The Natives

S, But What Do

[?]L About Liquor?

From a NG Correspondent ne of the most unusual as -5 of the drink for natives roversy in Papua - New

tea (“PIM”, Oct., page 25)

le general silence from the

res themselves on occasions

i lively expressions of

ion could be expected.

lETHER the silence is poli tic, discreet, apathetic, or simply contemptuous of the tion is open to question, but it :ongly evident. is true that Stanis Boramilat few Britain made an impas d public appeal late last year ontinuation of prohibition, but sneral the native is strangely on one of the questions which ts him most. fortunately, too, Stanis belongs race which more than any • in Papua-New Guinea has n itself only too anxious for a »f serious drinking whether or the law permits it. stifiably or otherwise this situ i led to accusations against is of having spoken with his je in his cheek, or of having apted to pull the wool over jyes of the Administration.

Another View

was a change then to hear an : native man in New Britain ; forward a few weeks ago with ong plea for the right to drink, ther supported or opposed, his al at least was down to earth devoid of the fictional atmo re which has surrounded so y other statements on drink, e plea came from 52-year-old non Martin, of New Ireland New Britain, who is President abaul Sub-Branch of the Native iervicemen’s Association, ymon has a distinguished war 'd —he is believed to have killed ly 100 Japanese—and he also the unusual distinction for a la-New Guinea native of having ed for some time in Sydney. was in Sydney for part of var years, and makes no secret le fact that he drank while he there—and that nobody cared ,ng. ■ said: “Then the New Guinea le, including myself, fought the Australians against the nese in New Guinea. ’ there was any drink around, New Guinea people drank it as as the Australians and the ricans. In fact some of the

soldiers would be offended if we did not have a drink.

"A Big Crime Now"

“Now it is suddently a big crime for us if we have a drink, and long arguments and discussions are held.

I don’t see why some of us at least shouldn’t have the right to drink.”

Stanis Boramilat on one side and Raymon Martin on the other are about the only two native people as far as the New Guinea Islands are concerned who have expressed themselves tellingly and publicly on the drink question in the past 12 months.

All the other arguments, opinions

and reports are coming from non native people. Most of these people are sincere, some are bigoted, some have an axe to grind, and some just like opening their mouths. But the point that stands out is that the native who will express a reasoned opinion on drink—either one way or the other—is a pretty rare fellow.

"Unreal Situation"

Does he really care? Or does he have a quiet laugh while the argu ments rage, knowing that he can slip home later and take his pick of lemonade or beer?

The unreal quality of the situa tion was demonstrated very forcibly

in Rabaul recently at a meet! of the New Britain District A visory Council.

There were four main speakers a debate on drink for natives. T of the speakers—Mr. R. H. Levi Kokopo and the Rev. Father Jan Dwyer of Rabaul—put forward th own arguments and opinions.

The other two speakers—the R Wesley Lutton of Rabaul and D trict Officer Mr. F. Kaad of Rabi —threw in for good measure 1 opinions of native people with wh they had discussed the drink pn lem.

The discussion went back a forth, sometimes heated, alws provocative. Father Dwyer gave potted philosophy on earning 1 moral right to drink, Mr. Levi ar lysed the native’s psychological : action to drink. Mr. Lutl reported what the native villj women thought about drink, a Mr. Kaad reported what the nat leaders thought about the drink.

There were three native memb of the Council at the meeting a not one of them opened his mou Even the intelligent develoi native today tends to shrug ; shoulders and smile if taxed foi direct answer on the drink qu tion.

Too Much Talk It would seem that the missio the welfare groups, the Admin tration and the commentators (: eluding PIM) have more to * than the native himself.

For that reason alone, the ansv to the drink problem probably 1 with the native people to a mi greater degree than is suspected anyone.

The first native group to co: forward of its own volition with logical, forceful, and proper prepared case—for or agains could possibly help win the day But the phrase “of its own vc tion” is the catch. The lead 1 with men like Raymon Martin Stanis Boramilat, not with missi( aries or Administration officers.

GEIC Liquor Reform

Following a debate on liquor 1 reforms at the recent Gilbert a Ellice Islands Colony Conferenc the biennial get-together of chi and leaders—it was agreed majority vote that the present ] strictions on consumption of b( and sour toddy should be abolish Before the law can be revised t recommendation has to be approv by the Resident Commissioner a the High Commissioner for t Western Pacific.

The subject is being examim also by a Liquor Advisory Boa: