Rabaul

Social Problem in Rabaul Unfortunate incident in RSL Club

From a Special Correspondent MOST unfortunate publicity has been given to a recent incident in the Returned Soldiers’ Club in Rabaul.

A member of the RSL, who has some strain of Island blood, accom panied by a European who is married to a Euronesian, took a number of Euronesian friends into the club-rooms. It is claimed that their behaviour was quiet and decorous.

Their presence was resented by certain Europeans who, with their womenfolk, departed and with ostentation.

The next development was a letter to the Committee, complaining of the presence of “half-castes” in the Club. The Committee, with sad lack of finesse and understanding, presented the letter at a meeting of the Sub-Branch.

That, of course, gave undesirable publicity, not only to a somewhat silly incident, but also to a social problem that is always bobbing up in these Islands Territories.

There are people of mixed blood tvho “go native” and, therefore must take the social status of natives.

But there are others who quite properly claim the living standards md privileges of Europeans, and vho, by their good conduct and ntelligence and education, are en dued to every consideration. It is i wrong and cruel thing that such people whom we generally call Euronesians—should be humiliated

by the kind of treatment which the little party encountered in the Rabaul RSL Club.

If there are Europeans who object to association with Euronesians, they are entitled to say so. But it clearly is the duty of responsible folk like the Committee of the Club —to handle such matters with tact and discretion. A solution should be sought behind closed doors. A social problem that already is a headache is made worse by a public parade. Nothing is gained, and a great deal is lost, by exposing to public opprobrium the helpless people who are in no way re sponsible for their mixed blood.