Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

THE inauguration of another ship ping service to NG should be welcomed by Islands residents, even if the passenger accommodation is only limited. There always has been a tendency up in those parts for a monopoly in shipping. Round about the early 1900’s the NDL received a monopoly throughout the old German colony and BP was ousted. The old Moresby was the last ship to call at Rabaul when the ban was applied.

Incidentally, she was the first British merchantman to call in to Rabaul after the Fritzes were beaten.

Another monopoly held by the NDL was the freehold land in Rabaul township, given by the German gov ernment to the Company for start ing the township, when it was decided to move the capital from Herbert shohe (Kokopo).

It was not until the early thirties that a German ship returned to the NG island trade, and that was the old Bremerhaven, sailing out of Hong kong. That started a bit of a freight war, but nevertheless was welcomed by many a transport-hungry planter.

Healthy competition is essential in transport—especially in the Islands — and there is no doubt the Government shipping set-up (which was a super monopoly) following the last war, was responsible for much of the commercial retrogression. It will be interesting to watch the progress—if any—of this newly-installed shipping line.

And talking of German shipping reminds me of a letter I received some time ago from the skipper of the Bremerhaven, Ludwig Klugkist, who is now first officer in the Dust ernbrook, which called at Australian ports this year. On board was a NZ journalist who had a copy of the Robson-Tudor, “Where the Trade Blow.” A fit of nostalgia, after reading it made the old skipper write me from Port Said. He asked after many folk; but most of them have gone to their rest. He was a nephew of the skipper of the old Coblenz on which I travelled first to NG in 1911.

To read these days of the importa tion of cattle into NG would give one the impression that the country never had any “bulamakaus” before the war. Old figures show, however, that in June, 1939, there was a total of 20,565 beasts in the TNG. The greatest number (6.464) were in the Madang district. I remember that

CPL plantations, down in Bougaim ville, for many years before War I fed most of its labour with fresh meat It will be a happy land when th* principal native rations—rice, mea and tobacco—are locally grown. Thi Japanese army of some 60,000 ii Rabaul lived off the land and sea fo over a year in 1944 and, as I’ve men tioned before, had many acres of hil rice growing.

Talking of the Japs reminds me o a news item in a Brisbane paper lay ing the blame on the Japs for the in troduction into NG of the Rhinocero beetle! Outsizes in snails and a gian red-eyed fly, yes; but such pests a the dynastid tribe, definitely NO “Monkey” lines had been collectinj “binatangs” in TNG systematically ever since 1914, when planters be came pest-conscious following th< policy adopted by the BP plantation; in Bougainville.

Jim Campbell was the first to wag< a war against the Brontispa froggatti knowing the havoc it had wrought ii the BSI. That pest is named aftei W. W. Froggatt, who first went t< Papua in 1885 with an expedition He was for years NSW Governmen Entomologist. His son, J. L., followec in his footsteps and was Entomologis with the NG administration both be fore and after the war.

It’s to be hoped the “binatang” line doesn’t go into the discard, though ' suppose increased wages have a tend ency to encourage such unwis* economies.

An old correspondent of mine fron TNG writes: “Should you approacl the average plantation manager to day and ask him what number o boys he has on the “bintatang” line he would just gape and remark to hi: neighbour, “More senseless uttering: of a B 4.!”

I think in these days we are in dined to depend on Government re search-men too much, which kills th< personal incentive so notable in th« B 4 days, an attribute which pulled u: over the stoney pioneer pathways, hope ’tis still a Brave New World.

It’s all a bit puzzling, though. By the same mail I received an air-maii envelope addressed to a Matupi ladl working on a plantation, and it bort the native’s name, with “Esqr.” tackeo on to it, and addressed in care of Mr So-and-So, the plantation owner. Whai

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social distinction! All a bit cock-eyed and shows that sophistication does not carry a true sense of values or ethics.

But we all know that. It is our own fault that such situations are made possible.

Kenya natives are staging a full scale “cargo” blitz, and it is surprising to me that some enthusiastic philo logist has not attempted to link up the African Mau Mau with the Mau dis turbances in Samoa over 20 years ago. The happenings in Kenya just show what can transpire with well timed subversive organisation. Little doubt that the brains behind the movement come from Moscow. It was in ’3B (as far as I remember) there was a somewhat similar move to oust the Whites over on the New Ireland coast, but tactful District action ironed out the trouble and it went murmuring underground. One day history will explain many of these native movements which seem difficult to understand now.

Seven Day Pastor Mote started iomething last month when, arriving n Sydney from a conference in Wash ngton, he told Pressmen a good itory of a NG tribe in the Highlands vho used to eat everybody from >abes to old chiefs. Retired RM Alex lentoul rushed into print to express lis doubts on the story. The next equence was an announcement, a few ays after, by Sydney Anthropologists, dr. and Mrs. Berndt, that they were eaving for a six months’ visit among hese Highland cannibals, making heir headquarters at a place called Logu, 2i days in from Kainantu, in tie Eastern Highlands.

And talking of cannibals, there was nother story of “Miss” (I quote) dice Wedgegama, who is one of the our Papuans attending the Moral Rearmament Conference at Colombo, he is credited with having told the issembly how she, with some other lembers of the Movement, had slop ed two tribes in Papua from practis ig their favourite pastime of head unting. “The government was un ble to stop it,” she said; but she ad gone into the jungle and per laded the chief to cease the practice.

That’s the type who should go up • Korea and arrange the long-sought Jace.

Henry Hedges, a retired Chicago isinessman, is District Adminis ator of Saipan, up in the Marianas JS Trust Territory) and, accord g to a recent report, he is making

big progress in Saipan by by-passing officialdom, and applying businessman methods. Canberra please note.

According to reports at the end of last month, Port Moresby and Rabaul are snarling at each other again, and Administrator Cleland pulled no punches in his remarks about his critics in Rabaul. That’s better, any way, than releasing inconsequential nothings, wrapped up in officialese.

At least the Rabaul chaps know where they stand, and will probably get what they want in the end. They have to live there.

Bits and Pieces: Died in Adelaide on September 23, Dr. Arthur George Schroeder. A Before Medico and a good cove. . . . Engaged: Kim Penne father (son of Vic.) to Jean Golsby, of Rockley. . . . Melbourne High Court has granted William Mervyn Creighton leave to appeal against his conviction for a criminal offence against a native woman. ... A bit of old Rabaul days came over the air from ABC (Sydney) not so long ago when Colin Simpson, in an in terview by Frank Legg, turned on a wire recording of Gilbert Benton up in Rabaul reciting his old favourite, “ ’Arold at ’Astings.” It was as good as ever.