Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

it a go!” said Assistant VJ Administrator Cleland, when referring to the functioning of the new “Legislative” Council, which is due to assemble on November 26.

From Rabaul, however, where they know something of these Government-dominated gatherings from past experience, the cry is “Give it a go-by!” Despite a boy cott by the Rabaul Chamber of Commerce, there are three Rabaul ites who are candidates in a field of 13 for the three seats.

Of the nominated members I notice two old-time MLC’s of TNG: Pat Holmes, present Secretary for Lands, and Padre Lewis, of the Methodist Mission, who was at one time connected with Administration work in Western Samoa.

As Minister Hasluck says, the Council will facilitate an inter change of views between the Official and Non-Official sections of the community. That is about all it will do, under the existing Act, and that is about all it is intended to do, I should say. It is to be hoped a Hansard will be issued of proceedings, and thus enable the public, unable to attend, to know just what does transpire in the Chamber. . , , If the Council really wanted to adopt democratic principles then the introduction of a secret ballot, which is being urged in many quarters these days, would meet the case. It would, at least, ensure a true expression of individual opinion.

G.W.L. Townsend, QBE, FRGS, and popularly known throughout TNG in pre-war days as “Cassa. has been giving the Territory the once-over during a holiday from Lake Success, where he is an Area Specialist with UNO. He must have noted many changes since the days when he sat at his desk in the old Neu Guinea Compagnie store in Rabaul. back in 1920. If anyone knows New Guinea it should be “Cassa,” and UNO is lucky having a man of his experience content to carry the torch in this dreamy eyed set-up. . . .

I wish I could feel happier about UNO than I did about the old League of Nations; but I can’t.

Remarks in October PIM (p. 15) anent the cramping of George Greathead’s style in the Central Highlands are very apt, and high light an Administration policy which has been operating for years and, in the opinion of many, to the detriment of the Service and people generally—natives and non-native.

Instead of an officer being allowed to remain a long time in one area, where he could absorb the particular cultures, customs and, languages, on returning from leave: he finds himself transferred to< another district, where entirely different customs and language: prevail.

One official reason was that it enabled the officer to become acquainted with a greater portion of the Territory. Another was that it prevented the official “digging in” 1 and wielding too much power—or accumulating too much popularity —with both Europeans and natives.

Yes, knowledge of a people is power, but it takes Time to acquire that knowledge.

Eric Feldt touched an apprecia tive chord when he sang the praises of the Lik Lik Doctors in last issue of the PIM. And no one should know their worth bettei than he who has seen them back o’ beyond doing their jobs, ar often by-no-means-pleasant oc cupation.

In days gone by (I know not if the system has been changed o] late, but I hope it has) LLD’j tramped through the land withou 1 even police-boys to give them, ir the eyes of the natives, the officia. status to which they are entitled Hence difficulties arose too often ir obtaining carriers or in chartering canoes.

And there was always that in. herent native antagonism to medi cines out of bottles instead os picked from the bush, and the lacl of ceremonial, so ' dear to th. native mind, as practised by th. village medicine man, They had s hard row to hoe.

Two officials who started in thi PHD and who may end up Good! ness knows where amongst thi heads, are Harry Downing am Bert Jones—both good coves . . .

I dips me lid to the LLD’s, ever time, A timely note was struck at th annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Society by President Robsoi when he urged the gathering c historical records of the Pacifk And that sort of task cannot fe started too soon, for each year ur old-timers are passing on and ta« ing with them their store of ments notes.

It is rather surprising that witJ all the present-day planning on never -hears of a plan to write history of New Guinea or Papusj It is time this was done.

And what about a Territories’ luseum, containing specimens of ative arts and crafts? ' The best Elections are over in the U.S.A.— ithnological specimens in New ork, ornithological in Chicago.

Tiy not one in Sydney? E. J. allstrom is doing'his bit insofar as tuna and fishes are concerned. I Bar he has 300 birds-of-paradise Taronga—the best collection in le world. And a few years ago it as said that the BOP would not re in captivity!

Let’s get New Guinea’s history >wn on paper and its arts and afts properly collated before /ilisation wipes them out com etely.

Another “spleen” case is reported IM, Oct., p. 79). Judge Kelly 10 tried the case no doubt re lied the many spleen cases in ibaul some years ago. A native th an enlarged spleen is one of e greatest dangers on a planta n. He is cranky and indolent on :ount of his ailment, and medical dence shows that it is very, very 5y to rupture an enlarged spleen, ere should be a hard and fast e that no native, suffering from abnormal spleen, should be em yed. It should safeguard both i employer and the employee. toy Kendall, Queensland Senator i a well-known skipper in New inea, where he spent several pre r years, has often criticised NG pping facilities from the floor of Senate and, having visited the Titory post-war, has his fingers the pulse of things in the NG iping world.

'°w, he is personally going to mat something is done in the :ter, according to a Sydney press :>rt, which states he will spend oncoming Christmas Parlia itary recess as skipper of a Dra catcher,” cleaning up the imulated stocks which are ng planters a real headache.