And He Started A Controversy

From a NG Correspondent Father James Dwyer, the political priest of New Guinea he’s a Member of the Legislative Council was the central figure in May in a hot controversy over native gambling.

CRITICS tore into him on the grounds that he was raising money for his parish at Rabaul by promoting a regular Saturday gambling casino for native people.

The critics were aggrieved when investigation showed the organisation was inside the law. But they hit back on moral grounds.

Father Dwyer, too, had his supporters who went to great pains explaining that gambling as such was not morally wrong, and became evil only when the gambler carried it to extremes.

But throughout the controversy, Father Dwyer himself did not come into the picture, neither defending himself nor attacking his critics, In fact, the early chapters of the story contained nothing to publicly indicate who was running the gambling or for what purpose. A simple sign outside a new block of shops opposite the Rabaul native market proclaimed “Fair Here On Saturday”.

And behind the sign inside the building a crush of eager native bodies sweated in the heat, clutched

week’s earnings in hot hands, bed and clamoured around the nbling tables.

Tie anonymous nature of the fair the usually astute Rev. Wesley :ton, Chairman of the Methodist erseas Mission at Rabaul, to take step which later provided him h some embarrassment.

Ar. Lutton, whose church rigidly loses gambling, laid the founda ns for an all-out attack by ask ; questions at a meeting of Rabaul wn Advisory Council. He planned launch the attack when he re ved his answers at the following seting.

Moral Issue

But in the meantime he learnt at the Catholic Church was con cted with the fair. When the ategic moment to attack arrived, sat down tongue-tied. He was re cant to take a course of action rich could be mischievously con ned as an inter-church feud. ‘lf only it had been someone else 10 raised the matter in council . ”, he said privately later As a matter of fact, Mr. Lutton mself was caught unawares by the nation in the belief that all native mbling was prohibited by law. He id not known of an amendment Papua-New Guinea legislation ’o years ago which gave the native rtain gambling rights. If he had mwn, he certainly would have ught the issue months ago on the de ground of native welfare A police report confirmed that here is nothing illegal and full ficial approval has been given for ganised games of chance of which b have knowledge in Rabaul at -esent.” , .

But by this time the moral issue as coming to the front. Letters ere published in the Press arguing ith sides. One of the most telling as a scathing attack on the situa on by Dr K. Furst, of Rabaul, a ractising Catholic who was not fraid to put his name to the letter.

Other members of the church, owever, claimed there was nothing rong in the gambling fair. One of le letters contained strong per jnal support for Father Dwyer and ie work he was doing for the arish But' whatever happened behind he scenes, the fact remained that he sign, “Fair Here On Saturday isappeared quietly one day. It has iot come back. . And no one can say that Father )wyer hasn’t a sense of humour. On he day that the last spate of letters ppeared in the newspaper columns ie turned up at the newspaper iffice with an advertisement for the lext issue. „ “I want to advertise a big raffle, le said, “put the advertisement be ;ide' the -letters to the Editor ;olymn!”