Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

irgo Cult Again

fhumbing the pages of The dener, (the official publication of ; BBC) for October 13, 1955, I ne across a broadcast on the •go cult movement in Melanesia, e title was “The Trumpet Shall jnd” (to me its note Was some at ominous) and the author Peter >rsley, described as an anthro ogist from the Manchester Uni sity, who had recently returned m spending three years (as a re rch scholar of the Australian tional University), among Aussie >s. ’he precis of the broadcast was armative and centred round a ca cargoist, named Pako, who was iged to have started the cult back 1932. This was by no means the t indication of cargo-cult in TNG. lad appeared earlier up in Aitape I the Madang areas, remember the time well, for I ; in Buka myself and saw its in ;nce in an island off the west st of Buka. It was definitely i-European as I found to my -ow. And yet some of these self le Bukas had been asking me— it secretively—in 1912 (during the

German regime), “When are the English returning?” And the Ger man trader, who took over from me there in 1913, was shot, but not fatally. So perhaps “cargo” pre dated the 1932 outbreak by a couple of decades!

After dealing with several “un risings” of the “cult,” Mr. Worslev refers to the Masinga Rule in the BSI which, parenthetically re sembles in many characteristics the present-day routine enforced by certain of the Native Village Coun cils in the islands of the P-NG The anesia, therefore, have been well described as only forerunners of Melanesian nationalism." In other words they have “had” European rule and wish to be left alone.

I have no idea from what par ticular P° litical stable Mr. Worsley comes. But this is the fact which impresses me: It indicates the ability of the indigene to become united for a common purpose—a hitherto unknown attribute amongst the hundreds of tribes and clans of Melanesia. Are the so-called “sovereign powers” realising this change of front? And if so, are they

treating the situation realistically? (See Editors’ Mailbag, this issue).

Public Service Ruling A par in “Granny’s” Eighth Column (Sydney Morning Herald, 16/1/56) regarding P-NG public servants being called upon to pay their own legal costs after being acquitted of charges, gives one to think: I know nothing about the two police officers cited as having been asked to pay their legal costs of £6OO. The ADO cited on a man slaughter charge—a bit of window dressing for UNO—is another matter.

One cannot dismiss casually the re marks of Minister Hasluck himself who, before the Canberra Parlia mentarians, is reported to have said (and it was nowhere denied) that “the patrol leader in a very diffi cult and dangerous situation had acted with coolness and a proper sense of responsibility.” Thus spoke the Minister when justifying the government’s action in bringing in a nolle prosequi against the officer over the Bainings affair.

The whole position of government officers should be clarified by the government in this respect, quite re gardless of what UNO or any other hypercritical organisation might say on the matter. When a govern ment official is laid on the UNO

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Icial altar, and is then deemed piilty, the expenses should be jpartmental liability; or, as )w-dressing, be a charge on the ibo Plan Grant. Particularly is a policy necessary in these days aff shortages, else where will future Native Affairs officials?

arquis De Rays

Broken jphine Hyacinthe Niau, whose Paradise was published dney in 1936, has passed to st, and thus another link with nfortunate Marquis de Rays’ ition to New Ireland in the 170’s and early 1880’s is broken. elsewhere this issue ). fould seem, strangely enough, he only concern to benefit by articular “South Sea Bubble” the Catholic Mission. Two naries, attached to the third mrth expeditions, returned to ; and were instrumental in the shment of the Sacred Heart n on New Britain in 1882. ibin-boy from Belgium, with the expeditions, survived the got a job later with Mr. Tom [ and Queen Emma and ally took up land on his own iqunan (near Kokopo), which ter, in the 1930’5, sold to the a for a comfortable consid i. ater had many irons in the ire, among them The Rabaul The name of the one-time i-boy was Jean Baptiste as Mouton. He retired to a le Hill home and died shortly he cessation of War 11. with Josephine’s death at the 83 goes another link. She was t of the Niau family of nine b y the adventurous Henri , who after his escape from eland found Australia a more ial country in which to settle.

1 Dynamite

Id cobber of mine, who has 3d to survive 30-odd years of 3 in TNG, dropped me a line 7 anent the Council-Schools i argument, and amongst his s was one which particularly e food for thought, nentioned a top-ranking Councillor, who was an avid of English literature, obtain rom the local library. A at his library-card revealed ding included such contro tomes as East Africa Speaks, On the March, and East Fights Back. utions are taken to prevent tied persons dealing in drugs, 3 and various contrivances

t could cause physical damage mgh lack of training; A medical tul” is trained: a motor driver ed; in the old days a “shoot ” and a “dynamite boy” were ays (supposed to be, at any rate) iciently efficient before obtaining ermit to shoot pigeons or fish. with mental dynamite and lar hazards no particular quali ;ions are required before ntial weapons are placed in the ds of those who could occasion »ld damage far greater than the of an arm or limb from material les. irely literary dynamite should be died with a certain degree of and restrictions placed on its ilation. Or would the idealists upon that as an infringement uman Rights, or a repression of ocratic Freedom?

ve Progress

Moresby

cording to recent Press reports ?rn living conditions are rapidly ning prevalent in the capital of 3-, including larrikin activities he procuring of native women the use of the “knuckleduster.” e appearance of the latter ised” weapon which, according le Police “is one of the first in Port Moresby,” was a well tl weapon over in TNG for 7 a year. A legacy from the ■alian troops from War I, and 7 a native technician have 1 diligently filing a soldered ring, the necessary protuberance in iin e s s for some prospective je. And many a time have I icated them. tny memory serves me aright, dilation was introduced at one declaring them illegal, regards procuring native n: It amazes me to read of ibhcity given to a racket which >perated in and around Port by for years. It is certainly ews in any sense of the word, however, does not excuse the m element which has created iresent publicity. That is a r which is the responsibility h the Administration and the irms which enable this type ropean to put foot into the ory. lout appearing to be class es I do contend that the iry Administration should e a keener screening of those eek admission. I leave it at

y to Meet!

edical check-up occasioned a Isory visit to the city for me day. And I was glad, for met some of the New Guinea love to see: Tall, handsome, oomed Norman Whitely down Manus. “No,” he said, “I’m

not returning for awhile.” partner, Tony Edgell, has been there having a look-see; takin bus-man’s holiday from his Syr executive job.

Rolf Cambridge, manager no T c the Robinson River plantationr the Abau area, and one of the I knew him when he was at Soras in Bougainville, back in the and a most popular and effioj man he was—and is.

And old-timer E. J. WaucM from Awar; a great host. Justi of hospital where he had been I ing some eye repairs; cheery as « Harold Bell, one-time skippes BP inter-island copra-catchers, , later on the China Coast, hale i hearty as ever and still living j Seaforth way.

Vic. Pennefather and Ken Nee ship made a happy pair, dee Ken’s arthritis which only seeme emphasise Vic’s eternal youthfuliJ although he is a Boer War Vet<d and was a District Officer in when Australia took over old 0 man New Guinea.

And there were other Rabaul timers; “Monte” Moncur, I changed since his Police Inspe days: Jim Burke, of the Treas. phlegmatic as ever, happy in his; tirement from red tape. And tt in another place, who should I n but Pat and May Holmes, down t

Brisbane, hob-nobbing with '

Baylis and his wife. And wh:i nostalgic session followed!

Pat, for many years Secretary Lands in Rabaul and, incident! champion runner at the local sp (although he is a Boer War Veten in the 20’s; now they are retired] living in the Bananaland cap while Tom is still scratching fa few odd ’weights up Bulolo way appears to be getting by, thank: very much!

There were happy memories sad recollections all interwoven the fabric of time and, of cok like all stodgy old-timers the m over, the good old days were ahJ better than the present, and J countiy is sliding quickly to < dogs.

We said the same after Ws even more so after War II and) pearls to peanuts it’ll be the a after War III —if anyone is alive to have a winge.

Rabaul “On

The Air”

I think more attention shoulf given to the complaints of Rabcl District Advisory Council in com tion with the broadcasts f r Moresby. I heard some nice marks about 9 PA’s service whr was up there last year; but I ; heard some adverse criticism

ning reception and quality of grammes. The latest develop it, the Administrator’s announce at that there would be no Gen eration given to the establish at of a commercial station, is altogether a happy one. :ow does such a ban on another adcasting station tie up with our eh-vaunted Freedom of Speech? lessors in ion nd talking of the BSIP: The ait a 1, Honiara, dubbed “the llest capital in the world,” made news early this month as a It of the much over-publicised le murder trial. a interesting point was the ition of three Assessors sitting he case with the Judge. An old blished BSI procedure, and a asion which was also to be id in the TNG Courts but, so as I can remember, was never ied for either by Prosecutor or ised. may still be on the Statute Book all I know. Another point of *est is that this is the first trial iSI of a white man for murder, he past such cases were tried uva —and with such a tempera tal folk as Malaita-men who ■ always sought a head for jad, taking them to Suva was a bad idea.

it-Name Name?

dre lire’s appeal for a common e for the PNG indigenes has ao forrader—except to rule out uan” for both Territories, wonder some enterprising body not started a “Give Him a b” contest, offering an attractive for the most suitable. One i might be (and I have not r d it mentioned yet), New ese. Spell it “Nuginese” if you

and Pieces

let Wayne, of Lawson (NSW), recently married to Timothy brill, of Gisborne (NZ). She given away by her uncle, Sir Stevens. Janet’s father was ite Ron Wayne of Rabaul, well n for many years as Interpreter e Supreme Court. . .. Returned Europe recently, Diana Martell Coote) with husband Henry, were married in Cornwall and ive in New Britain, where her er, Mrs. Rhoda Coote, resides.

Passed on: Huntley B. Car :r, son of the late Bill Car r (for many years in Rabaul), nuary 27, at Gloucester House, b age of 49.