furniture in lemon and oatmeal shades to match the bamboo ceilings and walls of plaited grass of her native-built home. Her china col cur scheme is yellow to match the yellow lap-laps her native servants will wear. Mrs. X lunched at Prince’s during the week . . . , ”

Wouldn’t it?

A PEN-PICTURE from Manus—Aus tralia’s northern bulwark—taken from a letter in the “South Pacific Post,” which, after describing a steamer lifting cubes, Quonset and Saar huts and the only grader in the Lorengau area, goes

“This grader is destined for Port Moresby, and Lorengau will revert to bush tracks and will once again become in accessible, with no roads, no wharves, no Navy ships at the Navy base, no aircraft at the Momote Air Base, and a slowly dwindling Works and Housing popu lation. We ship out Quonset and Saar huts and local business firms import Sydney Williams huts from Australia and iron from Japan.’’ . . . Doesn’t seem to add up, does it?

PASSING to her rest after many a weary year is Mrs. Emily Hore, mother of Dyson and Basil Hore- Lacey and Mrs. Bill Grose, of Libba Lossu, in New Ireland. She came to New Britain during the first war when her husband, Lieut-Col. Hore, was in the Forces and, later, joined the Civil Administration.

They lived in Rabaul and Kokopo. Her escape from the wreck of the Quetta off Cape York in 1890 has gone down into Australian history. She was 36 hours in the water before being picked up.

She passed away at Moss Vale. NSW, where she made her home after leaving the Islands.

THE Manus public servants, strongly criticised the “South Pacific Post’’ not so long ago with reference to what they interpreted as a slur on Judge Phillips’ action in connection with the' Lamington disaster. Apparently they read into certain remarks a meaning that was not intended.

Anyway, Judge “Monty” Phillips, who was Deputy Administrator when the Rabaul eruption occurred in 1937, need not worry. Everyone well knows that he it was who called a meeting early on the Sunday morning following the upheaval and decided to evacuate the town. His organisation was excellent and, incident ally. he collected a CBE for his timely work. He earned it.

THERE have been some more spears thrown at Australia in the UN Trus teeship Council, over in New York criticising the administration of the natives in NG; and a Mr. David Hav (never even heard of him!) defends the policy and achievements of the Common wealth.

It is the same old story all over again

Back in the 1920’s and 30’s Count de Penha Garcia and Mdlle. Dannevig in the halls of the League of Nations were bulling to pieces Australia’s administration in NG.

NG was then a mandated territory. Now, Russia and her satellites are doing the wingeing, and, in reply, the same old eye-wash is being dished out.

Says Representative Hay: “ . . . the most notable steps forward in the political field had been the establishment of native vilage councils.” And these councils would, according to Hay, “engage in finance, business and carry out public works, raise funds through taxes and loans and maintain their own paid em ployees.” What, one might ask, have the old native tribes been doing other than that for the past century?

It is time Australia took a firm stand against all this mud-slinging in inter national councils, where delegates get up and criticise when they know nothing of the conditions prevailing. It is nothing more or less than political blah. Aus tralia should tell them to go and chase moonbeams, and leave Australia’s administration alone.

Finally, at the council, UNO established a committee consisting of delegates from NZ, the US, Argentine and the Dominician Republic to draft a report on Trust Territories.

The report should be worth reading !

I AM glad to see that there has been a movement in the Territories for the appointment of a separate Minister for External Territories. It is about time.

It is next to impossible for a Minister to switch his mind from near-war in Europe or the Far East to a tribal fight up the Markham Valley, or the copra price down in Bougainville. It means that the minor matter is left to a lesser official and, once dealt with by the permanent staff, the old red-tape procedure con tinues on. The Territorial organisations should get together and put the matter up to Menzies.

IF the South Pacific Commission is look ing for anyone with all-high organis ing ability, plus knowledge of the Islands, to replace retiring Secretary- General Forsyth, it could not do better than approach Sir Raphael Cilento, re cently returned from UNO duties in the Near East.

Sir Raphael knows his New Guinea as few know it. He was up there during the First War and was later FMO with the Civil Administration. He is a man who does not take kindly to red tape, though, and that might go against him in these days of high-pressure bureaucracy.

Dobell Picture For

Volcano Victims

Qantas Publicity Chief, Mr. E.

Bennett-Bremner (left) and the Rev. Alan Tory, of Sydney, admire a Dobell seascape which the artist has donated to the Mt. Lamington Relief Fund. The painting, which Dobell did while in Papua last T ear —it was painted near Port Moresby—is valued at £5O. It is understood that it will be raffled in F-NG.