Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

Solo Yachtsmen

As a rule I am the last one to discourage the pioneer spirit, or dampen the ardour of an ad venturer inspired to make some contribution to world knowledge.

But I fail to appreciate the actions of one—Danny Weil —a Londoner who is making an at tempt to sail around the world alone in a yacht, whose dimensions appear to be somewhat uncertain.

One Sydney paper claims it was a 40-ft craft, valued at £14,000; while another chops off 5 ft and says it was worth £7,000.

This is the same gentleman who had been rescued by a crash-boat after being tossed helplessly about for four days off the Papuan coast in mid-September Some five weeks later he struck a spot of trouble in the Gulf of Papua and sent out SOS signals, which were fortun ately picked up by various “hams” and a bomber and a Catalina were despatched to rescue him. Which they did at considerable risk.

Other than making headlines in Sydney papers and testing out several radio sets. I fail to see what useful purpose is served by this sort of adventurer striking out on his own into the Unknown, occasioning various air and Naval craft to rush to his assistance at considerable risk and equally con siderable cost.

Isn’t it about time that Harbour Masters and similar authorities clamped down on this sort of stunt in the interests of all?

Safety First

And Last As a result of determined efforts on the part of paternal Adminis trations in the South Pacific, the once so-happy, carefree children of nature are gradually being made to shoulder the more serious respon sibil i t i e s concomitant with maturity.

The intricacies of high fin come into the co-operative m ment system; the varying comr ities of education crop up in vt councils. But the highlight I in mind is the tragedy that/; rounded the G & E co-open vessel Arakarimoa that drifted j to the BSIP (PIM, Oct., p. 10 One can visualise, without '] effort, how in the years to these native folk, becoming am ous to own their own aux? vessels, will be setting out on voc in craft inadequately fitted fon ventures, as are set down by usual precautionary marine res tions, and with tropical csb

ness, depending on the all-po'n engine and/or radio transn which should at all times fuu —but doesn’t.

The primitive does not s realise the margin of error ini mechanical devices.

And, looking further afield ii evolutionary era, the dangers as from native-owned and p planes, zooming at hazardous; or attempting landings on ul able strips, and overloading.

Will that same paternal Ai istration be able to maintain i discipline and ensure that adfJ safety measures are observe' these people who know so lift shouldering responsibility ano as little of discipline?

Native Rites

And Crafts It is certainly heartening to; (Editor’s Mailbag, Oct., p. 18)5

In mid-September two P-NG Department of Agriculture officers and four native drov[?] the coast near Lae to take 300 cattle and 10 donkeys up to 400 miles into the interio[?] photograph shows the mob of cattle passing through Goroka, Eastern Highlands. Baiye[?] was the final destination.

Photo: Douglas

stic approach is being made ourage the preservation of arts and crafts and customs, no less than Keith McCarthy, idvice should receive favour nsideration, for he certainly appreciation of the worth i old native links. reference to stone carvings ecially interesting. Back in remember these carved being brought out as some ;ry old and very sacred upi hat, so well illustrated P-NG Id stamp, and which time was a characteristic f the scenery in North ville, is not, however, used pressing the head (PIM, Oct., it is attached only to long of the wearer’s hair. As is worn for several years ever removed—it is natur outstanding for its hygienic js. Back in ’l4 I had about of upis working for me rua plantation (Bougain id I periodically shot some nd e r their headgear to ct the mus-mus until an f came along one day and i to me that I was inter rith a part of the custom tion. Apparently the un presence of the live-stock the upi was part and the tribal rite. sad-binding, referred to, is of the upi. The only dis ;re this is done—so far as •is in Talasea, where small have their heads bound to the cranium structure, srtainly gives these natives ime appearance. (Also on 3ast of New Britain.—Ed. lope the Society for the ion of Native Traditions is fair go, and that Keith ’ may be the liaison officer [ to act between the Ad ion and the natives them o, I feel sure, would wel h an institution.

I 9 I remember—and no

sith does, too—the ready from natives in all dis ien the native arts and libition was held in Rabaul ’s, and the first time there on show the very fine s from the Mount Hagen /ell as some fine looms for from outlying islands. he present, unfortunately exhibits of P-NG native crafts are to be seen in museums. It is up to the ation to see that a com -5 collection is made and 1 a suitable building, in ; ral locality. It would be Iraw for touris f s, if pro

mised. (Over)

The PRO

Of P-Ng

Stuart Inder has earned a big “Thank You” for his article iPIM, Oct., p. 20), in which he so ably puts the P-NG Public Relations Office on the spot, and emphasises the impenetrable iron curtain of silence surrounding events which occur in the Territory.

Publicity seems to be a bogey to the Administration; more particu larly since War 11, and yet, a good Press is one of the best assets that a young, striving country can have.

Of the uphill task that a news paper had in the TNG before the War, I can speak with some feel ing, although the despotic attitude of the government was not nearly so strong as it is to-day.

This is due in my opinion, to the fact that Bureaucracy has increased its despotism, paying little regard to any opinion other than its own, while Press prestige (in many in

stances) has declined, owing to facts at times being distorted for the purpose of sensationalism.

TNG, at least, published a Hansard of the Legislative Council

proceedings, which apparently is not the case now. (See “Talk-Talk,”

March, 1956). In my remarks then I described m y unsuccessful at tempt to obtain Hansard from the

P-NG Government Printer.

Greatest publicity for the 1 tory in recent months has from none other than ister Hasluck himself. His

A successful marine quin parade was held at the Hotel Boroko, Port Moresby, on October 2, to raise money for the Ad ministrator's Scout Appeal. Organiser Mrs.

Eileen Webster, is shown with Mr. lan Mac- Donald, who opened the show. Over £200 was raised.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

Memorial Lecture was widely ed, even occupying consid ipace in the Sydney Bulletin; articles from his pen have night my eye in Sydney .n g papers and London :als. But the erudite de ls and observations on P-NQ constitute topical news, or the appetite of the general ;ager to know what is hap in P-NG to-day, or what tappen to-morrow, reminded of a remark, made well-known London editor ddressing a meeting at the mpire Society in Sydney not ago: “One of my outstand ructions to correspondents,”

“is; ‘Let me know the worst i happen. The Government ays tell me about the best.’ ”

Tng!

tardy annual demand that i annex TNG has come up t the Federal Congress of j, and this time it is Mr. inting, President of the in P-NG, who champions me. ke so many other logical, suggestions it seems l impossibility in law. And the moment (Nov. 4) it ot be at all surprising if d not fizzle out, like its sor the League. In my it would be no loss any jstern Powers constitute a amongst a dominating m bloc. : quite know what differ srould make to the average bether he is an Australian d person” or a “citizen.” b not be fussed over quite but I cannot see him be- Bcted to the same extent m abos. And I fail to see antage it would be for the res; the Europeans and :ics. They might find it tly. iterance of the Federal of the RSSAILA (Sir [olland) that “if NG were Australia would be placed •ious position because of eeship,” means nothing at Mandate did not stop us “token” force to try and Japs in ’42. It was our e effort which made the ‘serious.” And from what bear there has been rovement, notwithstanding id the PIR. e days of wholesale dis treaties, pacts and what intinued en Page 133)

[?]ar Day Dinner, in Port Moresby, 20. Colonel Lynch, standing, tells a [?]y.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

i, NG, on account of its jotentialities” (g lori o us and its lebensraum is a ;hot for our over-crowded neighbours.

longues —

3d ’s Consul-General to Aus msieur J. F. Mountousse, re iblicity on his return from o P-NG where he visited nissionaries of the Roman mission of the Sacred

th headquarters at Samarai. ladcast he enumerated his :es and told of the natives let who, “fifteen or twenty jo were all fighting, but happy.” ission started, incidentally, rears ago. He added there any nationalities in the That was the point which i me and I noticed, when to records, that in 1952 rticular Mission had 132 of ten different national tie majority were French en came Australian (45); by Swiss (16), and others us European origin. ; past—and it may occur i the future (one never -there has arisen a certain of embarrassment in NG rs break out, because of the status of some of the ries. So far as the Roman > are concerned, would it more simple if they were mals of Vatican City, a ;d neutral independent Or is there a catch some-

The Buin Show

From a recently received issue of Rabaul News (which is becoming more newsy than ever and has just celebrated its tenth anniversary), I see where the Buin district, down Bougainville way, has held its fourth Annual Show, with 46 sections of exhibits. These included native arts and crafts and work in bamboo, cane and (of course), the famed Buin Baskets, which they will still refer to as “Buka Baskets.”

Buin has always been proud of its plaited cane-work and it is good to see this old-time crafts manship being encouraged by the Missions and the Administration.

Buin, according to Rabaul News ,

was the first district to hold such shows and for this it must be con gratulated on taking such a lead in the preservation of New Guineaiana. (Spell it how you like.

You know what I mean). (Over)

[?]th New Guinea Timbers plywood mill at Bulolo, New Guinea, which the Duke of Ednburgh visited on November 12.

Photo: N. Brady.

A By-product

Last month I mentioned a possible use for volcanic lava. This month a by-product worth investigating is coconut milk. A Yankee scientist reckons that substances extracted from milk, especially coconut milk, are most potent in promoting plant growth. Best response is with root crops. Bits of carrot root im mersed in coconut milk increased in size several hundred-fold.

Dr. F. C. Steward, of Cornell University, is the man. Over to you, Barry Dwyer.

The Wheel

Turns Extracts from the Rabaul News : “A meeting of all native ex servicemen will be held on Sep tember 22 in the Council House of the Rabaul Native Local Govern ment Council at 3 p.m. The pre sident of the NESLONG, Raymond Martin, wants all native ex-service men to be present to discuss the erection of a club house. The RSL in Australia has contributed £3OO to assist in its construction.

“During this month two Scouts in this Territory will receive the 'Queen’s Scout Badge. This is the first occasion on which the Scout ing award has been presented in the Territory. The two Scouts are

Alan Tsang, of the First Rabaul Group and Julius Powesue, of the Second Lorengau Group. . .”

“At the September meeting of the Vunamami Local Government Council it was decided to spend £l5O, raised for the installation of elec tric light in the Council House, on completing the construction of a

dormitory for the local Education Centre. The installation was postponed* year. . ■”

Bits And Pieces Harold Bell, skipper of BE catchers in TNG back in tic

of the Waratah Hotel, at has been making front ; of late over his allega ribery in Sydney Council . Critics do not appear isiastic about the NG : Into Paradise. . . P-NG ation is advertising for 24 Dfficers and an unspecified f Education Officers, . . ief Guide, Lady Baden ill visit P-NG early in rhe B. B. Perrimans be idparents on October 14. to Bob and Val. . . Mrs. ssell, well known pre-war [entity, died in Brisbane of October . . Anyone re John McVae (formerly ) is hanging out? K.

BNZ, George St., Sydney, for him. . . Koitaki Para states Ltd. has raised its from 30 p.c. to 35 p.c. ;ar ending June 30. Net e by 43 p.c. . . Gilbert How Are You Mate”) has rom his fifth visit to the since the War. . . A. H. with wife and daughter, Urathnaver at the end of Expects to be away a years. He hopes.

[?]mpleted Police-Station at Bulolo, Photo: N. Brady.