Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

[T is good to hear these Voices from the Past, as demonstrated by Herr H. R. Wahlen, in the Sditor’s Mail Bag (Nov. PIM).

There is no doubt but that he was i Personality Plus, long before that ;erm came into general usage, rhere is one point I do not agree on n respect to his early days in New j-uinea.

If my memory serves me right, he ;ame out originally for the Hern heim Co., not the New Guinea Co., ls stated in the PIM. and it was luring a trip for this company that le recognised the potentialities of he Western Islands, which he was lesircus of developing on his own iccount. H & Co. gave him no en ouragement, so he approached Sueen Emma for the finance, and he agreed. That was the start of I. R. Wahlen Gesellschaft, which operated exclusively in the Western slands.

His South Sea castle —Wahlenberg -built on Maron, in the Hermits >roup, was a palatial affair—even ieer were imported to range over he surounding grounds. After the stablishment of Maron the NDL teamers, en route from Sydney to long Kong, made it a port of call.

Another correction: Hemsheim & Jo. never amalgamated with E, E. ’orsayth or HSAG.

One notable aspect of the acti ities of the big German firms in >eutsch Neu Guinea, Bismarck Ar hipelago and the Solomon Inseln fas the absence of any competition i a big way. The Neu Guinea Jompagnie’s big holdings were con ined to the mainland of Neu Juinea, Neu Pommern and Witu, nth a few smaller areas on Neu lecklenburg, HSAG, or E. E. For ayth, concentrated on Neu Pom lern, Bougainville and the outly ig islands with a few on Neu lecklenburg; while Hernsheim & !o. held areas in Neu Pommern, Feu Lauenburg and Manus, with a tore and plantation at Kieta, in tougainville, at one time doing a onsiderable trade with the British blomons.

The “Long Handle Firm” (Deuts tien Handels und Plantagen Gesell chaft) before 1914 had only one ig store, situated at Mioko, in the hike of Yorks (Neu Lauenburg) nd was operating in Neu Guinea rincipally as a base for its recruit ag vessel “Samoa.” seeking ibourers for its plantations in Wes ern Samoa.

Talking about the Western slands; Only recently I received a creed from an old Island govern ment officer. He writes; “In the Islands I have tasted some oul beverages—i.e. XYZ’s home

brew fortified with a nip of rum, and tomato “beer” at Avarua in the Cooks—but for sheer non potableness I give Old Charlie Matthie’s ‘coffee’ top marks! He made it himself (Aua, 1920). It looked like Instant Postum, which I believe is made from maize; but Charlie’s concoction was from scorched breadfruit ‘acorns’ plus a root which looked like chicory, but wasn’t. His ‘coffee,’ of which he was very proud, tasted like some of the muck dished out in the Dago joints down Railway way (Sydney). Need any more be said? It was vile and bitter.”

Matthies was a real king of the Western Islands. He married into royalty on Aua, and the natives there would do anything in the world for him. When the Expro board relieved all staff of the Ger man firms in ’2O and ’2l, he was allowed to remain and carry on at Aua, for no one—despite his vile coffee! —was deemed capable of con tinuing his work.

In those days we had no fast travelling launches—save the “Phyl lis,” that chugged slowly between Ralum and Rabaul each day; there were few auxiliary vessels; no radio —the nearest cable station was at Yap, in the Carolines; there were no cinemas, no refrigerators, no European gaol. But, withal, we lived a happy life, for we had no international body pimping on us— although we did have an Advisory Council, representing every Euro pean interest in the colony. And they had a greater say in the laws then than they have now.

Indonesia’s exports to Australia are to be increased this coming year by almost £2 million, making in all £6.8 millions; while Australia will export nearly £5 million, made up principally of flour, metals, machinery and foodstuffs, receiv ing from Indonesia rubber, timber, tea, kapok and coffee.

Let’s hope it does not affect the exports from NG. It should be government’s policy to develop NG sufficiently to supply Australia with all her tropical requirements. Give NG first preference every time.

Despite the fact that an Indo nesian Trade Mission visited Aus tralia at the beginning of this month, there is every indication that the Javanese are going to be a pain-in- the-neck in a short while.

The Malan government in South Africa appears to be on the point of cutting the somewhat fragile painter with UNO. As a self-gov erning nation, it makes no secret

of its antagonism towards UN, and steadfastly sticks to its guns when that organisation starts to push it around.

Its present attitude towards UNO is somewhat reminiscent of the Japanese policy, adopted in the Carolines and Marshalls before War II with the League of Nations. That country did what it liked, and got away with it. All of which shows a decided weakness in these international set-ups, and rather makes one wonder why Aus tralia gets all hot and bothered if any member of UNO even looks sideways at our administration in NG.

At the same Trusteeship Commit tee meeting, when South Africa walked out, the French delegate also left the meeting in a huff. So all is not so well with our UNO masters; which is really not at all surprising.

I was under the impression that planters, as a whole, welcomed with open arms the change in govern ment, until I met an old-time planter from around Rabaul, down for a short leave. He is not usually given to wingeing.

“How are things?” he echoed my question. “Things are up to putty how with the new government. Rice up £5O a ton, meat up £4 a case, our cigarettes and tobacco double the price, and trade tobacco 13/- a lb, and all the time patrol officers doing everything possible to dis suade the native from working.”

I was surprised to hear such a wail, for it certainly does not fit in well with the Government’s urge to encourage private enterprise. But then, after all, it might have been one of John’s bad days. If the rise in prices is his only complaint against the new government, then he will not be on his own, by any means. There are one or two around Sydney who are also com plaining.

Administrator Murray in addres sing the natives at the first anni versary of the Hanuabada Village Council: “ . . . Learn to read and speak English. Learn Australian methods of production and organ isation. ...” Was he really serious about Australian production?