Tolala Says: "Splenetics

Are Dangerous"

It is time that a realistic attitude )e adopted where splenetics, en gaged for plantation work, are con ;erned.

For years in Rabaul I listened to nuch court evidence in various rials of “unlawful killing” when a lative worker had died from a uptured spleen, and medical evid nce emphasised the degrees of [anger which faced both the worker nd the employer. A ruptured spleen ccurs often on the slightest move ment of the body—a twist, a turn, sudden jar. It does not require blow.

But the greatest dangers of a plenetic, insofar as the employer or overseer) is concerned, are the eneral bad temper, laziness, sulki es s and disturbing influence mongst his co-workers which seem 3 be part and parcel of the sut ler’s ailment. All these traits cause me person in authority to become rejudiced towards the individual ith such temperamental qualities.

As a worker of native labour Dme years ago, it took me some me to discover this danger but, aving done so, I detailed these ifferers to special light duties and •ied to avoid any arguments with le gentry.

In order to protect both the Dlenetics and their employers, I ould suggest, with all due rever ice and respect to Administration Ticialdom, that when natives suf iring from enlarged spleens are 'esented for “signing-on” they 3 rejected as “medically unfit.” hat would be a safeguard for rerybody. i Buka in late 1927—a tall young an, in topee and wearing white icks and a bow tie. Your ambition as to work hard at Jame, repay mr debts to the financing firm, id then go and tell the manager bat You wanted. You aimed to t on his desk and spit on the )or as a preliminary! Congratu tions on having achieved your ►jective! The years are passing, *ed, and few of us Old Timers re am”.

i Top Of

le Wave According to financial writers in e Sydney Press, P-NG is in for boom period owing to the high ice of copra and despite (or be use of) the contemplated infra ction of taxation with hoped-for lief from export duties. Let’s all pe the optimism is justified and spanners are thrown in the >rks.

boom * T of th certain amount leserve.

Latest plantation flotation to receive publicity is that of Bali, a property as famed at one time’ in TNG (for its high copra production) as its name-sake, off the east oS st ° - Java (for its dusky maids and their dancing).

Bali, located on Unea Island in the Witu Group was a prize plantation of the old Neu Guinea Kompagnie and if my memory serves me right, was the highest copraproducing estate in the territory at one time, When Expro-board properties were disposed of this gem went to Harold Coldham, and in years just prior to War 11, Harry

(Red) Murra y was manager. At one time the labour supply of Bali presented no problems, there were sufficient “locals” available as it as the onl y plantation on the island. What the position is now, 1 wouldn’t have a clue, It would seem that the good Old Firm of BP are optimistic as to Islands prospects and contemplate expansion. Their crystal ball is in variably accurate and deserving respect. I notice that Choiseul Plantations (a BP pup) is still able to m aintain its 30 per cent, divvy, Another NG company, Dylup Plantations Ltd., is getting along very nicely. And the proposed tax, as reported by Chairman Warner Shand, will not affect its profits.