The Editor's Mailbag

Ellice Islander Replies

Sir, —“A leading Gilbertese”, in a thoughtless state of mind, hurt the Ellice Islanders in his reply to your staff writer’s summing up of the situation in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony {PIM, Apr., p. 60).

“A leading Gilbertese” wrote his article because of fear of PIM readers regarding the Gilbertese in the same way as your staff writer, who was in the Gilberts for one month, did.

When a game is played by two sides there must be a referee or um pire who is a non-player. This referee or umpire is one who knows the rules of the game, I would say that it is fair for one who is not a Gilbertese or Ellice Islander to be the referee.

One other important point about a referee is that he must be on the spot where the game is played. The PIM staff writer knows the rules of the game and he was on the spot.

Therefore he was a qualified referee.

I have no fear of what your readers might think about the Ellice Islanders because the Ellice Islanders, wherever they are, are living witnesses of what they are. Some are good and some not, some are clever and some are not, some are honest and some are not and so on.

I am an open, clear minded Ellice Islander and I do not want to pay revenge by saying things which would hurt the “leading Gilbertese” because it is not the nature- of this Ellice Islander to hurt others, and further more it is silly to hurt others.

Toalipi Lauti.

C/o The British Phosphate Commissioners, Nauru.

The Speed Of The "Salamis"

Sir, —For quite some time, I have been—and intend to remain—a sub scriber to your very interesting and necessary publication. More, I note that tongue-in-cheek writing finds its way into more than a few of the articles—and this I enjoy. In fact, you might say that I’m one that truly enjoys a good sea story . . . However, there was one such sea story so pre posterous that I waited until I saw the March edition to see. if any challenges from your other readers had come in. However, none were printed and, thus, this letter . . .

Specifically I refer to Mr. Watson’s story (Feb., p. 88) concerning the

bell of the Salamis. If Mr. Watson’s facts, as printed, are true then I’d say that that bell has more than sentimental value: it should be treated as a national treasure!

You see, were I the master of the good ship Salamis in her 1875 hey day, I’m afraid that I’d consider that my peers may think me slightly “ding-a-ling” were they to note in my ship’s log that my best speed— in a sailing ship—was . . 304 knots . . .”

My, it would seem that that bell was the forerunner of today’s radar/ sonar! And travelling about the same speed of a DC3! Would it be fair to assume that she finally crashed by foolishly, in her old age, trying to fly over Malden Island instead of being a lady and sailing around it?

I’m just a landlubber but, boy, there seems to be a (to use a phrase so popular these days) slight credi bility gap!

P.S.: Come to think of it, “flank speed 30-knot Burke” could have used a couple of ships with the speed of the Salamis. It, I dare say, would have shocked the hell out of the Japanese!

A. F. J. Finnerty.

Tokyo, Japan.

New Guinea Services Bureau

Sir, —The New Guinea Services Bureau is a non-profit making charitable organisation offering assist ance to Papuans and New Guineans, providing information and advisory services for those interested in the territory.

It has been established by the Council on New Guinea Affairs to provide what is considered to be a necessary service for the territory.

The bureau offers advice and assistance (which will be given free of charge), in particular to the private sector of the community, as distinct from the public sector, already adequately catered for by the Ad ministration and the Department of External Territories.

The bureau also will endeavour to assist the private sector, com mercial and industrial organisations, planning to provide additional train ing for New Guineans in professional offices, industrial plants, commercial houses, and other establishments, uni

versities, technical colleges and similar institutions as required.

Contact has already been made with a number of organisations in the Sydney metropolitan area, and the bureau is interested in placing trade trainees for whom it is con sidered that a period of instruction in Australia would be of benefit.

However, firm propositions are re quired before any of these can be finalised.

Interested parties should contact me in Sydney, giving details of training required, with background informa tion on each person, such as standard reached in education, village, present employment, and any other relevant information.

L. E. Clout.

Executive Officer, New Guinea Services Bureau, 17 Castlereagh St., Sydney, 2000. • Mr. Clout retired last year from the position of Chief of Division of Lands with the P-NG Administration’s Department of Lands, Surveys and Mines. He is a former chairman of the P-NG Lands Board.