The Editor's Mailbag
pp. 37-40 · Read in the full issue
The 'Green'
Letters
I was interested in the feature in the June PIM on the “Green” letters (P 57, 59).
The photo and caption (p 59) — this looks like a Papuan south-coast lakatoi. As far as I know (not certain) the Orokaiva (including the Mambare people) did not even use double canoes, just singles with outrigger (ie unlike the Kerema singles).
Re Maisina (p 59); your directions might be wrong as the present day Maisina people (or at least those called Maisina today) live south of Tufi and not West of the Musa.
Mambare raiders certainly came as far as Tufi, and beyond:- “Wanigela people were besieged by a squadron of war canoes full of Mambare people and were in danger of defeat until assisted by the Maisina people (Uwe and Uiaku etc). This must have been in about the 1850- 1880 period I guess, but indicates that there was wide-ranging social contact (not to mention physical con tact) along the coast.” (From a letter, (20/5/73) to me from another former BASF em ployee in the ND; his information about the siege came from Sister Roberts who has been at Wanigela with the Anglican Mission since about 1948, and he would have been given it in 1966).
Langdon states that Green has been given little attention in reference books about PNG; I suppose that this might be true. However, it must be remembered that his was only a short career in PNG, just over four years overall, and less than three in the government service. He also suffered from the handicap that he didn’t survive to write his own book (eg Monckton, Humphries, Beaver—though the last named was posthumous).
However, he has many mentions in the literature, quite apart from those in the PNG ARs. I seem to recall Monckton describing Green as “quite the best officer the Papuan service ever had, he spoke the lan guage like a native”. It may be that Monckton was influenced by the man ner of Green’s death, but MacGregor also praised him, and both- Waiko and Barereba say he spoke Binandere.
There is an essay “How my grand fathers killed Mr J. Green” by S. (Stephen) Targo (also Barereba);
listed in Waiko’s biblio as such, it appeared in South Pacific in 1959 and in Australian Territories in 1961.
The author is now MHA for Sobe in the PNG House of Assembly.
John Waiko also had a version published in the JPNGS (1970, I think); it was called “A Payback Murder: the Green Bloodbath”, or something like that. Green was also mentioned in his paper on cargo cults in the 1972 Niugini Reader, an Australian Union of Students publi cation.
Lett in his 1943 book Papuan Gold mentions him as Waiko has re ferred to him in his 1970 paper’s bibliography.
The story of his death is often mentioned by whites in the Northern District and seems to have become one of the native legends over quite a wide area. I would think that in the Popondetta/loma area it would be the most famous of all white/black contact stories.
Both Tago and Waiko state that Green was eaten; this is quite dif ferent to Lett’s and other white versions of the story, including PIM.
Possibly the most famous part of the story (native version), at least for whites, is that part dealing with the eating of Green’s boots (the man who got the legs thought the boots were also part of Green’s body).
John R. Horne
Lithgow, NSW.
Mr Horne’s letter was referred to Mr Langdon, whose reply reads: I was glad to see that you had found the article of interest and I much appreciate your comments. The photograph of the lakatoi used with the article was not chosen by me, and you may well be right that Mambare people did not use such craft.
My statement that Green had been given little attention in reference books on Papua New Guinea was meant to imply general reference works such as encyclopaedias, bio graphies, and histories, rather than travel books, reminiscences and such like.
In the Encyclopaedia of Papua New Guinea, for example, there is no entry on Green, although he is fleetingly mentioned in a couple of other articles. He is scarcely men tioned in Roger Joyce’s biography of Sir William MacGregor; and he is
not mentioned at all in Gavin Souter’s New Guinea: The Last Unknown.
I was aware that there are references to him in such books as those by Monckton. In fact, 1 obtained some of the details for my article from those sources.
I wonder if the Papuan accounts of his being eaten, boots and all, are not apocryphal—and based on the Fijian story about the Rev Thomas Baker, who is said to have been disposed of in that manner.
I am grateful to you for your references to the article by Stephen Tago, ‘How My grandfathers killed Mr I. Green’. I knew when I wrote my article that there was an essay with that title, but could not lay my hands on it.
R. A. Langdon,
Executive Officer.
The Research School of Pacific Studies, ANU, Canberra,
Polynesian Boards
Who owns the two Polynesian carved boards which were part of the South Pacific Festival of Arts in 1972?
Please contact Isobel Whippy, at the Fiji Museum.
Isobel Whippy,
Museum Education Officer.
Fiji Museum, Box 2023, Suva.
Norfolk Objection
Norfolk Island, approximately 800 miles east of Australia, is one of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific.
It is a territory—a distinct and separate settlement—administered by Australia.
This small island, only 5-miles by 3-miles with a population of about 1,500, is proud of its connection with the Crown and the fact that we have a direct link with Her Majesty through her only representative, the Governor-General of Australia.
The island has adequate finance to live within its own revenue, raised from tourism, philatelic sales and indirect taxation. The island is a customer of Australia to the tune of approximately s2m per annum.
Residents, tourists and visiting politicians are frequently concerned at the encroaching pollution as else where in the world.
As I have said, Australia is charged with administering Norfolk Island
tfior the “peace, order and good government” of Norfolk Island with the advice of the Norfolk Island Council.
Our Governor-General delegates Jthis responsibility to Minister lEnderby.
In pretence of “good government” ifor Norfolk Island, Australia is frying to wish upon us her off-shore quarantine station.
Our council had no mandate from Ithe people to accept this proposal.
Consequently, on November 8, 1972, a compulsory referendum was held and this showed a large majority were against the proposal. Those “for” the proposition failed by 22 per cent.
In spite of this, a parliamentary commission has appeared on the scene to test independently the validity of the arguments. Through our press and public meetings the pros and cons have been amply thrashed out. So far as the majority is concerned, they consider the question settled, and are amazed, to say the least, when Minister Enderby states “it is the view of the Capital Territory that the committee should consider the case for a quarantine station on Norfolk Island on its merits and the committee’s thinking should not be determined by a referendum”.
We are left wondering for whose good government this is intended— Australia or Norfolk Island?
The opinion of the residents has been clearly stated in the most democratic fashion—by referendum.
Australia signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 which states in Article 21, Section 3—“ the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government”.
Again, in the Charter of the United Nations in Article 73 iealing with Territories, Section (a) ‘to ensure . . . their just treatment md their protection against abuses”.
Now a very upset community hears hat Minister Enderby states the iemocratic opinion of the people must >e disregarded.
What sort of “good government” s this?
The majority do not want this jollution nor the loss of Norfolk island’s identity to become known is Australia’s quarantine station.
We are a small community up igainst this powerful outside treat nent and seek those who will take ip our cause as a matter of basic >rinciple. Our hope is that parliament md the Senate will at least recognise he will of the people so clearly ex pressed in our referendum. I believe
it is a legal fact that we still have the right as a territory, to petition Her Majesty and appeal to the Privy Council—but surely this should not be necessary?
W. N. Selby Newbald.
Norfolk Island.
Geic Museum
We are starting a project to establish a museum in the Gilbert Islands, on Tarawa.
I am getting together some interested people here on Tarawa, and we have been promised some support from the government. We propose to preserve items of ancient Gilbertese culture, war relics, natural history etc.
Over the years a great number of interesting items have been collected and taken away from these islands by private collectors and overseas museums. The Colony Museum is appealing to people with these arti facts, war souvenirs, etc to donate or lend them to the museum.
Anyone with any information should contact the museum through me.
P. Mcquarrie.
PO Box 466, Tarawa,
Geic.
Lament From Cooks
The Cook Islands News, Raro tonga’s only newspaper, was about to come to an end late June. The News in no way rivals or resembles The Fiji Times or the Tonga Chronicle; in fact it was probably the worst 12 to 15 page newspaper published in the South Pacific, with very poor printing done on 9 x 12 paper stapled together, with almost no pictures and relatively little local news.
Even though a poor quality paper, it did have some local interest while under its past editor. Although the editor was not a previous newspaper man he strived to get local interest stories, like interviews with new comers on their background and future plans, encouraging locals to contribute news and articles for the paper.
In fact he once gave the churches a fair go to explain each of their religions. But, through a dispute regarding the paper with a high-up
government official he was sacked last March.
Since then the paper has gone from bad to worse in size and quality.
About June 1 it was rumoured that the directors of the CIBNC were concerned with the high cost of printing the paper and were con sidering doing away with it altogether.
However, the paper got a reprieve and was allowed to continue but was reduced to from six to eight pages, mostly made up of advertisements, sports and “classifieds” with very little room left for anything else.
The paper’s staff has tried hard, requesting newer and better equip ment, more and better trained help but to no avail.
It seems that the government is not concerned with the immediate improvement of the paper, at least not this year. So all in all the Cook Island News still remains one of the worst (six to eight page) newspapers in the South Pacific.
Frustrated Reader.
Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Americana Hotels
Our thanks for featuring the Americana Beachcomber on the cover of PIM July. Our thanks for your coverage of developments within the growing Americana chain.
I might note that we are striving to establish the Americana name of Pago Pago as well. The hotel’s name, contrary to what the PIM cover caption says, is Pago Pago Ameri cana. Intercontinental was dropped when we assumed operation of the property. But thanks again for your help.
George J. Ledwith.
Director of Communications, Americana Hotels, Third Avenue, New York.
Bad-Mannered Yachties
I have been a reader of your magazine for some years and being a yachtsman myself I have been interested in the cruising yachts sec tion.
I have recently been elected Com modore of the Manila Yacht Club and we have a problem which I would like to resolve, possibly through your assistance.
A considerable number of visiting yachts pass thru Manila usually on their way from Hong Kong or Taipei, to the US or westward, around the world. Most of these yachts spend only a few days to about two weeks but some find that
they like the place and are in no hurry to move on and spend as much as two to three months here.
Yachtsmen who conduct them selves properly are welcome and have found the Manila Club quite hospitable. Most of the yacht-owners are solvent and have no complaints, pay their bills, and we have no trouble with them but we do get the occasional “dead beat” whose life savings are in his boat; uses the facilities of the club to the utmost, complains about the prices of services (carpenters, mechanics, etc avail able) and on several occasions have left without paying some of their bills.
While the reliable ones can be recognised from the unreliable ones to a certain extent, this is not always so and a uniform programme for visiting yachts is needed. We have tried to establish one and we believe it is reasonable, but in some cases we get complaints.
We would therefore like to get the views of several Pacific yacht clubs, where transient yachts spend a fair amount of time, and their regulations with regard to these transient yachts.
I would appreciate your sending me the addresses of a few of such yacht clubs at the main cities such as Suva, Rabaul, Samoa (Western and U.S.) and Papeete or perhaps in order to save time you could write to them asking them to con tact me. Herewith the services at present being given by the Manila Yacht Club (from the regulations). • Visiting yachtsmen and sailors from abroad who may visit the club and are extended the privilege to use the club and its facilities shall be levied in the following manner: (a) For the first 3 days, visiting yachts shall be extended the facilities of the club free of charge. (b) After 3 days, the following shall be charged visiting yachts: • For use of the club’s facilities— (a) p 60.00 per crew member per month. (b) p 30.00 for each child below 18 years of age. • Mooring facilities After the first 3 days, visiting yachts shall be charged a mooring fee equivalent to p 2.00 per linear foot of the boat, monthly.
While the club has no moorings
for visiting yachts per se there are always yachts which are absent and a mooring assigned to them has always been found for boats up to about 60 ft, although since all moorings are swinging moorings this may not be always possible for boats over 40 ft. If the stay is ex pected to be only a short one, space is found at the yacht club pier if no mooring is available. At the pier the yachts may be moored “Med- Style”, stern to the pier. In both cases the service launches are avail able at any time during the day and up to about 10 pm, by merely blowing your horn for it. This service is quite prompt and we have been complimented on it by many visiting yachts.
For the fees per crew member, the facilities of the club are available including hot showers and free towels.
Telephone facilities are free except for long-distance calls which we have had to discontinue owing to the abuse by certain yachts.
Carpenters and painters are avail able at the club although they are not employed by the club and arrangements should be made and a quotation obtained from the car penter or painter, personally before the work is done.
For other services the office per sonnel are always willing to assist in informing the yachtsman where they may be obtained.
Due to several yachtsmen having left without paying their bills, it is now considered necessary to require a minimum deposit of pi, 000.00 (about SUSI 47), not to be used but which will be refunded when the vessel leaves and all accounts cleared.
All expenses incurred at the club are to be over and above this pi,000.00.
Chitbooks are available for any visiting yachtsman from a club with whom we do not have exchange privileges.
A slipway for vessels up to 60 ft is available.
Electricity is available from limited outlets at the pier. Charge is accord ing to how much is used.
Fresh water is available free and fuel is available, both diesel and gasoline, from pumps.
James H. Baldwin,
Commodore.
The Manila Yacht Club, PO Box 1085, Manila, Philippine. 9 Pacific yacht clubs are invited to write to Commodore Baldwin, who can supply additional informa tion including a table of slipping charges.