Letters
pp. 19-165 · Read in the full issue
Tongans Want Reform
Sir, —It was with interest and admiration that I read Dr. J.
Fanamanu’s article on the everlasting rule of the monarchs over us Tongans (PIM, July, p. 39). That is insofar as his historical analysis was concerned.
I want to point out that the educated commoners on whom Mr.
Griffin’s article (P/M, April, p. 41) was based, were actually half educated commoners. That does not, of course, mean that there are no educated commoners. It means that most educated commoners, in the eyes of the nobles, are those swal lowed up (to quote the author) by their (the nobles’) diplomacy, “degree of patience and tolerance”.
Therefore they (educated com moners) can not voice their opinions free of the nobles’ influence.
Furthermore not less than 60 per cent, of the nobles have had overseas education compared with the minor fraction of the commoners that have had that privilege. So if overseas education is taken as the standard for being educated, then the nobles are definitely the more educated.
That is they have the qualities of educated men—they know it is more comfortable in the frying-pan than in the fire.
There is no doubt about the contri bution of the nobility to Tonga and “the Tongans being unsurpassed in their love of monarchy”, but to a “half educated” mind the author overstressed the nobility and under estimated the Tongans capacity to bring about reforms. It is for certain that Tongan nationalism will always revolve around the monarchy, but whether Tonga is going to be RULED everlastingly by a monarchy is a different story.
S. Ataata.
St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
View Of Tonga
Sir—Herewith my congratulations to John T. Griffin for his well docu mented, personal-observation story about Tonga (P/M, April) which drew the ire “absolutely false and misleading”) of Tongan Joe Fana manu in July. On the basis of logical evaluation of the two articles, my money is on Griffin.
Glen Wright.
Apia, Western Samoa.
How Legends Grow
Sir, —Your item about Cathy Graindorge, the Papeete travel agency hostess, and the “two huge tikis, found by Paul Gauguin, and currently on show as part of Tahiti’s Gauguin Museum” {PIM, July, p. 103), is a good example of how wildly inaccurate legends grow in the Eastern Pacific.
The two tikis referred to were not found by Paul Gauguin and they came from an island that Gauguin never visited.
The tikis were brought from Raivavae, in the Australs, in 1933.
They stood for many years in the grounds of the old Papeete Museum.
A photograph of one of them in that position appeared in PIM for June, 1967. p. 95.
At the time of their arrival in Papeete from Raivavae, some Tahitians became apprehensive that the ancient gods may have been angered by the disturbance of the tikis from their old resting place.
Apprehension grew to alarm when flames burst from the still waters of Papeete lagoon in front of the Protestant Church. But when some hardy soul plucked up the courage to investigate, it was found that the flames had been caused by a bottle of flour mixed with phosphorous, which had apparently been prepared for killing cockroaches on board one of the local schooners and thrown overboard. The phosphorous, on coming into contact with the sea water, had generated a gas which ignited as the bubbles burst on the surface.
Subsequently, the man responsible for the removal of the tikis from Raivavae was stricken with a myster ious illness, and there was serious talk of petitioning the authorities to command the return of the tikis to that island. However, the man even tually recovered and the tikis stayed.
Nevertheless, the Tahitians are quite justified in spreading the story (as your item put it) that “anyone who touches the aged statues dies”.
The fact is that no one has yet been known to get out of this world alive.
A. T. Kee Toucher.
Papeete.
Tahiti.
Look! No Steering
Sir,—In the August PIM , pages 78-79, the advertisement for Datsun had me intrigued. It’s fantastic, how does it operate? It has no steering wheel.
(Mrs.) Alma Townsend.
Sydney.
Two Rabaul Directors
Met In Japan
Sir, —The reference to Dr. N. H.
Fisher being appointed director of the geological branch of Australia’s Bureau of Mineral Resources ( PIM, May, 1969, p. 110) reminds me of an interesting meeting Dr. Fisher had in Japan in 1966. I was able to introduce him to Dr. Takashi Kizawa, of the Meteorological Re search Institute of Japan. Dr. Kizawa was the director of Rabaul Observa tory during the war years.
Dr. Fisher was director of the observatory immediately before and after the war. When the Japanese captured Rabaul they threw the earth quake recording instruments from the observatory over a cliff.
On the other hand, when the Aus tralian forces recaptured the town they brought the Japanese instru ments to Australia as spoils of war.
Some are still in operation today.
Dr. Kizawa recently spent a year in NZ working with the DSIR Seismological Observatory in Welling ton.
He told me that the only way for him to escape conscription was to volunteer for the job at Rabaul. He was the sole Japanese civilian there during the war years.
At the conclusion of the war in the Islands he was instructed by his commanding officer to destroy all his scientific instruments before the re treat to Tokyo. Instead. Dr. Kizawa quietly disobeyed. He left a note on the equipment which expressed the hope that the next generation would not be beset by war. And he sealed his underground observatory with earth.
It would be interesting to hear from anyone who was involved in the unearthing of the observatory with Dr. Kizawa’s note at the end of the war.
I hope that Dr. Kizawa’s reports and recordings at Rabaul Observatory during the war will one day be pub lished in Australia. They surely have a place in Australian scientific litera ture, if only to fill in the gap in Rabaul recordings during the forced absence of Dr. Fisher from the observatory.
To ensure that his recordings were properly preserved, Dr. Kizawa went back to Japan with some records wrapped around his chest. I was director of Apia Observatory from 1962-65.
John Milne
Canberra, Australia.
More letters on p. 25
P-Ng's Administrators
Sir, —Your article in the August issue on the demise of the DDA is not correct in the statement that DDA began in Papua in 1909.
The Native Affairs Department of Papua controlled native labour and was not the department concerned with district administration. That was controlled by the Government Secretary and the field staff con sisted of eight resident magistrates, 16 patrol officers and 16 assistant resident magistrates, who were loosely called the “outside” men, the name from which Jim Sinclair has taken the title for his biography of Jack Hides.
The field staff were also inspectors of native labour and for these duties they came under the Commissioner for Native Affairs who was always a former resident magistrate.
The Government Secretary was also head of the Public Service, Police and Prisons, Director of Native Taxation and Native Planta tions and responsible for education.
The headquarters staff of the Gov ernment Secretary was small—chief clerk, records clerk, accounts clerk, stenographer, two clerks in the tax ation and census section and six Papuan clerks.
Protocol was strict. Only the Lieu tenant-Governor communicated with Canberra and when the Lieutenant- Governor on his frequent visits to out-stations issued an instruction to a resident magistrate a copy of the instruction had to be sent to the Government Secretary, otherwise, as the instruction neatly put it, “there would be complete chaos.”
The Native Affairs Department was abolished in 1941 and became a branch of the Government Secretary.
The title of Government Secretary was a carry over from British New Guinea administration. Anthony Mus grave, for whom the main street of Port Moresby is named, was Gov ernment Secretary of British New Guinea from 1888 to 1906 and when the territory of Papua was pro claimed in 1906, A. M. Campbell, a resident magistrate, became Gov ernment Secretary. He resigned in 1912 and the then Treasurer, H. W.
Champion, became Government Secre tary and remained in office until the Territory of Papua ceased as an entity in 1942.
Champion had joined the British
New Guinea administration in 1902 from the firm of Burns Philp and became the first Treasurer of Papua in 1906. He was a man of few words, in speech and on paper, and his memoranda rarely went beyond a half sheet of quarto paper. He was something of a financial wizard mainly responsible for running Papua on a shoe-string.
Civil Government in the mandated territory of New Guinea began with a Government Secretary as head of the field staff but owing to differ ences of opinion a new department was formed called District Services and Native Affairs, and a former assistant resident magistrate from Papua became director.
The latest reorganisation by Secretary Warwick Smith and Ad ministrator Hay must result in better efficiency, but it has taken 25 years, during which time all the “bright boys” have played chess with the department.
Ivan Champion.
35 Katumba St., Brisbane.
Who Produces 'Coke 7
Sir, —We feel a correction is warranted concerning an item which appeared in PIM , Sept. (p. 125), about the production of “Coke” in Lae and Rabaul.
The company which has the Coke franchise in Rabaul is Gabriel Achun & Co. Pty. Ltd., and not A. Akun & Co. Pty. Ltd. as reported.
It seems that whoever reported this news item is not worth a grain of salt, much less his profession as a reporter, for failing to ascertain a simple fact such as this.
R. A. Chue,
Manager.
Gabriel Achun & Co. Pty. Ltd., Rabaul, NG. • Correction herewith. Our re porter did in fact ascertain that simple fact, by confirming our report with the Sydney offices of Coca-Cola Export, who okayed the names. We won't be sacking him, despite Mr.
Chue’s lack of confidence in his pro fessional ability.
Glen Wright In Reply
Sir, —Is it not interesting that criticism of my PIM articles about events in Samoa, and of me as a person, has come from Fiji and Tahiti?
Be that as it may, both of them (Malu O Tiafu, PIM July and Richard Goodman, PIM, August) ought to learn a basic lesson in journalism before they embarrass themselves again. This fundamental principle concerns the functions of language: report, inference and judg ment.
The articles that so stir the emotions of Messrs, Tiafu and Goodman are reports. All material is attributed as to source. All in ferences are based on first-hand or authoritative observation and know ledge.
For example, the Chiefs Keep Power story is larded with such attributions as “M.P, Fatialofa said”, “Mata’afa argued”, Members of Parliament “argued” and “said”. I write that I got my information about the matai system from “six dissenting MP’s, the Press, and a host of youth leaders”.
I quite plainly indicate that I obtained information from the
All pioneers of Papua in their time, these three men now live in Australia. At left is Ivan Champion, writer of the letter on this page, and at right, his brother, Claude. Centre is their father, H. W.
Champion. Claude and H. W. live in Sydney, Ivan in Brisbane. In the post war P-NG Administration Claude Champion held the position, like his father earlier, of Government Secretary, although by then the title had been changed.
parliamentary debate (March 28, 1969) over the franchise. This argument revealed that in one dis trict populated by only 655 people more than 21 years old, 1,400 matais were registered. “Was not this an abuse of the matai privilege?” an MP asked.
Again, an MP charged that in this debate there existed “the un desirable spectacle in by-elections of many dozens of new titles being created, even down to children under 10 years of age. Such matais did not have control over customary lands or perform any of the governing functions of a matai but were created solely so that their votes could be registered in support of the candidate or his backers who created the titles. To prevent this cheapening of the matai system, government has made it illegal to confer a title on any person under 21 years of age, but the creation of great numbers of titles for electoral purposes is still possible”.
Not my opinion, but statements by members of parliament, recorded in the official transcript of proceed ings and printed in the Samoa Times, March 21 and 28, 1969.
My story about the edict against ship-docking on Sundays in Apia and other quirks of official Samoa behavior was just as factual. All these things happened.
In neither case did I express an opinion pro or con. Goodman is dead right about my being un sympathetic. I don’t care which way the cat jumps. I take no sides. I am not a participant, but an observer, calling the plays as I neutrally see them, with truth as my sole objective.
I am not by any means immune from commitment of error, and right now I want to correct one I made on page 23, PIM, July, John Wendt of the Western Samoa Price Control Tribunal is not a sheet metal and air conditioning contractor but rather is Financial Secretary to the Government. In this regard may I quote famous New York lawyer Louis Nizer, who writes in his book My Life in Court, that “minor dis crepancies and variations are of no account when testimony flows toward the pole of truth.”
What men do is the stuff of truthful journalism; what they ought to do, of propaganda.
Glen Wright.
Apia, Western Samoa.
New Hebrides Opinion
Sir, —In Sydney we viewed tele vised “Four Comers” with interest ing aspects on Vila, New Hebrides.
Among views offered, an Australian deemed himself an authority on its supposedly precarious future in 10 years’ time.
Such publicised nonsense is to be deplored. It can only foster un necessary fears among the already established—or others who may care to invest in the New Hebrides.
Much is being done by the Con dominium Government (French and British) to educate New Hebrideans.
It will take at least 50 years before the bulk of indigenous people are in a position to handle home affairs along sensible lines.
Present educated ones appreciate that, without European aid and guid ance, they will revert back to stone age existence in no time. It is essential for them also, to bear with the Condominium for their own pro tection.
Another spokesman said that many well-founded, progressive ideas were stunted owing to distrust on either side of the Condominium Govern ment. True, but this applies to other countries with two or more political parties.
The disgruntled few would be mis fits in any other part of the world.
Being outspoken, they, unfortunately, reach the limelight (even gain honours above others who plod along quietly for “good of country”) and air short sighted views to the detriment of those delightful islands.
In the New Hebrides there are many races and creeds working and playing side by side in harmony. No racial discrimination whatsoever.
Although an unusual set-up, the Condominium has managed “entente cordiale” extremely well over the years. However, to restore fairness regarding land problems and other matters for the islanders, the re instatement of a neutral Joint Court President, as in pre-war years (as stipulated by the Protocol) is of utmost urgency. Vive le Condo minium!
(Mrs.) C. M. Ratard,
St. Ives, Sydney.
Fresh Air From Pim
Sir, —You will be pleased to know there is an increasing awareness of the importance of the Pacific Islands in New Zealand . . . and I hope this increases. I am a fan myself, both for pleasure, and because of the political implications and I do my share of trying to wake people up about the Pacific and its importance.
I have travelled extensively and manage to get about a month a year in the Islands and am quietly getting to know them. Your magazine is a delight and I am very impressed by the fresh and enthusiastic way you cover events—it is a real breath of
fresh air.
Barbara Baigent.
Hamilton, New Zealand.
Coastwatching Novel
Sir, —I suppose a novelist has to use his imagination to make up a good story, and I have no doubt that Olaf Ruhen is a good novelist. How ever, he knows nothing about Coast watching. {PIM, Sept., p. 97).
July Tudor’s review of Scan The Dark Coast is an excellent one but it reveals the author’s ignorance of the subject he is writing about, I seldom feel like criticising articles I read in the Press but I feel that I must expose the greatest weakness in the novel under review.
As an old Coastwatcher I must point out that shot-down pilots of any nationality usually arrived at the Coastwatcher’s camp in a shocked and dazed condition. Sometimes they were carried in by the natives, either almost dead from starvation or suf fering from wounds or injuries. They had to be nursed back to health by the Coastwatcher before they could be evacuated.
Sometimes an odd one arrived in fair condition but he certainly did not feel like having an affair with the village girls, nor would he have been allowed to by the Coastwatcher.
As for knocking off two Japanese scouts for their rifles I am afraid that Olaf Ruhen is under-rating the Japs.
They seldom sent out scouts in pairs but mostly in platoon strength. Even two lone Japs would take a lot of knocking off and the natives of New Georgia were not renowned for their aggressiveness against armed men.
Apart from the above criticism, no Coastwatcher would have allowed a shot-down pilot to go outside the perimeter of his camp.
I am afraid that I will not be spend ing $3.25 for Scan The Dark Coast, but I will be spending more than that very shortly for Mary Murray’s excellent and authentic books Escape and Hunted. I have already bought two of each and given them to friends, but need more.
Carden W. Seton.
Sunnybank, Queensland. • Might be fairer of Mr. Seton. nevertheless, to spend his $3.25 and read the book himself. Our review was only eight pars.
(More letters on p. 158)
Not A National Selector
Sir, —Your August issue (p. 103) quoted me as having been a national selector for the Fiji Rugby Union.
I am not certain how this report came to appear in your magazine but I would like to say that although I have done a number of things in the cause of Fiji Rugby over the last 15 years I have never been, nor claimed to be, a Fiji selector.
Mike Linden.
Treasury, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Games Yachting
Sir, —Reference your report of yachting at the Third South Pacific Games ( PIM, Sept., p. 35).
Five teams were competing for the three medals at the last heat of the series—Dabb/Antonieff and Burgaud/ Burgaud for the gold/silver, and Gardiner/Gilmore, Arnould/Peaucel lier and Reymond/Palmer for the bronze.
In light conditions the finishing order generally was Burgaud/Dabb/ Reymond, while in fresher breezes the order became Dabb/Gardiner.
The last heat was held in fresh conditions and Dabb won the gold medal. The finishing order for the series was:—
The yachting Technical Committee recommended the Tahiti Yacht Club to propose only one class for the Fourth Games, and depending on the response, then consider a second class for the Fifth Games. This decision was based on the assumption that the Games events were to foster yachting as a sport and not foster a particular class. In reaching this viewpoint both the economic situation and the development of the sport in the South Pacific were considered.
The French Polynesian competitors favoured the Fireball and the class selected will be confirmed by this November.
The yachting event was made pos
Skipper Points lost Country Boat G Dabb .. 6
P-Ng
Circle A.
Burgaud . 14.4 FP Aureole B.
Gardiner . 40 Fiji Shambles F.
Reymond , 44.1 Fiji Christian III J.
Arnould 47.1 FP Amanda Jane A.
Grey .. 61.1 WS Privateer P.
Rothery , 77.7 NC Kris K.
Rodda . .. 78
P-Ng
Fiery Fred Y.
Legat . .. 88 NC Anonomee
sible at Port Moresby by individual members of this association loaning their boats and equipment to com petitors from other countries.
Trevor W. Boughton.
Hon. Sec.
Papua-New Guinea Fireball Association, Port Moresby. • Many thanks for the additional, detailed information to our neces sarily brief summary of the Games yachting events.
Reply To A Reply
Sir, —I was directly referred to by your correspondent, Mrs, Penelope Bryning, in her letter about Percy Chatterton in August (p. 21), so would like to reply. I feel that with six years only in the territory, and in a very limited area and activity, Mrs. Bryning does not seem very qualified to discuss these matters.
Other people could be more com petent than myself, but after social services in South America and the West Indies I have been 17 years in practically all the main areas of the territory, first as a lay missionary then as a health officer.
My wife is from a coastal area and we have three children, who have Christian and tribal names; proof that I am probably more integrated than Mrs. Bryning in her present urban work in private enterprise.
Although presently living in the Highlands, many of my friends are from the coast.
Mrs. Bryning may be a student of the history of Sicily but I have been in Italy and speak Italian, I have previously put my view publicly about the danger for New Guinea of an emerging middle class (includ ing mostly local public servants) formed mainly from former students on the coast.
We don’t want, in 10 or 20 years, to see the Papuans victims in their turn of the type of feeling at present held by many local people against Europeans. The same was evident in the French African colonies after the war, where coloured public servants were often more hated by the Africans than the white administra tors.
John H. Huon De
Navrancourt
Health Extension Officer, PHD, Goroka, NG. • Pitcairn Island post office re leased its fourth definitive issue of postage stamps on September 17. The 13 stamps are all pictorial and the denominations are 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 cents (in NZ currency).