Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

rHE Telefomin tragedy was a sorry business and makes one ’ealise that in New Guinea stone ige instincts still prevail. In the >ast, provocation has invariably ;entred around pigs or women — >oth top-level subjects of tribal ignificance and both holding cer ain attractions for itinerant :arriers and police-boys attached to >atrols.

Various reasons have been sug ;ested for the outbreak of stone ige tactics on this occasion: browning of local natives; non layment of promised compensation; >an on tribal rites and in xnerienced officers: but it is doubt ul if the true cause will ever be lublished.

It was somewhere in this area hat attacks were made on the lagen-Sepik patrol in 1938-39 and ’aylor, in referring to the local ribe, quoted Black as saying, “They [o not encourage visitors.” * * * I cannot see that the position in he P-NG Legislative Council has hanged much since pre-war days rhen non-official members were ttle more than a token force, or powerless symbol of that Demo racy which is alleged to be the undamental principal of all our jgislation, and Bills were “rail □aded” through the Chamber at !anberra’s command.

The Territory was justified in Peking autonomy and less bureau ratic rule in pre-war days when it as self-supporting; but now Can erra, whence come millions of ounds to subsidise P-NG’s develop lent, may think itself entitled to major voice in legislation.

Anyway, in these days, what arliamentary Opposition is capable f achieving much with voting on urely party lines? Solution: ecret ballots in our Legislative [alls. * * * A measure causing expressions of ivergent opinion in the Legislative ouncil of P-NG is that of sending atives to Australia for Secondary lucation. It is more evidence of le Administration rushing its mces in the Native Advancement takes and one, in my opinion, lied with dangerous possibilities.

Don Barrett, MLC, sounded a ►gical note of warning during the ebate regarding the risk of dis iptive elements. And what country as more potential disruptive ements than Australia? Especially here such fertile ground as un jphisticated natives offer. It might b only a matter of time before one ill hear of a Makolkol student re irning from Sydney with the aughter of some Australian

politician as his bride and taking her to his home in the centre of New Britain!

A local Secondary school is ostensibly the solution if the Administration feels that UNO pressure is so great that secondary education must be provided.

And New Guinea is where the

School of Pacific Administration should be, too. * * * The release of P-NG production figures for 1952-53 has ca us e d favourable official comment. An analysis shows, however, that high prices and not the production, are responsible for the increased revenue. Copra exports in 1952-53 are shown as 76,392 tons. TNG alone, in 1936-37, exported 76,409 tons and Papua 13,600 tons, total ling over 90,000 tons. * * * And while we’re talking about

comparative figures and the pride shown in present statistics at the expense of the past, what about sheep? Much has been heard of the work done since the war in this industry. In November PIM (p. 143) one reads that total sheep at end of 1952 was 2,100, then follows an apt remark concerning E. J.

Wauchope’s work on Awar planta tion. It is interesting to note that in 1937-38: in TNG alone there were 1,602 sheep, from which one concludes that the increase in 16 years, in both Territories, has been about 500. * * * I see where Archbishop Duhig has been on a visit to the Territory.

This is his first trip, so far as I can remember, though he is credited with having had an interest in the Kupei goldfield down in Bougain ville, which was discovered in 1930 and run for some time by Jack Comb. I haven’t heard much about this field lately, but it will not sur prise me if one of these days Bougainville is well and truly on the mining map.

Assays made in the German days gave very promising prospects of tin. * * * In October Talk-Talk I men tioned the first recruiting trip up the Sepik, and in this connection an Old-Timer writes: “I think, if checked, you will find the first team consisted of Dick Glasson, skipper of the Wunatali, Blue Ireland and Latham Hamilton ... He was on Garua when the Nips came in.

I remember in April, ’23 going back to Kelaua on that ship, with the McKells, a bridal couple. Cliff Judd did a lot, too, later on with Bob Palmer and Bluey Ireland, but really came into his own, recruiting up the Sepik for the Melco on the old Ralum .”

The same writer had something to say about coconut planting and production, to which I referred in October. Says he: “I guess Geoff Bliss— now of Dylup—and myself have ‘lined’ more coconuts than most in New Guinea. Unfortunately, though, for other people. We always ‘lined’ 32 ft. on the triangle, giving approximately 127 palms to the hectare. I ‘lined’ one place 35 ft. between the rows and 30 ft. dis tance in the rows. That gave about the same number of palms per hectare as the 32 ft. triangle and at the same time allowed greater space for cocoa planted between the rows.

As for production; Any of the plan tations on Karkar, in full bearing, average output of not less than 40 cwt. per hectare, which in the case of the old German planting, averaging about 115 palms to the hectare, gives a yearly output of approximately 45 tons for every 2,600 palms.”

To this I would merely add that Karkar Island was the highest pro ducing area, per hectare, in the Territory. In German times a ton to the hectare was reckoned an average return. * * * The eight people selected to represent the Territory for the Queen’s Visit next year comprise a good cross section of the white population and should meet with general approval—more or less.

They have all done something for their adopted country and that is the main thing. I was particularly pleased to see Paul Mason and Jim Leahy included, for they are a couple who do not seek the lime light and it is reassuring to see their work thus appreciated by the Powers That Be.

I noticed the South Pacific Post, in its short biographical sketch of

those selected, mentions that Mrs.

Doris Booth received her QBE “for her work among natives when typhoid broke out during the War.”

That, of course, is incorrect. She

received the award 10 years before World War II broke out, in 1929. and for the fine work she did dur ing the dysentry epidemic which broke out on the Morobe goldfields in 1926. Her work was widely appreciated when it was mentioned in the evidence which came out during the Royal Commission held in 1927 and given publicity in the Press. The Commissioner, Peter McGregor from Queensland, was appointed as a result of representa tions made by the Morobe Miners Assn, for the cancellation of the big mining leases held by the Big Six afteS* the discovery of Edie Creek in 1926. Counsel for the Miners was the present Mr. Justice Simpson, of Canberra, while the Big Six briefed the late Mr. (after Judge) Boyce. The Big Six won. * * * It’s good to see that a historical society has, at long last, been started in P-NG. We wish it every success. Director of Education Bill Groves, the newly-elected president, arrived in Rabaul in 1922 and was appointed Supervisor of Native Education, and has been getting around extensively ever since. The vice-president, G. A. V.

Stanley, has also been in the Terri tory some 30 years, connected mostly with oil research, and is a well-known bibliographer. The Society has a vast field for its activities. The proposed Bill to establish a museum, art gallery and

library should be of assistance to lt - . P ;NG can do with some cultural interests other than these launched by starry-eyed theorists. * * * Ted Monk ’ s enquiries in “Editors Mailbag” (PIM, Nov.) will conjure up nostalgic memories for many readers, not the least of them those who knew Ethel at Usher’s.

Yorkie” Booth I last heard of at Salamaua: Eric Weine (not Wayne) was somewhere inland in NSW when last heard of; while Jackson Banks and Frank Pryke have both passed to their well earned rest. Bill Cash I cannot place. * * * A propos of old-timers: A Bris bane correspondent writes that he often sees Percy Miller around the city and they exchange reminis cences of Manus in the good old days. Percy, who is an ex-RN man. was cruising around the Admiralties early in T 4 when that area was fairly primitive. During World War I he returned to England and, in World War 11, was with the American Red Cross in Brisbane.

Now retired, he is nursing his in different health. * * * Complaints from philatelists (PIM Nov. p. 49) also include the use, by the smaller post-offices in the Pacific, of red and purple stamping inks when stamps are being cancelled instead of the orthodox black PO ink. There used to be quite good tea-money made in some Islands’ offices by saving TNG stamps for which dealers paid half face value for cancelled issues, plus 20 per cent, for covers. * * * And so drinking intoxicating liquor by natives may now be legally permitted. I don’t know whether it will make much dif ference to existing conditions.

Natives who have a taste for liquor will still get it, with or without a permit, as they have done in the past. I saw some unpleasant incidents during the Jap occupation as a result of native drinking.