Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

rE last few issues of the Moresby newspaper have described at tacks, and attempted attacks, y natives upon white women. A jrry business, indeed, and reminis ent of the 1937 days in Rabaul, ‘hen cases of a similar nature be ame so rife that the “Citizens ssociation of New Guinea” was >rmed, and some very plain speak ig took place between the official ad non-official residents of the )wn.

The Administration’s defence has [variably been that the women lemselves are more or less to lame by a laxity in their behaviour i their own homes.

The Citizens held the opinion rat the “kid-glove” policy of the dministration is a contributing ictor to the natives’ behaviour here white women are concerned.

Personally, I think more harm is me than we realise by allowing -NG natives to roam about the uthern cities on their own. There as a time when the strictest ipervision was given to natives siting Sydney and other centres, i fact, for a period these trips were bu altogether, and even the ghest officials were not allowed to ke south a native, male or female, look after the babe. Then, when e regulation was relaxed, all sorts safeguards were imposed. Such ecautionary measures seem to ive gone into the discard now.

There is no need for going into ‘tails of what contacts these itives make when wandering ound a big city. Suffice it to say at they return to the Islands, variably, with a lower opinion of lite women than that which they id originally held. Whose fault that?

I never heard of a single case of sault, or attempted assault, on a lite woman during the German ?ime. It was a problem with lich the Germans were not faced, it those years of safety have now ssed; I am afraid that no amount watchfulness or disciplinary tion will bring them back again.

Commissioner of Police Grim aw, according to the Moresby st report is “disturbed by the licence” of white women after be l attacked by natives. He is lorted as saying: “This is a ious state of affairs which must stopped”. He refers to reticence, listory repeats itself. In S. W. ed’s The Making of Modern New \inea, which is a recognised text ik on matters sociological, he ikes lengthy reference to these acks as they occurred in Rabaul 1937, and in a foot-note (p. 251),

he writes: “In March, 1937, the Ad ministrator made a forceful plea to the white women of the Territory that they suspend their personal feelings and testify against any native who might have given offence. Couched in phrases of duty and civic virtue, the address was productive of a flurry of con fessions, and charges were brought against certain natives”.

I know one of the reasons for reticence at that time was the inclination by some officials to give a native the benefit of the

doubt, and no woman would appreciate that attidude in those circumstances.

For some months now there has been an agitation in P-NG to re introduce permits for shooting birds-of-paradise. I have written in favour of this before. Now I see the Director of Agriculture in P NG, my old friend Larry Dwyer, states that the law will not be altered until an “expert” has in vestigated the whole question.

Why “experts” are always being called in when there are govern ment officials of long standing and; expert knowledge, is beyond my comprehension. It gives one the idea that officials make a point of

assing the buck in contentious latters.

A writer in the Post who is a lember of the Royal Australian ►rnithological Union heartily en orses the present protective laws nd remarks: “The general public 1 the British Empire would no lore sanction a return to a jgalised plume trade than it would 3 a revival of slavery;” and then e speaks of the cruelty of the lume trade. Such a remark is idicative of the extent of his nowledge of the methods used in btaining the plumes. Such a policy r orked out to its logical conclusion 'ould ban the killing of any birds r animals. Personally, I should ke to see, firstly, a ban placed n the killing of human beings, so oing away with war.

The Asiatic question seems to be ausing some concern in New ruinea. There are letters and iitorials which reflect a certain neasiness.

I am sorry to see them. It all rose from a statement suggesting isloyalty amongst the Rabaul hinese, of whom a section was lleged to remain seated during the laying of the National Anthem at picture theatre. Such a disregard f the niceties was perpetrated ears ago in Rabaul; but nobody >ok very much notice of it because was done through ignorance, ither than with intent to insult, nyway, it is a common thing— nfortunately—to see dozens of ustralian children sitting, walking r running about, in country icture theatres, during the ational Anthem. This is not dis lyalty so much as ignorance and ck of discipline.

Per capita, I should say, the abaul Chinese are as loyal as the jst of the non-native population, angerous disloyalists would scarcely 2 so dumb as to invite trouble by the National Anthem.

Noticed the name of “H, Spanner In Islander), Coogee” at the end f a letter in a Sydney paper last onth. It is many a year since I jard of Harry, who was a well lown identity in TNG, latterly Lth some properties on Lavangoi few Hanover). In his letter he as questioning Dr. Mowll’s quali- Jations for commenting on the m-existence of communism among ew Guinea natives. I agree with arry.

At the same time, I doubt very uch whether Security (assuming does exist in P-NG) takes very uch notice of what even Dr. owll tells newspapermen when he rives home from a tour. The

Archbishop may know his China of 30 years ago, where he was Assistant Bishop; but P-NG, no.

Strangely enough the day follow ing Dr. Mowll’s statement (February 2) Bishop Tom Wade, who had arrived in Sydney from Bougain ville, was quoted as saying: “Bougainville natives would not adopt communism,” and adding that there was always the fear of it coming to the Islands, but the natives were happy with the present administration. Bishop Wade is a man who has lived in those parts for some 30 years, and knows his native. He is one of the few whites who has had the privilege of being initiated into the Ndook Society of Buka, and his native name means “Pig’s Neck”!

May sound a bit undignified for a Bishop, but it’s an honoured name amongst the Bukas.

Irvine Douglas, well-known jour nalist, returned to Australia from overseas, is turning out some readable political articles for a Sydney paper. I first met him in TNG in 1933 when he was attached to Minister Marr’s party, touring the Territory after opening the Legislative Council at Rabaul.

Douglas is a hefty bloke, well over

six feet, and everywhere he went the natives accepted him as the Big Fella Masta —which was rather embarrassing when they ignored the Minister and centered their attention on a mere newspaper correspondent. But Douglas was equal to the situation.