New Frogs

For Old!

From a Correspondent There’s a lot of little boy in every grown-up man! Well that’s judging by the numbers of dads that turned up along with the

young fry on Saturday, Septem

ber 16, in Lae, for the purpose of exchanging a live toad for a

chocolate frog.

HERE’S what happened: Wau farmers have been suffering heavy losses to their crops due to a pest, the Army worm. It was decided that a contingent of Lae’s dense toad population be sent to Wau to make war on the pest. (Lae’s toads originated in Mexico, were sent to Hawaii, then to Queens land to eradicate the cane beetle there. From Queensland they were introduced to Lae by George Whit taker.) The problem of sending a toad army to Wau lay in catching enough of the rather repulsive-looking, cold skinned creatures that exude a slight poison when captured.

Mac. Robertsons, the chocolate makers of Melbourne, who also have planting interests near Lae, provided a solution by offering a chocolate “Freddo Frog” in exchange for every toad brought in alive. Ansett-ANA offered to fly the “Freddos” up free

of charge.

So the hunt began. For several nights before the call-up, dads and their offspring could be seen out in their gardens and along the roadsides hunting the toads down with torches.

It takes two to catch a toad. The torch bearer shines the torch in the toad’s eyes and be becomes immobile.

The catcher then sneaks up behind him.

Mum Helped

Most mums did not take an active part in the toad snaring, but most were willing to help by carrying the cardboard boxes into which the toads

were dropped.

And so Saturday, in the heart of Lae town, saw the hand-over take over of toads versus frogs.

Only thing was there were not enough “Freddos” to go around, be cause the dads and their young-uns brought in the grand number of 13,000 live toads!

That’s why some of the kiddies— and dads—came away with I-O-U promissory notes for “Freddos”.

These will be honoured by Mac.

Robertsons when another batch is flown up from Melbourne.

Wau farmers will not be getting their toads for free. They are being asked to pay a small sum for each toad and the proceeds will go to the National Heart Appeal.

Five-year-old Johnnie Irvine, is a freckled faced boy who received 20 chocolate frogs cash payment, and holds an I-O-U for 20 more.

The one in his hand didn't last any time at all.

Photo: Pat Robertson

Toads —loads of toads —were the order of the day. They arrived bright and breathing in boot boxes, paper bags, carry-alls and anything else that a toad would stay put in.

Photo: Pat Robertson