Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

4 FTER 15 years' of shilly-shallying by Canberra officials, it ias been decided to retain headuarters in Rabaul. Most propertywners there have always been aainst the move to Lae, Rapopo, r wherever the new capital site r as suggested.

A Citizens’ Association was formi between 1937 (eruption) and 1940 war) and made every effort to ave the transfer dropped; but le Civil Servants won the day and, several govrnment departments were trans- “%r W RP C S al f at 19 L Record , s of other were mostly ready acked for mail shipment to Lae ? ri e Va h /p & arriv f ed * n Rabaul °of 1 life 1 during certainly the loss of life during

the 1937 eruption among the native population outside of Rabaul was great—some 600 odd —but they pannicked and had no organisation.

Presumably District Services has now inculcated some drill amongst the natives for an emergency, which will obviate deaths from collapsed houses, which was the chief cause of mortality.

Talk of the Frangipani Ball in Rabaul (PIM, June Tropicalities) and how the term “Frangipani Blooms Again" originated, omitted to mention the phrase was actually coined in one of the Eruption edi tions of “The Rabaul Times’ —a roneod sheet turned out by the editor at Vunapope when Rabaul was evacuated, and later in Rabaul while the printing plant was being de-pumiced. The little white and yellow blossom was poking its head up out of the pumice-covered branches in the backyard of the Commonwealth Bank in Rabaul. and it was this ray of hope which induced the editor to adopt an opti mistic policy regarding Rabaul down through the years.

Mention of Bill Heinicke and the ball recalls memories, too. He was the town's care-free lad, always full of beans and bright ideas, and did much to scrape the mud and dust from Rabaul’s face. He got the BEM for it. Last I heard of Bill was in Adelaide. But that was some years ago, and he could be anywhere. Wherever he is, I’ll bet hes still a cheerful soul.

Bill’s biggest moment was when, as Sergeant-Major, he led the march of the NG lads down to the boat at Rabaul when they embarked for overseas. Last time I saw him he had a crowm on his shoulder—not on his arm.

Church dignitaries are certainly sticking their necks out over the Murray retirement. I wonder how they would appreciate anyone ques tioning appointments made in Church circles? To me it seems a bit grim for Primates and Bishops to become involved in pseudo-poli tical issues, which they affirm they studiously avoid.

Is one to assume that J. K.

Murray is the only person who will see the natives get a “fair go?”

And what has he done, anyway, other than follow departmental in structions? This high-lighting of native welfare has been grossly overdone. In the TNG. anyway, it has had a high priority ever since the League of Nations took over.

It is the world publicity which has increased, rather than governmen tal interest diminished. In fact,

for the old residents—officials and otherwise—it has become a pain in the neck, aggravated by so-called experts on native administration.

Too many politicians have the idea that native welfare and private enterprise cannot go hand in hand.

They can, and have done so for years, and I am one who firmly believes the planters have done as much for the welfare of the native people as any administration de partment. That is in actual wel fare, that will be of lasting practi cal value.

I cannot imagine that Murray— if he were re-instated—would feel very comfortable in the job after all these screeds have been written about him.

There is time enough for arch bishops and bishops to protest when, and if, they discover his successor is not carrying on a sufficiently “native first" policy.

There are three main features to be regarded in NG policy: native welfare, Australian defence and primary production. That does not seem a very difficult trio to imple ment, providing all sorts and sun dries do not rush into print, with their pens poised for further ag gression, in an endeavour to ad just situations to their own indi vidual liking.

In the TNG, both Wisdom and McNicoll were undoubtedly politi cal appointees, and weathered changes of Government. Cleland, Liberal organiser before his ap pointment, also appears to come within that category. But he hasn’t been appointed yet. There may be someone else in the background.

There has been some protests lodged in clerical circles about send ing Fijians to Malaya to carry on the war against the so-called “Ter rorists," otherwise Communist gue rillas. I don’t know much about the set-up as a whole, but I often wonder what these peace-loving Fijians, who have been “civilised" to our way of life, think of being called upon to fight when Peaceful Living was one of our main argu ments with their forefathers, which won them over to our Christian way of Life. Consistency, thou art a virtue!

The citation presented to Keith McCarthy at Rabaul, as represent ing the Brewer Force detachment of Angau, for the landing on Los Negros, was indeed a happy gesture, and one which one would expect from the Yanks. Rabaul residents may not know it; but February 29, 1944 (the date of that successful Manus landing) was also the day on which Rabaul received its heavi est bombardment—both aerial and naval—during the Jan occupation.

Anything that was left standing be

>re that date was well and truly lastered on Leap Year Day, ’44.

In the local Moresby paper I Dticed that ‘ ‘Larry’ ’ Dwyer has cele rated his half century. Although bit late, I should like to add my )od wishes; for “Larry” is a good we, and a straight-from-the loulder bloke. Unless he has langed since the days when he as Economic Botanist in Rabaul, 5 won’t allow red tape to cramp s style. Many returns of June 10, Id Timer.

Hasluck’s Territory: Culled from ie front page of the SP Post— L man this week allegedly won ,300 in two hours in a game of to up.” . . . “Twenty-eight natives ?re arrested this week in police ids on native gambling schools.

All were either gaoled or fined.” i the same page appears the an mncement of a Birthday Honour /ard to a police sergeant.

A pert question: What is Minis r Hasluck doing about a portion rubber shipment from P-NG lich was refused by agents in dney? [n view of the Australian Govern mt policy to encourage primary oduction of tropical produce from NG, it does not appear consis it for goods to be turned down quota excesses.

India s Prime Minister, Pandit ffiru spoke a few words of wis m recently at New Delhi: “Tribal ople had many qualities not ind in people of the plains and e cities. They had the spirit of ng and dance and of enjoying e in a way lacking in modern ilisation. We must not send ople with long faces and black wns among the tribal folk to try d kill that spirit. Their civili tion will last when Stock Ex anges have ceased to be.” And at goes equally for the tribal ople of NG whom, we, as Western dlisers, are trying to bring to eir knees. And yet . . . Retir r. Administrator Murray, over the iC broadcast, tells us P-NG na es “had not yet been subject to ne of the crudities of civilisa n which had produced the larri i and hoodlum element.” . . . lice records in the Territory seem contradict him. ‘Christian Missions in Many nds” is a new mission venture irting in the Sepik district and US missionary recently passed rough Moresby on his way to up work. According to the w arrival (Mr. Munsch) the rkers do not regard themselves a sectarian group. “Their em

phasis was an organism rather than organisation.” Let’s hope this non sectarian mission does not further confuse the sectarian adherents of other missions. How many more sects and dogmas are to compete for the souls of the NG natives?

C. R. Cameron, Labour MHR for Hindmarsh in SA let his head go in the House at the beginning of last month when he advocated equal pay in NG for Europeans and natives. Such an idea, coming from a Labour Member, recalls the time when the ALP Rabaul branch was formed by the late Tom McLaren, who was secretary of the NG branch of the ALP, One of the duties of the ALP in NG, said McLaren, was to correct wrong im pressions held by politicians and educate them in matters relating to NG. Perhaps the ALP better get going again in NG and carry out those corrective measures. The formation of the Rabaul branch, incidentally, took place on October 6, 1941.