The Editors' Mailbag

Publication of

Rabaul Newspaper

A stiff communication from the General Manager of the South Pacific Post, Port Moresby, states that our report, that the South Pacific Post would begin publishing the Rabaul Times in January, is in correct.

This was remarkable, because our information came from a SP Post executive. But the explanation is simple. The Rabaul Times is being published by Rabaul Times Limited, a company newly regist ered: and is being printed by South Pacific Post, in Port Moresby, and transported by air to Rabaul, for distribution there.

The Trust Territory of New Guinea generally, and the Rabaul area in particular, does not appear to be happy in having its news paper service provided by the Aus tralian Territory of Papua, no matter how r excellent that service may be. A locally-formed printing and publishing company has an nounced its intention of producing a weekly newspaper in Rabaul; and, in December, had commenced the erection of a building, in one of the main streets (see photo, on page 33 of January PIM ).

More Guesses About

"Didimans"

Old New Guinea residents are unlikely to accept such a simple explanation, but Mr. F. H. King, NZ, has written as follows: Now that the “didimans” con troversy has reared its head again (p. 18 of the December PIM) , may I contribute my two cents’ worth?

My conjecture (not that I know anything about it) is simply that the word is an approximation for “diggyman”—and that’s what a gardener is!

£I,OOO Would Have

Bought New Caledonia

An interesting bunch of ancient clippings from the London Times of as far back as 1883 has been sent to us by Mr. R. J. Keegan, now retired to a Sydney suburb. He says in a covering note that he once had many such documents but lost them with other household goods to the Japs at Tarawa in 1942.

The Pacific Islands were exciting the interest of the British public in the early 80’s—probably more so then, when “annexation” of this land or that was a matter of dis cussion, than in the next 60 years, when, with the Pacific war, the era became again newsworthy.

Of particular interest amongs these old cuttings is a Letter to th Editor from one W. J. Hunt, wh had previously been Chief Secretar and Minister of Lands of the Gov eminent of Samoa—a native gov ernment as Samoa was not officiall parcelled out (to Germany and th United States) until 1899.

Mr. Hunt was an advocate c self-government for Samoa, pli Samoa’s annexation of a lot c other Pacific groups, including tb Gilbert and Ellice. (An independer government was set up, but faile because the Samoan chiefs cou] not agree among themselves).

Hunt also had interesting thing to say about “annexation” in ger eral, and French annexation i particular. For example: “I fear that France will prever the annexation of the New Hebrid( unless she obtains some substantii compensation or concession in oth( parts of the Pacific to the eastwar If England would consent France annexing the Austral, Coo Harvey and other groups to Tahil and the Australian colonies bougl out France in New Caledonia, whit would probably cost £ I,OOO Sterlin the colonies might have the ai nexation desired.”

The italics are ours. It seems £ incredible assessment of relatf values 74 years later.

Mr. Hunt ended his letter by sa; ing that the natives of the islam might not want to be annexed, an; way. He said that Sir Arthur Gordt had finally succeeded in obtainii the cession of the island of Rotum but that “the natives of that islar are now crying for their indepem ence from England.”

In the light of subsequent even we can say that that Rotuman c for independence was still-bor There does not seem to have bet a peep from this small island now administered from Fiji—for long, long time.

A Push from

Old Cathay

A reader in the New Hebrid writes to say that the flaj which was flown between the of the French and British on t decorative arch in Vila during t jubilee celebrations in October “w definitely Chinese, not Tonkinesi as we have surmised. ( PIM, De p. 20).

Reader continues: “Although t Chinese are in the minority th have the reputation of being ve pushing. They were given pe mission to build the archway, wit out flags. The flags were noted officials only after the celebratio began.”

(Continued on Page 145)

This whole question of New lebrides flags appears to have be ome internationally complicated. It s worth noting, however, that neither the French nor the British rected an archway, with or wich iut flags.

wo Have Had

sufficient Faith

Two readers have supplied the nswer to “A Test For Those Of .ittle Faith” (Magazine Section, anuary), and have seen the picture f Christ on the Christmas Card.

We are preparing a drawing for lose whose faith does not come p to requirements and this will e published in the March issue of IM.

Mr. C. Pocock, of Sydney, will ave his subscription extended six lonths; and Mr. A. G. Shearer, of uva, who buys his PIM from a ookstall, will be paid for his rough cetch. (That covers PIM’s obliga on in the matter).

lease Tell Canberra

our Wife's Birthplace!

Whether you are “cook’s son, uke’s son, son of a millionaire”, nd you wish to enter the Territory

of Papua and New Guinea, if only for 24 hours, you must fill in and sign an “application for permit to enter.” And I commend this form as a first-class example of bureaucratic idiocy (writes “Traveller”).

Knowing that a “Permit” was needed, I sent for an application form; and I there was informed that, even if travelling alone, I must give my wife’s maiden name, her birthplace, and the names, ages and addresses of all my children; the places where I have resided in the last five years; my height in ordinary boots; how I am marked; the colour of my hair and of my eyes; and so forth.

I telephoned the Sydney office of the Department of Territories, and explained that I was merely making a business trip to the Territory—so surely all these details were not necessary. The lady informed me, very snappily, that I had to answer every question, and get the form there within a certain time, or there would be no Permit. No Permit, no plane ticket.

So then I telephoned a high official, and . spoke my mind freely.

“But why didn’t you inquire sooner?” he said. “Of course you can have a Permit. Just fill in lines numbered So-and-so, and send it in, and you can pick up the Permit immediately.”

I thanked him; and got my Permit accordingly.

I learned later that, if you are well-known, and know the ropes, this Permit business is a mere formality. The form is designed in the way described to prevent unknown, undesirable people getting into the precious Territory without screening.

Obviously, there should be two forms of application, just as there are in other South Pacific Territories one for persons travelling on a Passport who propose to make oniy a short stay, and can produce either a return ticket, or evidence of sufficient means to pay for residence and a return fare; and another (of the kind now in use) for persons planning an indefinite stay.

If the Australian Department of Territories wants evidence of how such a system works efficiently, without harassing, business men and tourists planning a short stay in the Territory, it should apply to the Immigration Department of Fiji, or the Islands Territories Department of New Zealand. (The PIM has commented at various times on this irritating and time-wasting Australian practice. But the head of the dear old ostrich still is buried in the sand, and its feathered behind is not influenced by any kind of criticism.—EDlTOß).