Recruiting Saltwatei

Boys For The Ran

THEY are recruiting just unc 100 Papua-New Guinea sa water boys for a special bran of the Australian Navy—the la will man 70-ft naval craft used Territory waters, mostly for t transportation of stores.

Recently, a Sydney Morning Hers writer visited these newest adc tions to the RAN and wrote som thing of them. An old Territory reader of PIM sent us a clippi: with the sour comment that If labour recruiter used a bit of ps chologv to induce boys to sign-c that was exploitation, or sla labour, or something; but if t Navy blokes used their nuts th that was good business.

The extract from the SMH a tide, to which he refers, says:— “Recruiting native sailors has technique of its own. In t villages, the coloured braves list open-mouthed as a naval man e plains the terms —25/- a monl beds like those of the white maste free food.

“Then, with a well-timed flouri: a petty officer lays out the kit issu free to members of the native “The kit is one of the biggi attractions —two lap-laps, one wh and one blue, emblazoned with t naval insignia, shirts, shorts, pu over, comb, shaving gear, pipe, a penlmife.

“But to prevent impulse-recru ing, the patrol ship sails off. leaves the boys a week or two think over the idea.

“When it returns, /willing a suitable natives are taken on boa the ship and signed on for tlu years,”