Spoiling The

Papuans

An Old Timer's Protest

Letter to the Editor SUPPOSE I am out of touch with the times: but I must confess that I got a real shock when, as a World War eteran, I went along to the Anzac Day tcheon at the CTA Club, in Brisbane, i there found a couple of Fuzzy Wuzzy gels preparing to sit down at table with 'our of these Papuan natives came down •e under Red Cross protection or some ng—something to do with the Laming i appeal—and they were served with als by Sinabadas at the Mission cafe, ile the newspapers published the usual ff about them.

Vhen I learned that two were to be the Anzac Day luncheon —which was be addressed by the Prime Minister — aturally thought that the two would be nitted after we had eaten, and en raged to say a few words about the >eal. Not on your life! ifter the bugle call, we all filed into dining hall and —Blow me down! —if Red Cross gentleman and the two ives didn’t file in, too. And they were sn seats, and they ate with us with ves and forks—and were allowed to take of our beer!

Ir. Menzies talked to us. But the boys e not asked to do anything—they just and ate —and drank! You can imagine v this old Papuan felt about it. was going to write to the newspapers ut what’s the use! These people with Brown Brother complex, led, I regret say, by the New Guinea Administrator, I’t know what they are doing, and the rspapers know even less. They would y regard me as one of the old school, [ a friend of the exploiters. They will ce up, one day, to the crime they are imitting against the Europeans—and inst the natives!—but by then it will too late. never thought I should live to see the when I would sit down in a formal cheon gathering with two native luans, complete with ramies and san 5, eating our food and sharing our r. Yet none of my fellow Club-mem - > seemed to see anything wrong with did not believe the stories that the ;ent Administrator has had natives like at his luncheon-table at Government ise, in Moresby. But I saw these lads :he Brisbane luncheon on Anzac Day, i my own eyes. i a very few years, the way things are ig, there will arise a Doctor Lahui a, or something, claiming equality i the Europeans, and the prompt re i of all the lands and plantations— kicking us out of the land we deve id and civilised. wonder whether the Ancient and Dis ourable Society of Sydney Pilferers— .rfies to you—would like to sit down to e with a brace of their Indonesian trades!

I am, etc.

bane, i/51.

E. L. A. Beach.

Drunken Seamen In Sydney

(A Letter to the Editor) unpleasant incident occurred when the New Guinea hound Muliama sailed from Sydney a few days ago. sailing was delayed for over an hour ie the native crew was rounded up.

At the advertised sailing time several crew members were missing, but eventually arrived in a state of belligerent and obscene intoxication. Members of the city police were called to restore order. , , . . TCTI .

The 1946 amendments to the NSW Liquor Act made it legal to supply coloured persons with liquor, with the exception of Australian aborigines living on reserves. Our legislators ignored the fact that native seamen on Island vessels are at the most, only one

or two generations removed from savagery and cannibalism.

As both sides of the legislature have stated their intention of revising the NSW Liquor Act, it is hoped that a tightening up of the control of liquor sales to visit ing native seamen will not be overlooked.

The Muliama incident is not the only one of this nature to have occurred in recent months.

I am, etc..

Manly,

Islander.

24/5/51.