Melanesian Way

Yea and nay on Melanesian Way

The Melanesian Way: Total Cosmic Vision of Life. By Bernard Narakobi and Others.

Published by the Institute of Papua New Guinea studies.

Between 1976 and 1978 the Papua New Guinea Post- Courier published a lengthy series of articles by Bernard Narakobi under the general title ‘Melanesian Voice’. The articles were penetrating and provocative, and drew com ments from readers ranging from the adulatory to the abus ive.

The articles, and still more the comments, were of very variable quality and value, but by and large they were well worth gathering together in a permanent form as has been done here.

Was there in the past a distinctive and tolerably uni

form lifestyle which can prop erly be described as ‘the Melanesian Way’? And, if so, can it survive impact with the lifestyle of the Western world?

My answers would be ‘Yes’ to the first question and ‘No’ to the second.

As I understand it, the Melanesian Way was a lifestyle which was communalistic and egalitarian, making its decisions by consensus and achieving its aims by co-operation. It emerged in small communities, in a moneyless, subsistence economy, which lacked crops which could be stored for any but quite short periods.

Affluence by hoarding was im possible the best that could be aimed at was prestige by giving away. The Melanesian Way was egalitarian because it had to be, not because of some inward urge to egalitarianism

deeply implanted in the Melanesian soul. The course of events in Papua New Guinea in the years since independence has made it clear that, given the chance, Melanesians can be just as individualistic, just as selfish and just as grasping as the rest of us no more and no less.

Here, as all over the world, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that there aren’t some aspects of the Melanesian Way which could be incorporated into the Papua New Guinean life-style.

There are notably the use of consultation and consensus to a far greater extent than at pres ent. But even here I notice an increasing tendency for Papua New Guineans in the seats of power to say, ‘Don’t argue, I’m the boss, do as I tell you’.

I knew and admired the Melanesian Way, in a still relatively unpolluted form, be fore Bernard Narakobi was born. It gives me no pleasure to write its epitaph. But sorry Bernard, there’s no way back to

the Garden of Eden.

(Sir)

Percy Chatterton.

(The above review was orig inally broadcast by the Papua New Guinea National Broad casting Commission.)

Maoridom

lias a new

voire

Whaanga. Published by the New Zealand Department of Maori Affairs, Private Bag, Wellington. Subscription SNZS for six issues a year, available from the department.

Overseas subscribers, $7.50.

The New Zealand Department of Maori Affairs has taken a praiseworthy initiative in pub lishing Tu Tangata , a magazine featuring news and views on Maoridom. The editor, Philip Whaanga, says that the maga zine will carry ‘regular features on politics, community happen ings, health, people and arts’, and that ‘Tu Tangata wants to promote discussion especially on contentious issues, but it should be noted that opinions expressed are those of individ

ual contributors and not the Department of Maori Affairs’.

The magazine is produced to the highest professional stan dards and is printed by the New Zealand Government Printer.

The range of articles included in the issue I received would be of interest to a wide range of readers, both Maori and non- Maori. The editor appears to have been allowed to operate even-handedly, as equal cover age has been given to the views of the main Maori political groupings and their attitudes towards Maori political rep resentation.

However, I have an uneasy feeling that perhaps the maga zine is adopting a rather ethno centric attitude. I hope that it will not establish a narrow approach: New Zealand is home to the world’s largest Polynesian population, New

Zealand Maoris, Cook Islanders, Samoans, Niueans, Tokelauans, and others. But the only reference in the issue I read to the existence in New Zealand of the island Polynesians was that Dorice Read, a Rarotongan, is a National Party candidate for the Auckland Central Parlia mentary seat. Interestingly enough, Mrs Read is listed together with National Party Maori candidates.

Tu Tangata needs to be nurtured and given the chance to establish its credentials as a respected vehicle for the ex pression of opinions generated from Maoridom. It is to be hoped that it will continue to reflect all shades of the political spectrum and that it will reveal the strengths of Maoridom to all sections of the New Zealand

populance.

W. G. Coppell.