The Ever-changing Pattern

! We hear much these days of the •remarkable evolution taking place amongst the P-NG native people, and how the paternal Administra tion and energetic mission influence* are lifting the natives out of their primitive darkness.

Quite a reasonable and authentic summing-up of the situation comes from the pen of Murray Groves, the young anthropologist whose experience in P-NG has been .extensive enough to make him worth reading. In the latest issue of “Quadrant” (a quarterly sponsored by the Cultural Freedom Society) appears an article titled “Sacred Past and Profane Present”. , The title itself explains the author’s impression of the effect of our influence upon the people of

Manumanu, a small Motu village some 35 miles from Moresby.

It shows the difference between the sacredness with which old customs were regarded as compared with the influence of the more modern cultures of to-day. Says Groves: Many of the younger generation feel that Christianity has not met that need (to control the universe of their experience), and since the war some younger urban Motu have begun to drift away from the church. Their fathers and grandfathers abandoned the an cestor cult in favour of Christi anity.

Now they themselves are aband oning Christianity. They lack faith entirely. . . There is no integrating spiritual tradition at the centre of urban Motu life: no faith to symbolise, and therefore no symbols. The people have aban doned their past. They shrink from a future they cannot foresee. They live entirely in the present, apparently nonchalant but at heart uneasy, as their guitars beat out the rhythms of new dances and new times.

These are amongst the problems which face us to-day and require our closer attention than the whips of UNO, urging on the questionable gift of political independence to these primitive people. Groves writes of a Papuan people, but the

A wedding of social importance in Lae's Chinese community took place at St. Mar; Catholic Church, Lae, NG, on July 20, when Mr. Lucky Soo was married to Miss Janet Le daughter of Mrs. Lee Loi King.

The bridal couple are shown here with groomsman, Mr. J. Seeto, and bridesmaid Mi Geraldine Seeto, and the Rev. Fr. Anslem who performed the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by a reception in the Chinese School for 300 European an Chinese guests.

same problem exists throughout the combined territory. ■ . : Hi L

Liquor For

Natives

The supporters of “Liquor for Natives” must have experienced a bit of a set-back when the story broke about the P-NG secondary school students going on a binge at Charters Towers to make banner head-lines in Australia and the local Moresby paper. You can well imagine the remarks of “I told you so”, emanating from old timers in the Territory.

But, despite the fact that (Minister Hasluck has “called for a report” and threatens legal action over the incident, one cannot but feel that the affair has been grossly over-emphasised.

This sort of thing has been going on for years (not without oaention in this column) where islands boatcrews in Sydney have had free access to grog and visits to brothels in certain quarters.

And what action has been taken*?

None.

It is somewhat odd that abos in Australia are prohibited from drinking and yet on natives of P-NG or Fiji there is apparently no ban.

Lop-sided

Publicity

It was brought home to me recently, when giving a talk on New Guinea, to a Country Women's Association conference, how biassed is the publicity in Australia concerning P-NG.

From questions asked, and later from remarks passed, it was apparent that there was a superficial knowledge of the excellent work carried out by the Administration and the mission

societies Little, however, was known of the work which had been Pinters and commercial mterests, although these people have for years contributed as much as anyone to native welfare and the progress of the Territory There 18 n° organised publicity bureau (as 6 other two sections of P ' N 1 ?„ S community) to “tell the Y or tar as the average Australian is concerned, only government officials and missionaries are contributing to the Territory’s development—morally, socially and economically.

Trouble In

the Vineyard

Once again, sectarianism raises its snarling head in the Lord’s Vineyard and this time has

Miss Jean Ellwood and Mr. Maxwell Rostron who were married in Taurama Chapel, Port Moresby, Papua, on July 6.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

Two well-known Port Moresby matrons, Mrs.

Kathleen Reeve and Mrs. Bill Wyatt, at the successful Golf Club Ball, held on July 6.

Photo: Papuan Prints.

resulted in court cases in Raba. between two denominations con peting for the souls of confuse and primitive peoole.

Parties were Seventh D af Adventist and RC in the Talase area. (See elsewhere this issue)( Is this sectarian bitterness to g on and on confusing the natn mind and making a farce of tM fundamental principle of tH Christian dogma: Love one another If the mission societies operatin in the Territory are unable function without recourse violence, then it’s about tini secular action was taken in ordij to prevent other such simik occasions.

The Coming

Hustings

Tall poppies both in Moresby an Canberra must have burning eai these days, with policy speechu from candidates for the fortM coming elections in F-NG receivin generous head-lines in the Iocs: papers, and none of them appeaj to be pulling any punches in regai to Minister Hasluck and h' coterie in Canberra.

Mr. lan Downs’ remarks anei India and “Indonesia” and the interest in P-NG have been note by no less a person than “Onlooker of the Sunday Sun-Herald and give some considerable publicity.

Bits and Pieces

Native permanent officials w\ soon be appointed to the P-M Public Service, and later nati'j women, says Minister Hasluck. . , Passed on: H. L. Anthony, ME] one-time PMG brother of “Ton;i Anthony, of Moresby. He was good friend of many New Guineaitl in pre-war days. . . . Lady Slit whilst in Rabaul opened the Agnr Wisdom Library wing of the Ne Britain Women’s Club. ... To and Dion Coote at Namanula c July 26, a son—Richard Dion. . .

An AAP-Reuter correspondent Rabaul writing a feature artio. for a Sydney afternoon paper refe to the “Grindstone” in Rabaul ass monument to the Marquis de Ra;j expendition. It was a mill-ston but it really doesn’t matter at th stage of the game. Incidental! the swindling Marquis has receivv a lot of publicity of late. M:1 Niau’s’ book must be in circulatti again, t Popular Mr. Christopher Vennin. the Fiji Broadcasting Commission senior announcer, left for LondE on July 28 to undertake a couhj of instruction at the British Broae casting Corporation. He will away from Fiji for about fifl months, and will study announcin. staff training, production, outsit broadcasts and broadcast admin: stration.