Deterioration In New Guinea Village Life

Old Planter Criticises Lack of Government and Medical Patrols

SEVERAL correspondents in New Guinea in recent months have commented on a deterioration in native village life, and many blame, for this, the absence of Government and Medical Patrols.

The following communication, from an experienced coconut planter, is typical.

Throughout this District, village life is changing—and it looks as though the 40-hours-week idea has come to them too.

No more is the old “Early to Work” idea practised, and villagers lie abed till the Native Mission Teacher rings a bell and summons the faithful to prayer. By the time the Lotu session is over, and the harassed house-wife has got the family a bit of breakfast, the sun is well up and, at the promise of another hot day, and because of the lateness of the hour, many feel that It really isn’t worth while starting— and they don’t! .

Thus, many villages fail m main taining their houses, keeping then section of roads clean, attending to sanitation and planting the former

amount and variety of native foods that they should for their health’s sake.

As patrols are now so few and far between and done so hurriedly there isn’t much need to worry about the state of the villages. The official rushes through the patrol and hastens back to HQ to fill in the multitude of forms required under the new scheme of things— and which must be rendered “before the end of the month!”

After the official has gone—the villagers probably haven’t seen him before and do not know exactly who or what he represents—the indolent indigenes relapse into a state of happy indifference and chew more betel nut. .

Most villages have a Trade Store” —run by a “Trade Man” who is usually a Native Mission Teacher attempting to augment his stipend, salary or wages, and because of his superior talents!

He buys nuts from the locals for “tabak,” sugar or cash, and he turns them into copra with the help tif his customers and his “school

boys” (who should be learning the three R’s).

This excursion into trading mostly fails, because he has not calculated properly the proper margin of profit. Also, to show his superiority in trading matters, he undersells his rivals with goods. At the end of his venture he sadly remarks: “Me no been win ’im money along this trading—altogether money belong been lose—now War Damages along Bank been finish too.”

He has usually started operations on the War Damages he collected and which had been (mostly) banked for him by a kindly District Officer.

Thus we see that Religion and Commerce can go hand in hand; and, also, the old proverb of “Easy come-Easy go” is illustrated.

By the way, when the United Nations Delegation came to this area last year one of the Mission native teachers complained to Sir Alan Burns that he only got £8 per annum —and “found” himself and family out of that>—after nearly 30 years of bible preaching. He said other less competent but long term Teachers got £5 to £7! Sir A.B, tactfully replied that he should go into that with the Mission.

These men conduct service in the village twice a day (week days) and four times on Sundays. They hammer into the congregation what ever is “the message” from their Missions for that particular month.

You can imagine how their doctrines thus take precedence over the talks of an occasional Government man.

At the village Trade Stores the people buy tin meat, lollies, sweet biscuits, lemonade, and such-like truck, and are becoming a bit con temptuous about kau kau and taro.

Chasing the elusive wild pig or “the possum and the coon” are distinctly ““out” when tins can be had in the store —also, fishing in the rain and the cold is hard work! One can imagine the little Dental Caries laughing gleefully at the prospect of work for them under the new diet.

Those who best know are con cerned at the lack of patrols. The natives say quite openly that the Government is no longer interested in their village life and doings.

Without patrols, the Government official loses touch with the village life; the older generation, who do not go to the Government Stations; and disputes are not settled in the villages as they should be.

Another thing is that the Flag is not hoisted in the villages, and a pep talk not given to the in habitants, unless there are regular patrols.

The Medical patrols should be regular, too, and treatment given in the villages and sanitation properly inspected. No regular hook-worm treatment is now given in the villages. Formerly—“in the bad old days”—hook-worm treatment was given by a Medical Assistant to

every native in the village and to all plantation labourers. This is a most necessary thing. It often makes the difference between a lively and cheery native and a slothful and indifferent native. (Aha! But they are getting co operative movements, religion in large and assorted varieties, and no Returned Soldiers must be allowed to “steal” their land, which is being less and less used.) If there was less of all this humbug

and more attention to TB—which is so rife everywhere—it might be more to the purpose. These Government trained “Native Medical Orderlies” who are allotted a Native Hospital in their own district after returning from training—require much more super vision than they get. They are, increasingly, using their position to gain favours from the younger (and not so young) females.

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Formerly, this was a prerogative of the local “Mission Teacher” but the NMO is now a keen rival in the field!

The infant mortality rate is alarming, and that is basic.

The former regular patrols by the Medical Patrols were (like the old Waverly nib) “a boon and a blessing to men.” Further, they gave the natives a faith and belief in the Government that was worth while.

Now the Mission propaganda is: “The Government doesn’t care two hoots about you but, behold, we are always with you to guide and cheer you.” An ancient—and humorous- Kukurai asked: “What tor Govern ment man no more walk about all same before? What’s the matter ’ere? I tink leg belong all ’e broke?”

Native police are not now supplied for any Medical Patrols. This hampers the Medical man because of difficulty in obtaining carriers, loss of required authority, and loss of prestige. The order is said to have come from Moresby. We also protest against the “pauer war” which glues many officials to their chairs in offices.