Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

APARAGRAPHIST in the Syd ney Bulletin recently referring to the old tale about the one eysd planter sticking his glass eye on a stump to watch the labour gang, ascribed the incident to “Birdie ’ Heron, who owned Tova kundum (not far from Rabaul) be fore he was lost in the Montevideo Maru disaster.

I heard the tale first from a Ger man planter about 1912, ten years before “Birdie” went to the Islands as an overseer for the Exproboard.

He lost his optic in War I. He was a good scout and the one man who could, without affectation, wear a monocle and, incidentally, was the only owner of a Rolls Royce in

Tng.

I have an idea that Jack London used the glass-eye s ory in one of his books on the Solomons written during his Snark cruise about 1910. * * * During the past year, there has been much publicity in the papers of the modern world over the “Call girl” industry, and hands have been raised in horror. Now from Moresby comes a letter from a man to his sister in Brisbane, and printed in a Brisbane paper, all about the “Call girl” system operating in P-NG and relating how native chiefs hire out “girls, dark skinned and near-white and 14 years old to lugger and inter-island trading vessels.”

Apparently, Moresby’s writer is a new-chum to the Islands, otherwise he would know that some native chiefs have hired and/or sold native women for prostitution from the beginning of time. Although let it be said, this does not apply to all areas.

Says the Brisbane Anglican Board Secretary (Mr. Hawkes), “We have no personal knowledge of the traffic. . . . It could be happening along the Southern coast of Papua, be tween Daru Island and Moresby.” . . . I seem to hear old Papuans murmur: “You’re telling me!”

In the T-NG area, New Ireland, I think, has probably supplied more “wash marys” than any other dis trict, and I have always been under the impression that in NI and the adjacent isles, chastity amongst females —as a general rule —was not considered an essential virtue. (It is interesting to note that

some residents of New Ireland at tribute the fact that there have been few local cases of native Peeping-Toms or native assaults on European women—there have been many such post-war incidents in other parts of P-NG—to the fact that New Ireland native women set no great store on chastity.— Editor .) The most virtuous I know of were the Buka maidens. Sexual promiscuity meant death by spear ing when I first went to that country, so little wonder females were chaste. * * * A recent visitor to Canberra has told me that he had met up with Walter H. Lucas in the Capital City, and that he is still his old dynamic self, notwithstanding his 15 years over and above the “allotted span.”

Walter H. has been out of the Islands limelight for the last 30 years, but before that he was an outstanding personality in the South Pacific, being, in charge of HP’s plantations. It was he who launched the CPL estates in Bougainville in 1913. I met him then, when he was buying the land for Soraken, Baniu, Teopasino and Arigua. He was travelling in the Sideia with skipper Buckley in charge and J. W. Camp bell as his off-sider (the latter be came district inspector for CPL plantations).

During War I, Walter H. left BP’s to be appointed Technical Adviser to the Federal Government on Pacific Islands matters.

There were no lon g-haired scientific research councils, or in ternational organisations in those days to set up theoretical targets for administrations, but by apply ing practical experience and com monsense, W.H. had a solution to all problems.

Judge (later Sir Hubert) Murray, Lucas and Atlee Hunt constituted a Board of Inquiry at the War’s’ end as to the desirability of amal gamation of Papua and the newly acquired German New Guinea.

In a majority report, Lucas and Hunt recommended against the Union. Later W.H. was appointed Chairman of the Expropriation Board, liquidating all the German commercial interests in New Guinea —and that was no small task. . , .

I often think that had there been one over-riding technical adviser to the government after War 11. (instead of the incredible num ber of theorists) NG would have been a better place to-day. ♦ ♦ ♦ Land policy in NG, as I mentioned before, has become a ball to be tossed about in the political-play

grounds of the forthcoming elections and the cavalier manner adopted by the Germans in “acquirmg land from natives for white settlement has been cited on more than one occasion.

An old pioneer from Rabaul writes describing the time when Queen Emma applied for 300 hectares on the North Coast, near Rabaul, but the local luluai, Tokamanur, objected to Governor Hahl with the result that Queen Emma was allowed only a small trading station at Matakabang. “Any native could have done the same,” writes the pioneer and I have no doubt that that was the position.

Alleged “white exploitation” in a h ml?S of y naUve ‘apathy. 11 SlmPly ™ +S oS^S la on April 2 when ° f . ie^° l rded Ra y Sheridan at Rabaul last year. ? ul !u a good performance, sounded more hke kudu beatings, lacking the deep notes from the large wooden drums. The malequene songs were typical of the monotonous na.tive singing and I listened in vai n for the more melodious notes of the Solomon Island dance, which became a part of the Kunua dance songs over 50 years ago.

Native singing at its best, is heard in mission choirs, and I always re- IS nf a 1 cl ? oir ’- under “ftiiHQh PhS g i ng tl J e S h 2 2 S ’ i T^ he part “ ringing was perfect melody.

Down on holidays from Rabaul district, visiting Sydney and Melbourne last month, was Mrs. Rhoda Coote, and daughter Diana, for a well-earned holiday for both.

Rhoda Coote is one of that band of brave women who, having lost their husbands through the Jap in vasion, returned to post-war New Guinea and carried on with a suc cessful job of rehabilitation; ad justing themselves to a new way of life and overcoming the stupend ous difficulties with which private enterprise has been faced in these post-war years.

There is no doubt that theirs has been an outstanding performance when it is realised that old, hard bitten and experienced planters have quailed beneath the conditions under which they have been forced in their endeavours to bring back the Territory to something like its old economic self. * * « Women have always played a great part in the development of P-NG, starting with Queen Emma and the Queen of Sudest Is. (Mrs.

Mahony); and then came to my mind a score or so of determined women who have fought uphill battles when sickness or death have claimed their husbands. Some are “sitting pretty” now; others are still battling on doing a man-size job. Their struggles and experi ences would fill a big book, and one that should be written one day, crammed with stark facts, without any sentimental embellishments. ♦ * * After War I the late Charles Bryant, ROI, was appointed Official War Artist in NG and spent some time there making sketches and gathering data for several canvasses of historical interest; the landing at Kabakaul and so on, which are now, I believe, in the Canberra War Museum. I haven’t heard of a similar record being made of War II events. Or has there?

Charles was Australia’s outstand ing marine painter at the time, and a likeable fellow. * * * I liked that fine tribute paid by Admiral “Bull” Halsey to the Coast watchers when he arrived in Bris bane last month, and met up with Eric Feldt. Said the Admiral; “T could go down on my knees every night and thank God for Com mander Feldt. The Coastwatchers did a wonderful job. I will never forget them.”

I can’t recall any of our own top ranking brass paying such a tribute, but I suppose it’s the old story about the prophet, honour and his own country. * * * The article arguing for co-ordin ated action in collating South Pacific historical data (PIM, April, p 14) was indeed timely, and all older residents of the SP realise the need for quick action as every year, pioneer identities are passing across the Great Divide, taking much of historical value with them and many records of old times are destroyed by relatives who are not history-conscious.

Here’s an opportunity for some kindly philanthropist to start the ball rolling. An organisation free and unencumbered by government red tape would be preferable and give it a more human touch, free of bureaucratic bumbledom.

Sydney Chance’s reference to the battle to establish kenaf in P-NG (PIM, April, p 19) voices the thoughts of many Islanders, but I’m afraid the new industry is in for a big battle —a fight against old established industries and the matter of reciprocal trade teed up by Australian politicians and neighbouring countries, with an eye to friendly relations. I expect Minister Hasluck realises this more than anyone else, but international relations are of more import than Territorial development to Canberra Cabinets, * * * Discussing the matter of present day pests (agricultural) with an old P-NG planter the other day he blamed the high cost of labour and the restrictions placed on “monkey” labour as being a big contributing factor to the prevalence of rhino beetles and the depreda tions of the Froggatti brontispa.

“We used to run beetle-gangs— as you know —on all the planta tions,” he said, “but the new NL Ordinance makes it impossible, and as for these new-fangled scientific methods—well, you only read about them in government-inspired press hand-outs,”

What a holiday it must be for the dynastid family and the red palm weavil! * * * Coconut pests are no respecter

of government procrastination. They work a twenty-four-hours per day shift, and they don’t get leave every twenty-one months either! Public Servants, both in Canberra and P-NG, should note.