The Editor's Mailbag

That Racist Cover

o- vaiip ,w vrr t p S T^c Y rPTM TfnF n d ail P Jones (PIM, June, p 43), ostensibly sounded as one of the know- Hi; m OU F lnpw h ZLt e ? r tnnd an fir claim they knew what is good for ha ° n hand information and the . . . aid of a a ?i nlf f!? r g l aS ® ' ' ' u' l u detect the kind of delicate issues which I and my colleagues, as patriotic Solomon Islanders, obviously see with our naked eyes.

It’s interesting, but rather unfortunate, to find imaginative “outsiders” like Mr. Jones who, regardless, hold

nmion'that ‘°

"S) ‘boys standing Ground K

background, just happened to be there), talking and planning their next activity ...” when the picture was taken!

One wouldn’t expect the children to understand the photographer’s racist and colour-biased attitude that more than manifested itself in perspective in his picture. But it would be naive

of Mr. Jones and my critics to think that adults have been immuned to the feeling of being overlooked, when they and their kind are constantly be ing belittled and demeaned by the standards of the foreigner, so that they become “trailers” in the background, while others are exalted to the fore ground of anything that had to do with the demi-god “Outsider”.

It depicts only short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness for one not to associate such morbid attitudes syno nymously with shrewd favouritism of colour and race in a multi-racial society.

Any patriotic Solomon Islander will agree that we seriously do not want any group to see themselves as the underdogs or “trailers” to the others because this will be inviting disharmony, racial violence and tur moil as now exists in other parts of the world. I was certainly more human-loving than Mr. Jones would care to own, in sounding the alarm now, when the social and racial cir cumstances can still be grappled with,

and wouldn’t be as insurmountable tl suppress as they would, if left to-c late. We wouldn’t want to have U resort to chopping our own necks anr digging our own graves through thri unscrupulous doings of “outsiders”..' However, I’d seriously questioc whether my critic is nearly as con cerned about humanity as he claimeo when he was under the illusion ths because, “God is in His Heaven, A/ is right in His World”, while ttd world is slowly being burnt under hi feet. I’d be dubious also of his inten tions of helping Micronesians as whole if his outlook toward the: social advancement was as shallow s the infantile example he gave.

We have philanthropists in the Solo mons if Mr. Jones would care t know. But the question is whethei one of Mr. Jones’ calibre could a t similate the Melanesians, Polynesian Micronesians, Chinese, and the othei racial groups into one nation, wither the fear as to whether the degree o racial cohesiveness and peaceful ct: existence prevailing now, under tH wings of British protection is deep»< than the thin epidermis of thes bodies, and would persist when tH protective veil has been removed.

My critic was dubious and critic: about my academic growth. Perhaps . would be worth reminding Mr. Jonu

that it matters little to me and my country if all my academic talent is limed principally at being proficient n passing examinations and possess ng a University degree. These are icademic luxuries which would be >est left to the advanced countries vhich can afford them. In the Solo nons, it is important that whoever las acquired a little more knowledge han the community at large, should itilise such knowledge for, and in he best interests of the community md its diverse people and races. I ifould like to reassure my critic, in imple terms, therefore, that this las been my one objective.

J. S. Saunana.

Jniversity of Papua and New Guinea, *ort Moresby.

Ballalae

Sir, —The article by June Woods PIM, July) stated that 400 Aus •alian prisoners-of-war worked on ie airstrip at Ballalae Island and ied from Allied bombings and Ul eatment.

The prisoners were not, however, lUStralian but British troops from Royal Artillery unit who had been ansported by the Japanese from ingapore towards the end of 1942.

Hied bombing accounted for the saths of some 300 of the prisoners, 5 they were unprotected in any ay. The remainder were presumed ► have died from malnutrition, dis ise and cruel treatment.

Aiter the war 438 unidentified 3dies were exhumed on Ballalae land and, after temporary reburial Torokina, were subsequently ansferred to their permanent rest g place at Bomana War Ceme ry. Port Moresby.

G. P. Mckeown.

1 Caley Crescent, arrabundah, A.C.T.

Samarai's Glory

Sir,—Being a new arrival in the rritory and interested in the history Samarai—past, present and future -I found Tom Grahamslaw’s de ration of Papua at war (PIM, ar., April, May) extremely interest g, but tantalising in its allusion to imarai.

Perhaps some of your readers •uld fill me in on details of pre ar Samarai when it was apparently its peak.

(Mrs.) L. Dawson.

Letters

O. Box 2, imarai, Papua.

The "Icy Ball"

Sir,—Some time ago, you wrote the passing of the inventor of the ent Knight, an early refrigerator )rkmg on the “icy ball” absorption

system. You mentioned that it had been widely used throughout the Pacific, notably in New Guinea.

We were wondering if any of your readers could help me with some details, or drawings, on the re frigerator; it seems ideal for installa tion in a small boat.

I read of “icy ball” some years ago in San Francisco, and through the course of a long Pacific cruise attempted to gain some knowledge of it, but failed. I would be most appreciative if any of your readers could help.

Alfred Petersen.

Yacht Stornoway, PO Box 541, Sausalito, California, 94965.

Bamboo Javelins

Sir,—l was amazed rather than amused to read in July PIM that it is only thanks to Mr. Poczobut, who visited the New Hebrides in August of last year, that we have shot, javelin, discoi and stop-watches.

It is true that, like many small countries, we lack an abundance of

athletics equipment; it is equally true that during his six-week visit last year, and now, Mr. Poczobut has helped and is helping to raise the standard of athletics in the Group.

His training sessions are deeply ap preciated.

However, to imply that he is the only person to have taken an interest in equipping our athletes, and to state that coconut “shots” and bamboo “javelins” only went out on his arrival is grossly inaccurate. The New Hebrides Athletics Association has been issuing javelins, shot, discoi and stop-watches since organised athletics began, way back in 1962.

Your article ignores completely the devoted efforts of people like Mr.

A. Bell and Mr. C. Leaf, who for several years not only raised money to provide proper athletics equip ment, but also spent many hours themselves training our national teams.

While it is true that our achieve ments in field events have hitherto lagged behind those in track (our relay team won a gold medal at Port Moresby—remember?), it is not true to say that no equipment was forth coming until Mr. Poczobut’s visit in 1970. As a New Hebridean who participated himself in the South Pacific Games in Noumea in 1966 and who has for several years acted

both as a track and field umpire, in the outer islands as well as in Vila, 1 feel I am qualified to assure you that coconuts and bamboos went out with grandma.

J. J. Naupa.

Lakatoro, Malekula, New Hebrides.

Fiji's Role

Sir,—ln PIM, July (p. 21), you say that “when Fiji joined the UN following independence last October she announced she would be spokes man for the South Pacific.” The same article goes on report a statement by “Fiji’s Special Repre sentative to the UN, Mr. Satia Nan dan” to the UN Special Committee on Colonialism, of which Fiji is a member.

I would like, if I may, to correct any misunderstanding that this article may have caused. Firstly, Fiji has not, and does not, claim to be the “spokesman for the South Pacific”, except to the extent that the other territories may specifically ask her to be. This was made clear by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, when he addressed the United Nations General As sembly last October. In his speech, the Prime Minister stressed the need for a Pacific voice in the United Nations both geographically and ideologically. But he went on to say “as far as we are authorised by our friends and neighbours—and we do

Letters

not arrogate to ourselves any role of leadership—we would hope to act as representative and interpreter of that voice”.

Secondly, I would like to point out that Mr. Satya Nandan is a member of the staff of the Fiji Mission to the United Nations, where he holds the rank of First Secretary. Mr.

Semesa Sikivou is Fiji’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations with the rank of Ambassa dor. There is no such position as Fiji’s “Special Representative to the United Nations”.

R. W. Baker

for Secretary for Foreign Affairs Prime Minister’s Office, Suva. • PIM ought to have known bet ter, but the incorrect information came from an official UN source.

Incidentally, since Mr. Baker's letter was written, Mr. Semesa Sikivou has also been appointed Fiji’s first Am bassador to the United States. He remains resident in New York but a small Fiji office has been estab lished in Washington. Mr. Baker’s comments on Fiji’s role as a Pacific spokesman are noted, but readers should also look at the reports on the South Pacific Forum held in Wellington in August and published

in this issue. Fiji has been embai rassed by the sensitivity of somv neighbouring islands on this matta of leadership, and the issue is little more complicated than Mi Baker's letter implies. Fiji is proh ably sorry now it opened its mout\ at all on the subject at the UN.

Metcalfe Papers

Sir, —I am very interested in at article that appeared on p. 106 ii the August, 1970, PIM, about thd Metcalfe Papers.

As a Solomon Islander I woull be most grateful if you could advis me further on those papers. If the have come to printing in whateve form, I would be most interested tt read them. I am willing to pay ann price for the valuable articles.

Dr. T. Sawa[?]

Sohano, PNG. • Dr. Sawa is referring to th\ large collection of papers left IA Rev. John R. Metcalfe, not e Methodist missionary in the SoW mon Islands, who died in Januatr 1970. His papers, which include* day-by-day diaries from 1911 i 1969, are in the possession of th Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, Austrr lian National University, Canberra and have not been published. LK Sawa might like to contact Robe s Langdon, executive officer of th Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, aboi< access to them.

More letters on p. II

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Bouquet For Band

Sir, —We would be utterly remiss in our duty if we failed to post you on the attached event here in Honolulu. (A concert by the Royal Fiji Military Forces Band.) We are certain your readers in Fiji will be pleased to know that the Royal Fiji Military Forces Band performed in the grand manner of their tradition.

Each of their performances here has been well attended by groups representing every age and calling from every ethnical background.

We are all most impressed with the dedicated and serious manner which each member applied to the task. It would appear that individu ally and collectively, each was trying for the ultimate in perfection. We who witnessed this performance agree that they have reached this status.

Aloha and Mahalo.

J. Wright Hamner, Jr.

Honolulu. • Mr. Hamner enclosed a cutting from the “Honolulu Star-Bulletin ” reporting on the band’s concert. “Ala Moana Center, scene of a band con cert yesterday noon, had never seen anything like it,” the report began.

Fascination

Sir, —With all sincerity let me say how much I enjoy reading portions A your magazine; so much in it that is fascinating, even for one half-a svorld away. And I read it for personal pleasure, a splendid change from the mass of mundane stuff which comes to my desk.

So far my travels in the Pacific have been limited to an all-too-brief :aste of Australia, including Tas mania, Tonga, Fiji and Hawaii, but ;ome day I hope—no, I must—return.

In the meantime, keep up the »ood work.

Robert Turnbull.

travel Editor, Fhe Globe and Mail, roronto, Canada.

The Lesser Half

Sir, —Can any reader give me letails concerning the wife of William jeorge Pritchard, first British Consul o Fiji? I can find no clue to her age, naiden name, marriage date, or fate, n the books and records. She sailed vith Pritchard on February 13, 1863, md that is the only time he refers o her in his own book.

(Mrs.) Isobel Whippy.

Box 754, Suva.