Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

ted Parentage

Rights

E Bougainville District Advisory Council is to be commended for liscussing publicly the question conferring “full citizenship ts” on people of mixed race. ie half-caste question has in ably been a curly one, especially British officialdom which usually ►steps the issue as being not [nice. But in these days, with [l prejudices going into the dis- I it is up to government to get king and formulate some de [ policy so that these people [know where they stand in the tot-day scheme of things. [the TNG, during the German [ male progeny of a European ;r and a native mother was >le for European status provid !a) he lived as a European and served the prescribed period as tiscript in the Germany Navy Lrmy. In those days, many jsses in the top social bracket — s of government officials and nercial executives —were of fl parentage and most graciously fhey carry out their duties, e question has become more ilex now. “Full citizenship s” in Papua could mean Aus in citizenship; but in TNG the status of a “protected per [ And then again; European 5 at one time indicated being smber of the privileged class, that distinction still exist? Or lot, rather, the native become frivileged member of the com ty?

Eruptions—

I Soil ie soil near Rabaul was fabul productive, and in no other of the world do cocoa trees so heavily.” Thus the state made by Dr. John Andrews, of ;y University, where he is ’ lecturer in geology. He read er before the A & NZ Associa or Advancement of Science in urne in October and gave lltural pursuits in the Terri , definite boost.

J Britain’s wonderful soil is, übt, due to the 1937 eruption great extent. The same re i were made some years ago, J the German regime, that produced the finest cocoa in orld and this was due to the lie soil.

Nature supplies her compen ' measures aPer all, as can be tned by planters whose areas Inundated after the 1937 erup on the Gazelle Peninsula.

After a few years, production on these estates was phenomenal.

Parenthetically, I remember in regard to planting up Arigua planta tion, down in Bougainville in 1914, on which Mount Balbi had spewed out its insides years previously, that subsequent production figures proved most favourable and to-day this is one of the most prolific bearing estates on the island.

Vale, James Benson

If ever a man deserved the eulogy: “Well done, thou true and faithful servant” it was Padre Benson, who went to his rest on October 1 while in England.

I met him in the RC internment camp at Ramale, near Rabaul, in September, 1945, though earlier I had heard of him as an inmate of the Jap prison in Rabaul, engaged on the most menial tasks.

He had had more than his share of sorrow during his 68 years: The tragic death of his wife and children in NSW; and then the massacre of his fellow-workers at Gona; but throughout he was always devout and sincere with that wonderful gift of the Common Touch. In War I he was a Padre with the AIF.

During the last year he had written some stirring articles in Church periodicals.

A fine worker and a man who has won a well-earned rest.

Don’t Put Your Son in the PS, Mrs. Worthington Witnesses before the Territory Arbitration Court now deliberating in Moresby do not appear to be giving the P-NG Public Service a particularly good build-up if one can judge by reports in the local Press.

A Medical Officer painted a grim picture of health conditions in the Territory, with various fevers, skin complaints and mental ill-health that led officers to commit suicide.

Other witnesses stressed the dif ficulties under which they worked, and an Agricultural Officer gave an alarming description of staff short ages in his department owing to the unattractiveness of the Service.

Other department officers corrobor ated his opinion.

Witnesses certainly built up a good case for “danger money” and, after reading the evidence, I was surprised that any officers remained in the Territory at all. Intending applicants will certainly shy off seeking jobs if they accept the evidence as being a true pic f ure of conditions.

On the other hand, I met during my recent visit to P-NG, a number

of officers who obviously wer©' tent with their lot.

P-NG—A “Stepping Stone”

An aspect of the evidence strikes me as disturbing is tMJ tiude of temporariness toward Territory adopted by so mae the officers which is at least ; them their bread and butter as occasional bit of jam. There < a general lack of Territorials riotism amongst officials. ThT is merely a job; only a stel stone to a superannuated)' eventually in some Australian s to browse in the Afternoon ole In pre-war years officials sz to be imbued with a spirit of II to the Territory itself; its pn< and development meant somio more to them than merely piq shillings and pence in thein pockets.

On the other hand, why is it so many of the best of govern servants are doffing their role office to become private citizenn —and one cannot but face thei of long-range visionists —the e pect of becoming aliens in a country where national indef ence may mean the expulsig the European. Faith in NG ■ lacking here; nor do they lea\e service with the prospect of nn quick fortunes—rather becau frustration within the service £ desire to take an active pq developing the country.

Surely it is a short-sighted f that prompts the government 11 elude its own officers from as ing land-holdings in the Ten What better fitted settler ■ there be than the experience;: official who had been the leas others in the past?

No Representation in Canti

No direct representation i Commonwealth Parliahient : P-NG, said Minister Hasluqk.j that’s that.

Elaborating on the positioi said: “Any electoral roll t there at present would inclucfc a few thousand Europeansr Asiatics. At least 11 million i indigenous people would at tht sent time be unable to parti' in and exercise a franchise.”'.

Another hurdle, which he do! mention, is that New Guinea Trusteeship Territory and o legally, come into the picture'* result of the merger of tM; Territories. Somehow I havr idea that some people are reg:§ the fact that the two Tern were merged, despite the ; mendations of previous im against such a step.

What happens now if reaches the period when it independence, and Papua sirs mains an Australian territory

ere is P-NG Publicity?

ING last month just didn’t exist, far as Sydney newspapers were lerned. And, if it had not been [a few items over the ABC, hgs New Guinea would have I unknown. And this seems to pate that P-NG and Publicity

jmiles apart.

■was the ABC which informed of the findings of the Liquor pry (permits to be deferred for b years); of the big drought in pazelle Peninsula, New Ireland E. Bougainville (even as it was [914 just prior to War I) ; of F. Bunting’s fight for soldier bments in P-NG and Dr. bg’s comments concerning er and British companies being pant to take up properties E to adverse labour conditions le Territory. fiat’s happened to the Terri s PRO? Is there nothing to ft?

py Coincidence

e naming of the Camilla Jwood school at Goroka has a with the Owen Stanley range tiich many may not be aware. i Stanley was a midshipman the “Beagle” with Charles

Darwin, and the latter was a grand son, on his mother’s side, of Josiah Wedgwood, the most famous of English potters.

A Pidgin Paper

I was inclined to be cynical, at first, in my judgment of Rabaul News, the Pidgin-English roneo-ed publication turned out by the De partment of Education for native consumption.

But now, after regular perusal of the weekly sheet, I realise it has a definite value for the Tolai population—always providing the hotch-potch phonetic spelling can be deciphered. In a recent issue there was a useful appeal to natives for producing a better standard of copra amongst the co-operatives.

Figures showed that during the months of May, June and July of 5,600 bags produced 1,159 bags were “no gud,” and methods of overcom ing this waste were enumerated.

Other items of general interest in cluded warnings o n unexploded bombs and ammunition; advice to natives applying for War Damage (“Wo Demis”) ; an appeal for trans port drivers for the Administration and the Development of Co-op eratives in the Manus district.