Territories Talk-Talk

By Tolala

Amongst my mail the other day came a fat envelope with a brief note and from an unknown, for the signature was as undecipherable as a bank manager’s. Nevertheless, I was grateful. “These enclosed ‘oldish papers’ came to light,” said the note, “when I started to tidy, prior to going on leave this week.”

THE “oldish papers” brought back many memories. One was a programme for a benefit per formance for Miss von Ziegler, held in Rabaul’s Regent Theatre on No vember 8, 1938 and staged under the auspices of the Rabaul Dramatic and Musical Society.

Fraulein von Ziegler had been hard hit by the 1937 eruption and the benefit coincided with her 76th birthday.

She was a popular identity; in 1903 she was a stewardess on the NDL boat “Prinz Waldemar”, call ing at Rabaul and plying between Sydney and Japan; in 1913 she was appointed housekeeper of the Euro pean school at Namanula and after War I she took up a block of land at Valaur (along the Kokopo Road) and devoted her time to raising poultry and vegetables.

Vulcan totally destroyed her property and so in 1938 we have the local population of Rabaul staging a benefit for one of its old-timers.

She died at Vunapope a couple of weeks before the Jap landing in 1942.

Old Identities

The “benefit” was under the patronage of the Acting Admini strator Harold Page and his good lady; every section of the com munity came to light with full sup port.

“Pat” Savage was stage producer; Tony Anthony stage manager and Les Clout his assistant (even as he is today in Lands at Moresby!) A list of all performers is too lengthy.

But in one sketch, “Call It A Day”, there was Eva Banks, the cook (on her own as an actress, and now somewhere in England), Vera, the Maid, was Bette Reeves (a striking brunette edition of Marilyn Monroe) and “Roger Hil ton” enacted by Sidney Tee —a born actor.

The “Charlady” was Helen Wayne a natural comedienne on the stage, although in real life I believe she later became a teacher at a young ladies’ college out of

pydney.

£ The programme makes a good

souvenir of those happy Rabaul days even if copra was only £ll a ton.

An Eruption Issue The other ‘oldish paper’ was an eruption edition of The Rabaul Times, dated July 16, 1937, and was the sixth in a series of roneoed “newspapers” turned out as emer gency issues while the normal printing machinery was being de pumiced and set in working order.

These news sheets —at times il lustrated with topical sketches by artist Keith McCarthy— [See Pacific Report for a recent example — Ed.~\ became quite a popular souvenir of the town’s disastrous incident.

Its policy was one of optimistic encouragement, a view not always shared by everyone as some verses, published in this issue and sent in by an Unknown, proves. They started: I’m a fellow Who by yellow Press is thrilled or rendered mellow And an Editor’s Opinions I will swallow ready made But I’m thinking It takes drinking To absorb (without some blink ing) All the super-optimistic stuff with which we now are sprayed . . .

The scribe was so anonymous that even the editor did not know his identity; but it was so topical that even the Golden Rule of knowing a contributor’s identity was waived and in it went.

Years later I discovered the Bard was none other than the man who so ably organised the evacua tion of Rabaul on the morning following Vulcan’s vomiting none other than “Monty” Phillips, who becanle P-NG’s well-loved Chief Justice, and now the sadly-missed late Sir Beaumont Phillips.

I still maintain the optimistic policy adopted in re-habilitating the town was justified, though there were moments during my “boob” days with the Japs, when US bombers were busy, I had my doubts. (Over)

Glancing through the news items in the Eruption issue I see mention that aeroplane equipment found on the Burma coast "is undoubtedly from Kingsford Smith’s plane.” . . .

A wide search was being made for Mrs. Putnam’s plane in the Pacific (she had left from Lae) “and all hope is fading” . . . General Franco was appealing for more assistance from Germany and Italy . . .

Separate Jewish and Arab states were being recommended for Pales tine . . . And copra was £l5/5/- a ton, with Rabaul hot air £1 higher.

It is a fascinating hobby turning back the clock and knowing the exact dates when such and such an event happened.

Anyway, it was good to receive the “oldish papers” and I thank my unknown but thoughtful donor.

I’ll put them away amongst my varied and valued souvenirs.

Historically Casual

As a nation Australia is noted for its casual almost negligible re gard for past history. That same attitude extends to an even greater extent in P-NG.

Administrator Cleland in open ing the Sogeri Show last month re ferred to the public’s ignorance as to the reasons for celebrating Com memoration Day in the Territory.

He explained that there were three principal occasions to commemo rate : • When British New Guinea was formerly annexed by Britain in September, 1888., • When German New Guinea was occupied by Australian Forces in September, 1914. • When Allied Forces re-occupied Rabaul in September, 1945.

“It is,” he said (as reported in the South Pacific Post ) “from these three events that there has flowed the tradition, the energy and the faith which has made the Terri tory what it is today.”

Continuing he referred to “men of the calibre of William McGregor, Hubert Murray, Griffiths, Wisdow and McNicholl who have laid the foundations of sound administra tion and a wise humane policy”.

The Brigadier could have in cluded a fourth reason: When P-NG came under Federal control by the Papuan Act, which came into force September 1, 1906.

The eye-brows of a pedant would undoubtedly rise at the name spelling of McGregor, Wisdow and McNicholl as appearing in the newspaper report (possibly an of ficial hand-out) and would have preferred Macgregor, (or Mac- Gregor) Wisdom and McNicoll.

But then that is but a detail in this slap-happy age. Still . . . His torical data (especially names) should be correct. How many “I’s” will Posterity put in the Cleland name? (Over)

Founders or Guides?

The euphemistic eulogies applied by Brig. Cleland to Wisdom, Grif fiths and McNicoll as laying the foundations of sound administra tion and policy are surely some what of an overstatement.

In Papua after Murray’s time and in TNG since the beginning of Civil Administration in 1921, the foundations of policy have been laid by remote control in Australia.

The Territorial Administrators have had the task of guiding such policy and implementing far too of ten measures with which, with their local knowledge, they could not possibly agree.

It is this same system of politico bureaucratic handling of Territorial matters which has caused so much frustration amongst practical Terri torians.

Hungry Moresby

The request made recently by the Planters Association of NG to the Administration for the removal of the headquarters of the Copra Marketing Board to Rabaul from Moresby is not in the least sur prising.

The CMB is a practical, down to-earth organisation which should be capable of rising above bureau cratic centralisation. Unfortunately there seems to be a tendency for all government and quasi-govern ment concerns to herd together.

One wonders why, in these modern times of speedy communication.

The only reason for the Moresby location appears to be the fact that its geographical position is centred as far as possible from those people who have made its creation pos sible; in other words: The Planters.

There is no need to quote figures as to NG’s supremacy over Papua in the matter of copra output, they are too well-known; therefore one would have thought that Bureau cracy could have been magnanimous in at least this one instance and allowed Rabaul (the old-time capi tal) the satisfaction of having one headquarters.

More de-centralising would work marvels for the Territory at large and foster a better feeling amongst the people of all races. Moresby needn’t hog all the lime-light.

Here's H.R.W. Again A Sydney Sunday paper gives publicity to the fact that Sir Gar field Barwick, QC, MHR, has been asked for an opinion “on a multi million pound NG goldmine claim”.

It involves the Waria Syndicate’s claim which was rejected a few years ago by the NG Commissioner for Titles.

Old-time German identity, Hein

rich Rudolph Wahlen, one-time Swedish Consul in German New Guinea, is the prime mover and, despite his 84 years, is reported to be as active as when some fifty years ago he managed to get con trol of the Western Islands, and that was no mean feat even in those days.

Apparently the appeal centres

around the claim that the Waria Syndicate was a non-German set up, notwithstanding its expropria tion.

It is interesting to note that J.

C. Badham, QC (who has been nominated to “enquire into NSW police actions” as a Commissioner) was in attendance as counsel during many of the appeals held in Rabaul in the ’twenties when the Germans were appealing against expropria tion and the palm valuations made by the Expropriation Board.

Another well-known legal eagle at those inquiries was E. T. Brown (locally known as “Bruno”) who later became an author of no mean talent.

There is the possibility of this case coming before the Interna tional Court of Justice at The Hague.

Old-time Territories Minister Sir Percy Spender, now a Judge in that Court would have a special interest in the case if it reaches The Hague.

In fact there will be many follow ing the appeal for there have been a few million quids of gold won in them thar hills.

Bits and Pieces

Gone to his rest after 14 years of mission work in the British Solomons and NG Rev. Harold Rawson Rycroft at the age of 77.

He died at Michelton, Queensland, on September 29. He was the Talatala at Kabakada, North Coast, for a number of years . . . There must be some sort of a colony of gremlins around Long Island waters. A schooner master was bamboozled at turbulent seas and a spinning compass while travelling through the waters on September 6 and experts say this is by no means unusual in this area. One recalls the loss of the government schooner Hermes back in the ’thirties when it disappeared with out leaving a trace. Scientists, forward, please! . . . Local District Commissioner’s reported comment when 20 native prisoners walked out of prison camp: “They may have to do a day or two extra time,” but would not be severely punished.

They were serving a month’s time for non-payment of taxes . . . Non- Official native Member of the Legis lative Council claimed that more natives should do European’s jobs in the Administration and save money; also Administration was wasting money building houses too big for childless families. How true! A budding economist, apparently.