Pacific Islands Monthly

Vol. XV, No. 8 (17 Mar., 1945)
1945-03-17 · uncorrected OCR from NLA scans

PACIFIC ISLANDS Monthly March 17, 1945 *fTOL. XjV. NO. 8.

Established 1930 [Registered at the G.P.0., Sydney. hr transmission by post as a newspaper ] II-

Pen Picture Of Pitcairn

Many people have Island, home of the descendants of the Bounty people. It has remained for one of the islanders to make a drawing of the island which gives some idea of the character and lay-out of the place. It is quite small.

ROLL OF HONOUR—Section II. [Section I (Killed, Missing, Prisoners) and Section n (Wounded, Decorations, etc.), published in Alternate Months] (We try to assemble here the names of m<en of the United Nations, residents or former residents of the Pacific Territories, whose names appear in casualty lists or who receive decorations. We should be grateful if relations and friends would send us details of such men.) WOUNDED Sgt. Robert ASMUS, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim and evacuated.

Rene AUFANT, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim.

Cpl. Thomas BAMBRIDGE, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion, Wounded at Bir Hacheim and evacuated.

Fit.-Lieut. J. W. BARTLETT, RAAF, formerly of TNG. Wounded in air operations over the Mediterranean on January 23, 1944.

BERBERE (alias ARESKY). of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim.

Henri BERTHELIN, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim.

Pte. V, BLANCO, ALP Infantry, of Thursday Island. Wounded in action, July, 1941.

L/Cpl. J. P. BLENCOWE. AIF infantry, of Rabaul, TNG. Wounded in action, July, 1941.

Jean BRIAL, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim.

Pte. George BUCKNELL, ALP, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Bucknell, of KoroLevu, Fiji. Wounded in action in Malaya, January, 1942.

Pte. Thomas BYERS, ALP Infantry, of Thursday Island. Wounded in action. May, 1941.

Pte. Sekope CAMA, FMF. Reported wounded in action in Solomons, September, 1944.

Raymond CHAUTARD, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Pte. A. J. CORLASS, ALP, formerly of Rabaul.

Wounded in action.

Albert CUBADDA, of the Free French contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Charles DEVEAUX, of Pacific Battalion of Fighting France. Wounded at battle of Blr Hachelm (Libya).

Sgt. EMERY, formerly of Lae, TNG. Wounded in New Guinea in October, 1942.

W/O P. N. ENGLAND, AIF, formerly of Bogia, TNG. Wounded in action January 27, 1944.

Lieut. M. G. EVENSEN, AIF, formerly of Rabaul. Wounded in action.

V. FAIRHALL, 2nd NZEF, formerly of the Treasury Department, Western Samoa. Reported wounded in action, February, 1942.

Trooper Arthur T. PILEWOOD, formerly of Thursday Island. Reported wounded in action.

May, 1943.

Paroa FIU, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hacheim and evacuated.

Cpl. H. N. FORSYTH, formerly of New Guinea.

Reported wounded, June, 1944.

Acting Warrant-Officer V. M. I. GORDON, AIF Infantry, of Wau, TNG. Wounded in action, February, 1942.

Henri GUILBAUD, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Sgt. C. HENDRICK, ATP infantry, of Rabaul, TNG. Wounded in action, July, 1941.

Stanley HIGGS, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Higgs, of W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd., New Guinea. Member of an English Lancers’ regiment, wounded during British evacuation from Dunkirk (France). May, 1940.

Pte. W. HOLMES, of the Fiji Military Forces.

Reported wounded in action, December, 1943.

Alexandre HUYARD, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Pte. P. C. JEUNE, AIF, formerly of Morobe, TNG. Reported wounded, June, 1944 Sgt.-Pilot Andrew KRONPELD, of the NZ Fighter Squadron attached to the RAF. Wounded in knee during operations over France, December, 1941.

Cpl. W. H. LANNEN, AIF artillery, of Rabaul, New Guinea. Wounded in action, June. 1941.

T. W. J. LEGA, AIF, formerly of the Mandated Territory. Reported wounded in action, November, 1944.

Gnr. E. G. LOBAN, AIF artillery, of Thursday Island. Wounded during campaign in Greece.

May, 1941; invalided home after having his left forearm amputated.

Auguste LUTA, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion Wounded at Blr Hachelm and evacuated.

A/Sgt. Alastalr MACLEAN, AIF infantry, of Rabaul, New Guinea. Wounded In action, in Libya, June, 1941.

Sgt. J. D. McCLYMONT, NZEF, son of Capt.

D. McClymont, Harbourmaster of Apia, Western Samoa. Wounded in action, November, 1941.

Lieut. Jack McGRUTHER, NZEF, formerly of Mangaia, Cook Is. Wounded in fighting in Libya.

Lieut. Colin McGRUTHER, NZEF, formerly of Mangaia. Wounded in action in North Africa.

Cpl. R. McKERLIE, AIF, of Yandina, wounded in face by bomb explosion, April, 1941.

T. MANEA, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Blr Hachelm and evacuated.

Jean MERIGNAC, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Henri MEYER, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

S/Sgt. Graham B. MIRFIELD, AIF engineers, of Rabaul. New Guinea. Wounded in action, Pte. Apisai NAIKA, of Fiji Military Forces.

Wounded in action in Solomons.

Pte. Sowani NALICO, PMF. Reported wounded in action in Solomons, September, 1944.

Pte. James O’DWYER, NZEF, formerly of Apia, W. Samoa. Wounded in action in Italy, December, 1943.

Joseph OTHUS, of Pacific Battalion of Fighting Prance. Wounded in battle of Bir Hachelm (Libya).

Lieut. A. G. PEARCE, AIF, formerly of Salamaua, TNG. Wounded in action.

Pte. L. G. (“Mick”) REECE, AIF, of Bulolo, New Guinea. Wounded in action, July, 1941.

Henri RIVIERE, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Pte. H. St. George RYDER, AIF, formerly of Suva, Fiji. Wounded while serving in New Guinea.

Cpl. Luke SAILADA, of Fiji Military Forces.

Wounded in action in Solomons.

A/Cpl. N. K. SAWYER, AIF infantry, of Rabaul, TNG. Wounded in action, July, 1941 July, 1941.

Pte. Frank M. SCHUSTER, NZEF, formerly of W. Samoa. Wounded in action in Tunisia, 1943.

Lieut. Jeffrey SEAGOE, serving with the British forces in the Far East, formerly of Vila, New Hebrides. Reported “wounded in action”, March, 1942.

Fit.-Sgt. B. SPILLER, RAAF, formerly of Papua. Wounded by flak while attacking enemy targets in France on July 28, 1944.

Pte. Lance STAMPER, AIF, formerly schoolmaster at Wau, New Guinea. Wounded in action, August, 1941.

Cpl. Esala TAWAKE, of Fiji Military Forces.

Wounded in action in Solomons.

Lieut.-Col. J. K. B. TAYLOR, of the Fiji Military Forces. Wounded in action in Bougainville, December, 1943.

Cpl. Raphael TEIHO, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hachelm and evacuated.

Cpl. Terli TERIITUA, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hachelm and evacuated.

Lieut. A. THOMPSON, of the Fiji Military Forces. Reported wounded in action, December 1943.

Lieut. P. A. TUCKEY, infantry, formerly of New Guinea. Wounded in action.

Pte. Harold G. TURNER, AIF, of Samaral, Eastern Papua. Wounded in action at Bardla (Libya). January. 1941.

Pte. F. D. TWISS, ALP Infantry, of New Guinea. Wounded in action, August, 1941.

Camille VINCENT, of the Free French Pacific contingent from New Caledonia. Reported a casualty in the Middle East, March, 1942.

Driver Don F. WAUCHOPE, ALP. Formerly employed on his brother’s plantation in New Guinea. Wounded in action, July, 1942.

Lieut. F. R. G. WILSON, ALP, formerly of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Reported wounded in action, February, 1944.

Alex. WINCHESTER, of the Fighting French Pacific Battalion. Wounded at Bir Hachelm.

Pte. K. M. WHITE, AIF, formerly of Bulwa, TNG. Wounded in action.

Sgt.-Pilot W. WRIGHT, of the Australian Spitfire Squadron, attached to the RAF. formerly of New Guinea. Wounded in knee during aerial “dog-fight” over the English Channel March. 1942.

DECORATIONS Sgt. Jione AGARA, Fiji Military Forces, formerly of Tonga. Awarded the American Silver Star for gallantry in action in New Georgia, July, 1943.

Fit.-Lieut. Don AIDNEY, PMF, formerly of Fiji.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in September, 1944.

Squadron-Leader G. U. (“Scotty”) ALLEN, RAAF, who is well-known in New Guinea and Papua, having been co-pilot on the “Faith in Australia”, on the first official air-mail flight to the Territories in 1934. Awarded the Air Force Cross for his work with Catalina flyingooats in Australia and the Pacific.

Major H. T. ALLEN, AIF, formerly of Wau, Morobe District, TNG. Awarded the QBE.

Squadron-Leader C. A. BASKETT, formerly of Bulolo, TNG. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for raids over enemy territory while attached to Hampden bomber squadron in England.

P/O L. W. G. BELL, RAAP, formerly of Kavieng, TNG. Awarded QBE, for outstanding service in the New Guinea area.

Sgt. Semisi BELO, of Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded DCM for services in South-west Pacific area.

Lieut. Charles BLAKE, of ANGAU, formerly of Wau, TNG. Awarded the Military Medal (while serving as a W/O) for bravery and devotion to duty during and after the landing at Arawe, New Britain, January, 1944.

Captain H. M. BOOTH, PMF, Awarded Military Cross for service on Bougainville.

Lieut. M. BOULTON, FMP. Awarded Military Cross for service on Bougainville.

Mrs.. Ruby BOYE, of Vanikoro, Santa Cruz Group. Awarded British Empire Medal for gallant work in the Allied cause during the Japanese occupation of the Solomons.

Victor BRIAL, Fighting French Pacific Battalion, formerly of New Caledonia. Awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Etolle d’Argent.

Captain E. CAKOBAU, FMF. Awarded Military Cross for service on Bougainville.

Major W. P. M. CLEMENTS, of the British Solomon Islands Defence Force. Awarded Military Cross for exceptional devotion to duty in a theatre of war.

Lieut. J. R. COLE, AIF, formerly of New Guinea. Awarded the Military Cross.

Major Mervyn CORNER, FMF, awarded Military Cross for service on Bougainville.

Sgt. Henry C. S. COTTON, of the RNZAP, who was born in Samoa (his father was Secretary of Native Affairs during the NZ military occupation). Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Flight-Lieut. R. N. DALKIN, RAAF, formerly of W. R. Carpenter and Co., Ltd., Salamaua, TNG. Awarded the DPC for bombing raids against the Japanese in Koepang area, DEL FREDERIC DELAVEUVE, formerly of New Caledonia. Awarded Croix de Guerre, while serving with Fighting French volunteers in Egypt. 2/Lieut. Bruce Insham DENT, of Fiji Military Forces (killed in action, March 25, 1944).

Awarded Military Cross for services in Southwest Pacific.

Squadron-Leader R. A. DUNN, RAAP, formerly of Carpenter Airways New Guinea Service.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery while leading his squadron against the Japanese.

Chaplain N. J. EARL, AMP, formerly of Papua. Awarded MBB for bravery shown during early Papuan campaign.

Sgt. R. EMERY, NGVR, formerly of Lae.

Awarded Military Medal for gallantry in New Guinea.

Flight-Lieut. Norman FADER, RAAF, formerly a commercial pilot in New Guinea. Awarded the Air Force Cross for exploits in Bismarck Sea Battle.

Lieut J. FORBES, RNZNR, formerly of Western Pacific. Awarded US Bronze Star for “heroic service while piloting ships entering perilous waters.”

Rifleman H. W. FORRESTER. NGVR, formerly of Bulolo, TNG. Awarded the Military Medal for operations against Japanese in New Guinea.

Major R. O. FREEMAN, FMP. Awarded the Military Cross for devotion to duty while on service in Bougainville.

Cpl. Tevita FUSI, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Sgt. J. H. GILCHRIST, formerly of TNG.

Received Military Medal, April, 1944.

Squadron-Leader C. R. GURNEY. RAAP. formerly of Guinea Airways, Ltd., TNG. Posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross, for bombing raids on Japanese-held ports in New Britain. (Continued on Inside Back Cover) PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

Now Available

Pacific Islands Year Book

Fifth Edition

rIS has become the recognised standard work of reference on the Pacific Territories and Islands; and it is now printed in Sydney, N.S.W., and in New York.

The sth Edition, 384 pages, has been arranged in Six Sections—General and Introductory; Eastern Pacific (Polynesia) ; Central Pacific (Micronesia); Western Pacific (Melanesia); Far Western Pacific (Indonesia); and Non-Tropical Islands.

Every Territory and all the Principal Islands are described in detail—history, geography, natives, administration, industries, trade, etc. There are more than 50 maps.

Price: 15/- per copy, plus 6d. postage.

Copies may be obtained at the majority of Booksellers, and Island Stores, or direct from: Pacific Publications Pty., Ltd., Union House, 247 George St., Sydney.

Pacific Publications (Fiji), Ltd., P.O. Box 281, Suva, Fiji.

The book, named “Pacific Islands Handbook,” is published by The MacMillan Company, New York, for distribution in North and South America, and Hawaii.

Pacific News-Review

Notes And Comment On

The Progress Of The War

FROM FEB. 13 TO MAR. 13 Feb. 13: Marshal Stalin, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill have concluded an eight days’ conference at Yalta, in the Crimea. They discussed means of crushing German resistance, establishing lasting peace, restoring warscarred Europe, solving the problem of uihfying Poland and of repatriating liberated prisoners. It was decided that when Germany is forced into unconditional surrender, Britain, Russia, America and France (if she wishes) will occupy the Reich in separate zones, under a joint military commission in Berlin.

Feb. 15: The most modem area of Manila is still held by the Japs and by the time they are driven out little of this section will remain intact.

Feb. 15: Russians under Koniev are only 53 miles from Dresden, but the German High Command is in the position that if it removes troops from the northern area Zhukov will be more able to launch frontal attack on Berlin, 40 miles away. Koniev’s forces have advanced 68 miles in the last four days.

Koniev has been assisted by waves of heavy American bombers.

Feb. 16: For nine hours, to-day, more than 1,200 US aircraft based on carriers attacked aerodromes and military targets in Tokio and Yokohama.

Feb. 16: Russians, under Koniev and Zhukov, have linked and are attacking the stubbornly-held line sheltering the German capital. Civilians of Berlin have been told that further evacuation is impossible; they have been issued with Army rations and told that they must help defend the city.

Feb. 18: US paratroops and seaborne forces landed on Corregidor, island fortress in Manila Bay on February 16 —24 hours after other US forces had captured Bataan Peninsula on the western side of the bay. This opens Manila Bay to Allied shipping. Tokio announced that the US air and sea forces which blasted Tokio and Yokohama on February 16 and 17, have moved southwards.

Feb. 19: US Marines this morning stormed ashore on Iwo Jima, in the Volcano Islands, 750 miles south of Tokio.

They secured a -miles bridgehead and are pushing inland.

Feb. 20: Heavy fighting on Iwo Jima.

The Americans captured one of the island’s two airfields, but with mounting casualties. This is regarded by some correspondents as the Marines’ toughest assignment. The Japs have tunnelled into extinct volcanoes in some sections — it is described as the world’s most fortified island.

Feb. 20: On the Western Front three Allied armies are now thrusting into Germany. British, Canadian and American forces are now on the move, on a front of 200 miles, from the Dutch border to the Saar.

Feb. 23: Although there are about 40,000 US Marines on Iwo Jima, in comparison with 20,000 Japanese, .the going is still hard, against fanatical resistance from prepared pill-boxes and defence positions.

The Marines now hold half of the island.

Feb. 25: The US Ninth and First Armies have burst into the Cologne Plain and are now within 13 miles of Cologne. They have smashed the Roer River defences— last enemy strongpoint of defence before the Rhine—and captured Duren. North of the Americans, British and Canadian troops have resumed their attack between the Maas and the Rhine; and in the south the US Third Army, on the Saar, now holds a front of 65 miles well inside Germany.

Feb. 25: Two hundred Super-Fortresses, based on the Marianas, plus carrier-based planes, attacked Tokio to-day.

Feb. 28: Correspondents at Montgomery’s headquarters state that a great German collapse is possible and that the Rhine defences are disintegrating.

Mar. 2: American troops have landed on Palawan Island, most westerly of the Philippines. It is south-west from Luzon and stretches to within 100 miles of British North Borneo.

Mar. 4: The Canadians from the Maas section of the Western Front have linked with the US Ninth Army. The US Rhine front now extends from 40 miles from Cologne to Hamburg, and American columns are now fighting in the streets of Cologne.

Mar. 5: On the Eastern Front, Russian armies are attacking vigorously to eliminate the German forces in Pomerania and the Danzig areas. Some are now at Kolberg (on the Baltic) and others are 22 miles from Stettin.

Mar. 6: Australian patrols in the Aitape sector of New Guinea have penetrated as far inland as the village of Balif, where an aerodrome for the evacuation by air of wounded has been constructed. This saves seven days’ march over the rugged Torricelli Mountains, Mar. 7: General Patton’s Third Army made a sensational tank break-through on the Western Front at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine. Further north, Cologne has fallen, and, on the Ruhr sector, Allied troops are approaching the Rhine; their first attempt at bridging the river is awaited.

Mar. 8: Patton, in a spectacular dash, reached the Rhine north of Coblenz. This threatens to trap about five German divisions west of the Rhine. Allied armies, except in this and the smaller pocket around Wesel, are on the west bank of the Rhine, from Arnhem to Coblenz.

Mar. 8: In Burma, British troops have entered Mandalay, after fierce fighting in the city area. At the same time, Chinese troops captured Lashio, important communications centre on the Burma Road.

Mar. 8: Australian forces to-day landed on the small island of Saposa, off northwest Bougainville.

Mar. 9: On March 7 American forces crossed the Rhine by the Remagen Bridge, which the Germans failed to destroy, and have established a bridgehead on the east bank of the river.

Mar. 11: Twenty-three thousand Germans are caught in the pocket between the American First and Third Armies.

Men and equipment are streaming across the Remagen Bridge, and the American bridgehead on the opposite bank is being enlarged. The Germans have tried unsuccessfully to shell and bomb the bridge.

Both German and Allied observers still think that the great offensive across the Rhine will come from the British and Canadian forces lower down, on the border of Holland.

Mar. 11: Japanese have disarmed all French troops and police in Indo-China, and the French Settlement in Shanghai, and have taken over the administration of the two territories. Tokio accuses the French of assisting the Allies, and of “non-co-operation with Japan.”

Mar. 11: Three hundred Super-Fortresses raided Tokio on March 9, and 15 square miles of the city were destroyed by fires.

Mar. 12: Russian troops on the Eastern Front are now storming !nto Danzig, German stronghold on the Baltic coast.

The whole of Pomerania has thus become cleared or a mopping-up area. North of Berlin, advancing Red troops can see the spires of Stettin, port for the capital.

While the Russians are advancing everywhere on the north and central fronts, however, the Germans are counterattacking heavily in Hungary. One view is that the Nazi leaders are preparing for a final stand in the central European mountains.

Mar. 13: Kustrin, German fortress town, has fallen to Marshal Zhukov.

Kustrin is 35 miles from Berlin in a direct line.

Sir Charles Marr, who has had many personal associations with Papua and New Guinea, in both an official and business capacity, is again seriously ill at his home in Sydney, He suffered a severe illness a couple of years ago, but made a good recovery, and recently appeared to be in very good health.

Dr. H. W. Jack, Director of Agriculture in Fiji before he retired last year, is now at home’ in Dublin. He complains about the cold winds but states that there is plenty of clothing and food in Ireland.

He has volunteered for war work in England. as there is no war work to do in Ireland. 1 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

Useful Addresses

The following are the addresses of organisations set up to deal with Pacific Territories affairs:— PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, NAURU, NORFOLK IS.

Department of External Territories (Sydney Branch) (Lately the New Guinea Trade Agency), Australia House, Carrington Street, Sydney.

Telephone: BW 1776. (Dealing with all matters connected with the Australian Pacific Territories and also the Sydney representative of the New Guinea Copra Control Committee.)

Fiji, And High Commission

For Western Pacific

Sydney Office of Fiji and Associated Administrations. (In charge of Mr. B. F. Blackwell.) 73 Pitt Street, Sydney.

Telephone: BW 7724.

British Solomon Islands

Sydney Office of British Solomon Islands Government (In charge of Mr. F. E. Johnson, Treasurer of the Solomons Administration), 17 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

Telephone: B 1710.

For Pacific Territories

Evacuees Generally

Pacific Territories Association (C. A. M. Adelskold, Secretary), c/o Robert Gillespie Pty., Ltd., 54a Pitt Street, Sydney. Telephone: BW 4782.

War Damage Commission

Sydney Office: M.L.C. Buidling, Cnr. Martin Place and Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

Telephone: BW 2361.

For Claims Against Army

Mr. H. Alderman, Darwin-Moresby Claims Section, Chief Finance Office (Army), Victoria Barracks, Melbourne. e**: i STAV^ . o^ er ' « r ovi^ S . fif * i ?acW c . n (t\aS n ” . A j . sV w*» 4 10 bo or. ** . a*W** fn> , ser .-ce nS . . cenw e °' ' attend *• -:S“ t,r»'n e “ c » b ' e ’ f d»Yol' pe cesevv^' Contents Pacific News-Review 1 Editorial: ’Frisco Conference Will Bring Changes in the Pacific .... 3 Civil Government in Papua and New Guinea—But No Early Return of Civilians or Trading 5 PTA to Amend Constitution—Proposals to be Submitted to Meeting 7 Decorations for Merchant Navy Men 8 Dr. McGusty Leaves Fiji 8 39 Boys on a Band Picnic 9 Presentation of VC to Parents of Fijian Hero 9 Tropicalities .) 10 Captain Johanson Decorated .. .. 11 Future of Pacific Mandates 12 Results of the New Caledonian Election 14 New Guinea Air Mail Will be Run by Qantas 15 Wholesale Theft of Pacific Islands Year Book in United States .... 16 Fiji Merchants Lose Their Booking Fee 17 Indenture Controversy Causes Territorian Bitterness 18 By-passed Phosphate Islands—Produce of Nauru and Ocean Is. Now Wanted in South 21 Island Potters and Their Wares .. 24 Value of Palms and Driers—Headaches for War Damage Commission 25 Patrol—Major Trench of BSI Gathers Information 26 Formosa—Stepping-Stone to Tokio .. 30 On April 25—Most Important Meeting in World History 22 Mokogai 36 Ersatz Curios—Flourishing Trade in Polynesia 40 N. Caledonian Nickel for Europe .. 43 Split in Guinea Airways 45 Commercial and Markets 48 Honour Roll cov. ii. and iii.

ADVERTISERS Aladdin Industries Pty.. Ltd 29 Atkins Pty., Ltd., Wm 30 Australian Aluminium Co. Pty., Ltd 37 Behari Brij .... 47 Berger’s Paints . . 15 Brial, E. J., 16, 33, 42, 45 Broomfield, Ltd. . . 31 Brown & Co., Ltd. 11 Brunton’s Flour . . 44 Burns, Philp Trust Co., Ltd 13 BP (SS) Co. ... 11 Carlton & United Breweries, Ltd. . 21 Carpenter, Ltd., W.

R cov. iv.

Casino Hotel, Apia 19 Chivers & Sons, Ltd 40 Coleman Lamp & Stove Co. . 19, 39' Colonial Wholesale 26 “Cystex” 33 Darvas & Co. ... 37 David Trading Co. . 14 Donaghy & Sons . 31 Donald, Ltd., A. 8., 35 Dr. Williams Pink Pills 44 Electrolux Refrigerators . . 20 Excelsior Supply Co. 42 Farnham, Johmn R. 31 “Flit” 47 Ford Sherington Pty., Ltd. ... 28 Garrett & Davidson 23 Gibson & Co., Ltd., J. A. D 46 Gillespie Pty., Ltd., Robert .... 45 Gilbey’s Gin ... 35 Gillespie’s Flour . , 24 Gough & Co., E. J. 33 Grand Pacific Hotel 2 Grove & Sons, W.

H 12 Griffiths Nurseries, Ltd 44 Heinz & Co. Pty., Ltd., H. J. . . . 25 Horlick’s Malted Milk 23 Kopsen & Co., Ltd. 32 Masschelein, O. F. v 41 “Mendaco” .... 28 Nelson & Robertson Pty., Ltd 18 “Nixoderm” .... 36 Pacific Is. Society . 30 Pacific Islands Trading Co. . 44, 47 Pacific Territories Association ... 7 Pacific Publications, Ltd i Papuan Association, The 43 “Pinkettes” ... 46 Queensland -Insurance Co. ... 14 Ransome, Sims & Jefferies .... 43 Riverstone Meat Co., Ltd. .... 17 Robinson, C. H. . . 16 Rose’s Eye Lotion . 47 Rohu, Sil . . . . 40 Scott, Ltd., J. ... 40 Steamships Trading Co., Ltd 27 Sullivan & Co., C. . 34 Swallow & Ariel . 22 Taylor & Co., A. . 44 “Tenax” Soap ... 12 Tillock & Co., Ltd. 24 Union Assurance Co. 39 Watson, Wm. H. . 31 Wright & Co., Ltd., E 36 Wunderlich, Ltd. . 43 Yorkshire Insurance Co., Ltd 11 Young Pty., Ltd., Harry, J. . . .38 2 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

Pacific Islands Monthly The Newspaper-Magazine of the South Seas [Registered at the G.P.0., Sydney, for transmission by post as a newspaper .] Published Once Each Month and Circulated in Australia and New Zealand and in the following Pacific Territories and* Islands Groups: Australian Territory of Papua.

Mandated Territory (Australia) of New Guinea.

Australian Territory of Norfolk Island.

New Zealand Territory of Cook Islands.

Mandated Territory (NZ) of Western Samoa.

British Colony of Fiji.

British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

British Protectorate of Tongan Islands.

British Crown Colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Mandated Territory of Nauru.

British and Free French Condominium of New Hebrides.

Free French Colony of New Caledonia.

Free French ColiJny of Oceania (Tahiti, etc.).

American Territory of Eastern Samoa.

American Territory of Hawaiian Islands.

Owned and Produced by Pacific Publications Pty. Ltd., Union House, 247 George Street, Sydney. ( Managing Director .. BW 5037 i Business and Editorial MA 4369 P.O. BOX 3408 R Registered Address of Telegrams, Radiograms, and Cables: “Pacpub”, Sydney.

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Articles, Stories, and Photographs dealing with Pacific Islands subjects are invited and will be paid for on publication.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.

Per Annum, within British Empire, Prepaid, Post Free 10/- Per Annum, elsewhere, Prepaid, Post Free 12/6 Single Copies 1/- Editor and Publisher: R. W. ROBSON, F.R.G.S.

Advertising Manager: L. W. Bailey.

Advertising Office and Printing-House: 29 Alberta Street, Sydney.

Advertising rates furnished on application.

REPRESENTATIVE IN FIJI.

Pacific Publications (Fiji), Ltd., Bank of NSW Building, Suva (same office as W. H. Grove & Sons, Ltd.). Stocks of Pacific Islands Monthly and Pacific Islands Yearbook on hand.

REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON.

J. T. Wallis, Coronation House, 4 Lloyds Avenue, London, E.C.3, from whom may be obtained copies of Pacific Islands Monthly, Pacific Is. Year Book, advertising schedules, etc.

AGENTS The following are authorised to receive subscriptions for Pacific Islands Monthly:— Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd., and Burns Phllp (South Sea) Co., Ltd. All branches.

W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd. All branches.

Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd. All branches.

Steamships Trading Co., Papua. All branches.

Whitten Bros., Ltd., Samarai, Papua.

B.N.G. Trading Co., Ltd., Port Moresby, Papua.

J. Muir, Suva, Fiji.

Miss R. Castles, Suva, Fiji.

N. C. Mackenzie Hunt, Wainunu, Bua, Fiji.

Cook Islands Trading Co., Rarotonga, Cook la.

A. C. Rowland, Papeete, Tahiti.

Islands Branches and Representatives of W. H.

Grove & Sons, Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand.

Ed. Pentecost, Noumea, New Caledonia.

Societe Gubbay Kerr et Cie, Noumea, N. Caledonia.

Vol. XV. NO. 8.

March 17, 1945 Priro i X/ - Per Copy- ' rice 10/- p.a.

'Frisco Conference Will Bring Changes in Pacific HERE, many times, since 1939—and especially since Pearl Harbour— the opinion has been expressed that the end of World War II will see considerable changes in administration in the Pacific Territories generally, and perhaps some changes in national controls.

If we were to lose the war, these things would be inevitable, on a sweeping scale. If we win the war, it is reasonable to suppose that two things will follow—the victorious nations will create a new international organisation for the maintenance of world peace, and the old League of Nations, which failed so lamentably in its primary purpose between 1921 and 1939, will be swept away. With the League of Nations, of course, will go the Mandates system; and that will directly affect the future of four Territories—New Guinea; Western Samoa; Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands; and Nauru.

Now please turn to page 12 and 32.

It will seen from the news articles there that a conference of the United Nations will meet in San Francisco on April 25 to set up a world organisation for the maintenance of peace, and that that organisation eventually will dispose of the Territories now held under League of Nations Mandates by various nations. rERE will be no early decisions.

The League of Nations still is in being, and it will not be liquidated until the new world organisation of the United Nations is formed and ready to function and to take over the considerable properties and responsibilities of the League. The latter include the Mandates. It is to be presumed that the Mandatories will formally return the Mandates to the League, which in turn will hand them over to the new world organisation, which will dispose of them as it thinks proper.

There are 14 Mandates. They all are held by members of the United Nations group, with the exception that the Carolines, etc., Territory was held by Japan. It may be supposed, therefore, that generally the Mandated Territories will remain close to their present political allegiances, except that the Carolines, etc., will not be restored to Japan.

But this is only supposition. The dominating voices in the future world authority will be those of Britain, United States and Russia; and it is likely that the two latter, in disposing of the present Mandated Territories, will ignore all considerations other than the welfare of the native inhabitants. That is going to raise some prickly problems in places— especially in the Near East, where Arab national aspirations in Syria and Transjordania, for instance, will be found in sharp conflict with the wishes of the present Mandatories.

Here, however, we are concerned only with the future of the present Pacific Mandates; and it is interesting to consider tlje probabilities, in the light of well-known and frequently* expressed views of the Powers that will dominate the new world organisation.

IT is unlikely that the future of) each Mandated Territory will be considered individually. It is almost certain that those Territories will be studied as part of a general picture, embracing the whole of the wide Pacific, and including, not only the dozen or more separate Territories south of the Equator, taut also the five large Territories (Netherlands Indies, Borneo, Philippines, Carolines, etc., and Hawaii) north of the Equator. There are certain Territories where neither political allegiance nor administration is likely tobe disturbed —such as Fiji, Hawaii, Netherlands Indies, New Caledonia.

But there are other groups where the present Governmental set-up may have to be altered, to conform to future international needs.

Those international considerations, plus the necessity for disposing of the Mandated Territories, will make certain changes necessary; and so the new world authority probably will decide to make a study of the present condition and probable future of every Pacific Territory.

What we call international needs, of course, relates to the obligation to be placed on the nations generally— and upon the United States in particular —to police the Pacific in the interests of world peace. For this purpose, either particular nations, or the new international authority, will require naval bases and airfields in various parts of the Pacific. Leading Americans have been quite frank

about it—the United States expects to get bases in or near French Oceania, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Bismarck Archipelago.

But their statements were made a considerable time ago. Their very proper demands may now be met by the creation of the international authority, which will make the policing of the Pacific an international rather than a national responsibility.

SOME countries — Australia notably was one—expressed alarm at the prospect of the United States settling down in powerful bases close to their shores. These myopic people should take another look at the map of the Pacific (especially the north-western corner of it) and then perhaps they will thank their national gods for any development that will bring the Americans beside them as near and friendly neighbours.

Japan will be defeated. But Japan is an extremely fecund nation of 90,000,000 people, and we may not count upon their extermination— much as we may favour it! Apart from Japs, nearly one-half the human race lives in overcrowded south-east Asia—people who to-day are busily learning all the scientific and industrial arts of the Western nations. What chance is there of European communities surviving in the Pacific, unless the Pacific is constantly and strongly policed!

These things are apparent to the statesmen who are organising the new world authority; and these considerations transcend all the piffling little political and commercial motives by which we may seek to influence the future of the Pacific Territories.

If the United States, or Britain, or Russia, or the new international authority, wants any Pacific island or group so as to ensure the future protection of the Pacific, by all means let that*island be surrendered. Better to lose one, than lose the lot!

A USTRALIA will wish to keep New ** Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Her claim is so strong that it cannot really be challenged. The inhabitants are quite incapable of self-government; they should be placed in the care of a sympathetic, democratic nation like Australia. But if the protecting authority needs a base or two in that region for future police purposes—part of New Britain has been suggested—it would be stupid and short-sighted of the Australians to offer any objection.

Western Samoa is in an entirely different category. Samoa has no political tie with New Zealand. NZ commercial interests there are negligible. Unlike New Guinea in relation to Australia, Samoa provides NZ with no protective barrier. The Samoans —one of the best branches of the Polynesian race—are quite capable of a large measure of self-government— u Ji a Y e been trai ned and encouraged by NZ to expect a share in their own administration.

The same Considerations apply e (T^L m , the T c . ase of Eastern Samoa (American). It now is the hope of all friends of the Samoans that New Zealand and United States will abandon their present holds so that Eastern and Western Samoa may be united as one country, under the protection of the international authority.

NAURU, again, is in another category. This little island has no territorial value, but is of enormous economic importance, because of its mass of phosphatic rock. Nauru phosphate helps to maintain agriculture in Australia and New Zealand.

Nearby, Ocean Island (part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony) is in exactly the same category.

Now that the Nauru Mandate held by Britain, Australia, and NZ goes back into the melting-pot, why should not Nauru and Ocean Island, whose interests are exactly identical, be placed together in one administration?

Ocean Island, with its rich revenues, carries the very poor colony of Gilbert and Ellice—it pays for the government of those picturesque but unproductive atolls. Nauru could be placed with Ocean Island in the Gilbert and Ellice Colony and, while supplying the South Pacific Dominions with phosphate, could take some part of the G. & E. financial load off the British Colonial Office.

THE future of the Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands is completely obscure. Almost certainly, they will pass into the care of the United States, the Power which has taken them from Japan.

The archipelagoes have little economic value, and they are so widely scattered along the equatorial belt that they are an administrative headache. Perhaps the Americans can divide them into a series of groups, some of which could be used, under the care of the international authority, as naval bases, and as bases for both protective and commercial aircraft.

SO much for the Mandates. There are other Territories which call for attention in any post-war revision. What is to be done with the New Hebrides, for instance?

It is time the cumbersome, costly and ridiculous Condominium Government was swept away. But, after that, what? Australia may put in a claim. But Australia’s only reason for controlling the group—namely, so that it may be part of Australia’s protective arc—will be removed when the international authority accepts responsibility for policing the Pacific.

Although Australia had ample opportunities to colonise islands of the New Hebrides, Australia did nothing. In any event, Australian politicians would “murder” the New Hebrides.

Two-thirds of whatever colonisation was done there—little enough, in all conscience—was done by the French: the British record is very poor. But the French record still is not good enough to justify a claim by France for complete possession of the group.

The same considerations apply to the British Solomons—that Cinderella of the British Colonial Office in the Pacific. The constitute, in land area, one of the biggest—and best—territories in the South Pacific; yet they are the least developed.

If it once becomes clear that one of the staple products of either the New Hebrides or the Solomons can be assured of a steady market, the possibilities of European colonisation in the two groups are immense—and without in any way prejudicing the interests of the limited number of Melanesians in each.

Regional Council idea—provided A for in the Dumbarton Oaks plan now on its way to San Francisco, and strongly favoured by the representatives of Australia and New Zealand —may supply the solution to many of the problems which we now see in the future of these Pacific Territories— including the disposition of both the Solomons and the New Hebrides.

In the Pacific, as in many other parts of the world, there is a problem created by the existence of small communities of people, occupying small areas. They are entitled to life, liberty and happiness, the same as anyone else; but, because they are small and defenceless, they are always dragged in under the flag of a powerful neighbour. A South Pacific Regional Council, responsible to the world authority about to be created, could not only take care of such small communities, but also could act as an authority for the co-ordination of administrative conditions.

It is possible to imagine, here in the South Pacific, Britain providing the Government of Fiji; Australia, New Guinea and Papua; France, New Caledonia and French Oceania; New Zealand, Cook Islands—but all those nations being responsible to the Regional Council for all matters affecting the natives, and the Council seeing to it that the various administrations, in governing the natives, run on parallel lines.

The same Regional Council might decide upon whom to place responsibility for the government of such places as the Solomons and the New Hebrides; and it would, presumably, encourage the largest practicable amount of self-government in the Polynesian countries of Samoa and Tonga. It probably would study the problems created by the rapid growth of introduced Asiatic populations in these Pacific Islands—e.g., Indians in Fiji, Japanese in Hawaii, Chinese in Tahiti.

It is clear that, if the new world authority is to function as now planned, there will be far-reaching changes in the Pacific Territories as soon as the war is over.

Word has been received from Mr. Des- , mond Carew, formerly Magistrate in the Fiji Service, who was taken prisoner when the Japs over-ran Malaya. He stated that he had recently been operated on for appendicitis but was now recovered and feeling better than he ever had in his life. His sister, Miss Maureen Carew, who was nursing in Hong Kong when the island fell, is still a prisoner of war, but continues her work in' the prisoners’ hospital. 4 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

Civil Government In Papua And

New Guinea

Restoration by “Provisional" Device —No Early Return of Civilians or Trading AFTER being fobbed off for months with Ministerial promises of an early restoration of civil government —which, they assumed, meant their early return to their homes—Territorians last week were presented with a statement which few can understand.

It means, apparently, that although civil government will be restored in name, the present conditions—so far as they affect civilians and trading—will continue indefinitely.

The following statement was made in the House of Representatives, Canberra, on March 9, by the Minister for External Territories {Mr. Ward) : « A DECISION has been taken by the A Commonwealth Government, after consultation with the Commanderin-Chief (Sir Thomas Blarney), that the operational position in relation to the Territory of Papua and certain parts of the Territory of New Guinea is such that steps may now be taken for the restoration of civil administration in the whole of the Territory of Papua and in that portion of the Territory of New Guinea that lies south of the Markham River.

“Full military control of this area, under authority of National Security (Emergency Control) Regulations, will, therefore, be terminated as soon as it is practicable to re-organise the civil administrative service.

“Other portions of the Territory of New Guinea that have been recovered from the Japanese will continue to be under the full administrative control of the military authorities until such time as the operational position permits the transfer of control of those areas to civil administration.

“WHEN the Japanese invaded New TT Guinea in January, 1942, there were separate administrations for Papua and New Guinea, each with an Administrator and a separate judiciary and a separate Public Service.

“All persons employed by both Administrations were suspended from office by National Security (External Territories) Regulations and such functions of civil administration as were necessary to be performed have since been carried out by ANGAU (the Australian New Guinea Administration Unit), which is a branch, of the Australian Military Forces. The Unit commenced operations in Papua and progressively extended its activities to the Territory of New Guinea. For convenience, the two Territories have been regarded as one administrative area.

“Although the Government does not propose at this stage to consider the question of a combined Public Service for the two Territories, it considers that it would not be desirable immediately to re-establish the two entirely separate services. It has, therefore, been decided to continue the suspension of the officers of the two services and make temporary arrangements for the performance of functions of civil administration in the Territory of Papua and the portion of the Territory of New Guinea south of the Markham River which will include Salamaua, Wau and the Bulolo River valley. These arrangements will provide for— “ 1. The Appointment of one Administrator for Papua and liberated areas under Australian administration in New Guinea. The appointment will carry a salary at the rate of £2,000 per annum with free quarters and an allowance for entertainment. administration to £ e ttyled ‘The tive Service for Papua and Liberated Areas under Australian Administration in New Guinea,’ to be set up to administer both Territories Reports which circulated in Sydney on March 12: Major-General Morris is moving from ANGAU, New Guinea, to another important command.

Major-General Bertie Lloyd will go from command of an Australian Army to command of ANGAU.

Brigadier Cleland, head of New Guinea Production Board, has returned to West Australia, and reentered civil life there.

Said a military spokesman to the editor of “PIM”; “General Morris is at the head of ANGAU, and presumably will stay there until the new Civil Administrator has arrived.

General Lloyd knows nothing whatever about the matter referred to.

Brigadier Cleland has returned to civil life.”

“3. The suspension of all officers and employees of the Public Services of Papua and New Guinea to be continued, but such officers and employees will be entitled to appointment in the Provisional Administrative Service under conditions of service and salaries not less favourable than those applicable to those officers as members of the Public Services of Papua or New Guinea as the case may be. The rights of such officers ■ under the terms of their appointment will be preserved to them and such rights will be safeguarded during the period of the Provisional Administration.

What It Really Means

rRRITORIANS, being people accustomed to plain speaking, have found this Ministerial statement somewhat baffling; and, during the past week, they have anxiously sought enlightenment.

This is what it means: A civil administration, taking its orders presumably from the Department of External Territories, may be established some time in 1945, when the Department of the Army, the Department of External Territories, ANGAU-, and the Production Control Board can reconcile their machinery and iron out their various differences.

This will not be a Papuan Government, nor a New Guinea Government; but will be a “provisional” administration, “4. During the period of the Provisional Administration, the Legislative Councils which formerly operated for the Territories will not be re-established and the powers of legislation in relation to the Territories will be exercised by the Governor-General.

“5. The laws of Papua and New Guinea (except those relating to the constitution of the administration of the Territories and to the Public Services of the Territories) will be continued within their respective territorial limits, subject to such modifications and amendments as are necessary.

“In view of the temporary nature of the arrangements outlined, action will not be taken to amend the Papua Act or the New Guinea Act, but all necessary legislative action will be taken under the National Security Act.

“Steps will now be taken to select an appointee for the office of Provisional Administrator and to determine the details of the conditions under which officers will be employed in the provisional service.

“ A LTHOUGH the operational needs of A the Territories are now such *as to permit the restoration of civil administration, it will be some time before normal conditions can be re-established, especially in relation to the supply of stores and the provision of transport between Australia and the Territories and within the Territories.

“No indication can yet be given as to when the transfer of control from the military authorities will be effected; and it will be necessary for some time to maintain restrictions upon the entry of persons to the Territories and upon activities generally; “It is proposed that certain items of Government policy, affecting both Europeans and natives, should be determined and announced before there is a general return of civilians to the Territories.

“Furthermore, much reconstruction and rebuilding of public and private utilities and living accommodation will be necessary, especially in the Territory of New Guinea, before any large number of civilians can be accommodated in the town areas.

“So far as possible, authority will be given for the return of persons to plantations, but such persons will, for the present, be subject to the control of the Australian New Guinea Production Control Board under National Security (External Territories—Control of Industries) Regulations.

“The number of vacancies that will require to be filled in the Provisional Administrative Service will not be known until it is ascertained what officers of the Public Services of Papua and New Guinea are available and desire appointment to the Provisional Service.” set up temporarily, to take charge of Papua and whatever parts of New Guinea are clear of the Japs. It will remain in being until (a) the Papua Act and other Australian legislation creating the Territory of Papua is got rid of; (b) the Mandate from the League of Nations, giving Australia authority to administer New Guinea, is withdrawn; (c) the new world authority, to be set up as a result of the San Francisco Conference, has reached a decision regarding the future of New Guinea. This may easily embrace a period of some years.

The constitutional and legal position is exceedingly obscure. Therefore, the new “provisional” administration is being set up under National Security Regulations. 5 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

Therefore, presumably, it cannot continue after the legal ending of the Pacific war, without special legislation.

The first step will be the appointment of an Administrator. There is not the faintest indication of who this may be.

He, nominally—but Canberra, actually— will select the members of his administrative staff; and it is noted that all members of the “suspended” services of Papua and New* Guinea are “entitled” to appointment to this new service, with their seniority rights preserved.

The Administrator will carry on without any Legislative Council. In other words, any European civilians allowed into the Territories will have no voice in the new Government.

There is to be no dropping of the barriers, and no free general return to the Territories of civilians and of private enterprise, as Territorians had so eagerly hoped. Instead, the present method of permitting a few carefully selected men to return, to operate their plantations under the Production Control Board system, apparently is to continue indefinitely.

THIS “Provisional” Administration really is a very ingenious device, in which one probably sees the hand of Dr.

Evatt. It gets a lot of people out of a lot of difficulties.

No one apparently wanted to restore the old Administrations—ANGAU, because of the wide differences between the Papuan and New Guinea public service, and Mr. Ward because those two set-ups would not give him much opportunity to “control” the return of civilians, and the development of trade and industry.

With one sweep of the pen, all the things likely to irritate the Army and baffle Mr. Ward are got rid of—old administrative officers, with strange, fixed ideas about the freedom of individuals and the proper protection of native rights; Legislative Councils, who might want to give too much attention to civilian interests, and the encouragement of industries carried on for profit, and who might even argue points with HM Ministers in Canberra; and the system of open trading.

The Territorians are not to be allowed to return, for some time; the stores will not re-open; and all industry apparently will be conducted under the immediate supervision of. the Production Control Board—already in existence under control of the Dept, of External Territories Territorians can be pardoned if they see Mr. Ward’s “restoration of civil government” merely as a change from flatfooted, bureaucratic control under ANGAU to the same kind of control under his Department. Instead of the Government being moved from one structure to another, the Government remains under the same structure, and the only thing changed is the name of the structure.

It is a little too soon to cavil and criticise however. Canberra evidently has made a decision, and Canberra will not be moved by howling and disappointment. We can only wait— pessimistically and see how the new idea works out On present appearances, it looks bad for Europeans, and not good for natives.

Mr. Leonard Murray

MANY people are asking where Mr Leonard Murray (Civil Administrator of Papua) stands in all this.

His position is obscure.

It may be that it is proposed to appoint him head of the new Provisional Administration. If so, the Minister might at least have paid him—and many others —the courtesy of saying so.

During the past three months, Mr Murray has been virtually the defendant in an inquiry conducted by a Melbourne barrister, Mr. Barry, KC, in terms of a Royal Commission, into the circumstances surrounding the suspension of civil government by the Army in February, 1942.

The inquiry was held in secret, and surrounded by official hush-hush. But it is believed that it was instigated by Army Brass-hats hostile to Mr. Murray.

It was not expected that the Minister’s statement regarding the restoration of civil administration to the Territories would be made until he had received the Barry report. Mr. Barry had to report on these things: (1) All the circumstances relating to the suspension of the Civil Administration of the Territory of Papua in February, IS'42. (2) Without restricting the generality of 1, the following particular matters: (a) Whether the Administrator and/or any members of the Legislative Council and/or any members of the Executive Council of Papua failed in their public duty to safeguard the Territory; (b) Whether any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Military Commandant of the Bth Military District prior to noon on 14th February, 1942, contributed to any failure on the part of the Civil Administration of the Territory; (c) Whether there was adequate cooperation between the Civil Administration and the military authorities in the Territory and, if not, who was responsible for the absence of such co-operation: and (d) All other matters deemed relevant to the above.

There is no official indication that the Minister has yet received that report, or of the Government’s intentions regarding the man who still is, officially (though under suspension since February 12, 1942), Administrator of Papua.

It is reported in Sydney, however, that the Barry report “completely exonerates”

Mr. Murray—that, in fact, “he comes out of it all with considerable distinction.”

Information Wanted About

Lincoln J. Bell

ANYONE who was with Lincoln J. Bell at the time of or after his escape from Rabaul, in 1942, is asked to communicate with his wife, Mrs. J. Bell, Oatlands Hotel, Oatlands, Tasmania. This matter is urgent and is required to enable a claim to be made for pay, etc in respect of service with the armed forces from February to July, 1942, when Mr Bell was mustered and commissioned bv the Navy. [Ed. Note: Lincoln Bell, who was well known in New Guinea before the war, is at present “missing.” Subsequent to his escape he did several jobs while attached to the Navy and later was with a patrol from the Markham to; the Rai Coast. No word has been heard of him since, although it is believed that he was killed by hostile natives. An inquiry is believed to have been held on.the matter but no official findings have been so far announced.] Mr. R. H. Garvey, for many years a prominent administrative officer in Fiji and the British territories in the Central Pacific, arrived at St. Vincent late in 1944 to take up his new duties as Administrator of St. Vincent, Windward Islands (British West Indies). Sir Harry Luke, a former Governor of Fiji, and now the Chief Representative of the British Council in the West Indies, made his first official call at St. Vincent in December, and spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Garvey. Sir Arthur Grimble, formerly well known here as Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, is now Governor of the Windward Islands, with headquarters at Grenada.

Leo Austen Retires From

Papuan Service

ONE of the senior officials of the Papuan Administration, Mr. Leo Austen, who was Resident Magistrate at Daru when civil administration ceased early in 1942, retired on superannuation recently.

He joined the Papuan Civil Service in 1919, after 4i years’ overseas service with the Ist AIF.

As a patrol officer, under the direction of the late Sir Hubert Murray, he did a good deal of exploration work between 1919 and 1924, mostly in the Fly River district. After that, he was ARM and RM in most of the principal stations of the Territory.

Mr. Austen is a well-read man, with a strong leaning towards the scientific; and, in the course of his work, and as an anthropologist (he holds the University of Sydney’s Diploma of Anthropology) he was able to collect a large amount of very valuable data concerning native peoples.

His studies of native life have formed the basis of innumerable articles which he has written for scientific and other journals.

Mr. Austen was discharged from the Australian military forces last June, and now is serving as Aborigines Welfare Officer for the north .coast of New South Wales.

Caledonian Colonist Murdered From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Feb. 12.

ALFRED RAMPAL, one of the most progressive colonists in New Cale-x donia, and the first man to enter wholeheartedly into the scheme for growing produce for American troops, way back in 1942, has been shot and killed at the door of his Noumea house. His wife was wounded. The unknown assailant made a get-away in the dark.

Mr. Leo Austen. 6 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

Notice of Meeting

Pacific Territories

ASSOCIATION A general meeting of the Association will be held on Tuesday, March 20, 1945, at 8 p.m., in Teachers 7 Federation Hall, 166 Phillip Street, Sydney (seventh floor).

BUSINESS: To receive report from the Executive on activities to date.

To consider proposed amendments to the constitution and rules.

To deal with any other business that may arise.

C. A. M. ADELSKOLD, Secretary.

Believes in Criticism Fiji's New Governor Addresses Legislative Council FIJI’S new Governor, Mr. A. W. G. H.

Grantham, presided over the Fiji Legislative Council for the first time on February 16.

In his address he said that some mem bers might expect his first address to the Council to indicate what policy he intended to adopt during his tenure of office in Fiji. They might perhaps think that with a new Governor there should be a new policy. But he had come to Fiji with no mandate, desire or intention to start anything revolutionary or reactionary. Fiji was at a moment of pause, awaiting the outcome of a number of reports. The first and foremost was the report of the planning and development committee, which had not yet been completed. This report, when finally approved by Legislative Council and the Secretary of State, would be the Colony’s chart for the next 10 years or more.

Mr. Grantham said that he was a great believer in criticism and that from what he had heard he was sure that he would get helpful and constructive criticism from the Unofficial Members. He, in common with them, had one aim in mind —the betterment of Fiji.

In he warned members against falling into the error of imagining that the war was over because of the improvement in the war situation during the past two months. He said that difficult tasks still lay ahead of the United Nations, particularly in the Japanese war, and in dealing with these tasks he confidently looked forward to the Fiji Military Forces taking part.

Captain Tuckey Killed

IN ACTION CAPTAIN P. A. -TUCKEY, eldest son of Mrs. C. Tuckey, and a well-known resident of the Morobe district of New Guinea, was killed in action in the Sepik region, northern New Guinea, on December 11, 1944. He served originally with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles; then he saw action with the AIF, and was wounded at Gona, in Papua.

After convalescence, Captain Tuckey was transferred to a New Guinea Infantry Battalion, and he was with this unit when he was killed.

Mrs. P. Holland, of Rose Bay, Sydney, wishes to thank all New Guinea residents who wrote to her expressing sympathy for the loss of her husband, Warrant- Officer G. F. Hammond, who died recently while on active service in New Guinea.

Pta To Amend

CONSTITUTION Proposals to be Submitted to Meeting on March 20 WHEN the Pacific Territories Association meets in Sydney on March 20, it is proposed to discuss amendments to the constitution and rules in order that the Association may function after the return of civil administration to the Territories.

In view of the announcement by External Territories Minister E. J. Ward, on March 9, regarding the resumption of civil administration in Papua and as far as the Markham Valley in New Guinea, there may be some modification .of the proposed amendments which have been drawn up tentatively by the PTA executive. Members have been acquainted with the proposals in the following circular: In order to make preparation for the Association to function effectively after resumption of Civil Administration in the Territories, it is considered necessary to amend the Constitution and Rules at once, on what may be termed a “Federal” basis rather than on that of a single unit. The proposed new set-up, briefly, is as follows: The Association to be divided initially into two main branches, one each for New Guinea and Papua with provision for the subsequent formation of other branches if necessary.

Each branch shall be governed by an Executive elected annually by the members of such branch, such executive to consist of Chairman, Vice- Chairman, and one member each representing planting, mining, commercial enterprises, public service and missions. Territorial branches shall have all powers of action on matters affecting their own Territory only and with their local Administration.

The branches, annually, shall elect members of a Central Executive which shall consist of President and Vice-President elected respectively and alternatively by the New Guinea and Papua branches; and two members elected by each branch.

This Central Executive alone shall conduct all business of the Association with ‘the Commonwealth Government, and if and when there be any amalgamation of the Administrations of two or more Territories, then with such territorial administration. The Central Executive also shall appoint and direct an Australian Executive to look after the interests of the Association in Australia.

The subscription to the Association shall be £1 per annum for the first member in any family and 10/- per annum for each and every other member of that family applying for membership. Of all subscriptions collected by branches, 50 per cent, shall be paid to the Central Executive which shall pay its own expenses, all expenses of the Australian Executive, and assist any branch or branches as it deems necessary.

It is proposed that the new Constitution, if passed, come into force immediately the Commonwealth Government announces its intention to permit Civil Administration to resume in any portion of the Territories. Upon such announcement, the Executive of the Association then in office shall appoint two branch Executives and a Ceptral Executive, the officers of which shall hold office until general meetings of members of the branches can be called to elect new officers—such meetings to be held within 6 months.

Us Decoration For Pacific

ADMINISTRATORS IT was announced recently that the American Legion of Merit had been awarded to Sir Philip Mitchell, former Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific; and to Colonel Vivian Fox-Strangways, Resident Commissioner, Gilbert and Ellice. Islands.

Mr. Ronald Gordon Garrett, of Fanning Island (G. & E. Islands Colony) was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in the last New Year honours.

A. L. Armstrong Retires

From Fiji Service

ANOTHER well-known man who has given long service to Fiji has retired and left the Colony. He is Mr. A.

L. Armstrong, who entered the Government Service in 1915, and who has had a variety of important posts in the intervening years.

In 1937, he went to Tonga as British Agent and Consul, and he relinquished tms post in 1943, when he became Commissioner for Reconstruction in Fiji.

Mr. Armstrong is to go to London with the plans prepared for postwar reconstruction, and after he has discussed these with the Colonial Office he is to go on leave prior to retirement.

At a special ceremony before ho left, the Fijian Civil Servants, resident in Suva, farewelled Mr. Armstrong and presented him with a letter, in which they said: “No one knows better than we do that through long years of work and labour in Fiji in various capacities your life service has been devoted very largely to the well-being of the Fijian race. All of us who have been fortunate enough to work under you in various branches of the Service agree that we have served under a kind and able leader, a man and a gentleman. The fruits of your labours here are well-known to Chiefs and people and will not be easily forgotten. We wish you and Mrs. Armstrong bon voyage and a safe arrival in England, and may God grant you both many happy years of retirement.”

Miss Lila Hayes, at present a lecturer in bacteriology, at Otago University, NZ, but a former pupil at the Suva Grammar School, recently received the degree of Master of Home Science. Her parents live at Sigatoka, Fiji.

Mr. A. L. Armstrong. 7

Pacific Islands Monthly March. 19I5

Decorations for Merchant Navy Men ON January 23, at. a ceremonial parade in Fiji, two well-known members of the Central Pacific Merchant Navy, who are members of the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve, Lieutenant G. J.

Webster and Lieutenant S. Page, were presented with the Bronze Star of the United States, for conspicuous service rendered by them in the attack and occupation of Tarawa atoll, by the United States forces, in November, 1943.

The photograph shows the two men at the ceremony. Lieut. Webster is on the left, Lieut. Page on the right.

The citations accompanying the awards to Lieutenants Webster and Page said that both had rendered heroic service while acting as pilots for United States ships entering perilous and unknown waters during the assault on the Japanese-held islet of Betio, on Tarawa atoll, in November, 1943. Despite hostile gunfire, the two men piloted the first invasion ships through narrow passages, flanked by dangerous reefs, into the treacherous, coral-studded lagoon, with expert seamanship and outstanding courage Throughout the period of the operation5 ’ they continued to guide United States destroyers, mine-sweepers, transports and LSTs to their assigned stations, under the attacking guns of the enemy, without damage, contributing in large measure to the successful assault and final capture of Betio Islet.

The citations said that the daring leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty of Lieutenants Webster and Page were in keeping with the highest traditloT?S * 0f u th l» U^ ited States Naval Service.

N° te by RWR: I travelled with both of those officers in the Gilbert Islands, in the uneasy weeks immediately prior to Pearl Harbour. Mr Page was the first mate of the well-known missionary motor-schooner, “John Williams”; Mr Webster was skipper of the little Administration motor-yacht, “Kia-Kia.” Both are nrHofw £ ierchan s: l nav y type—pleasant, quiet-spoken gentlemen, liked and respected by everyone. They seemed quite accustomed to the everlasting risks of the navigation officer’s nightmare ” the T«S era^J e c 2 ral reefs of the' Line Islands. By sheer luck, I got away both ‘i John Williams” and i were playing hide-and-seek f^r h Q lr \ among those islands, hnuv c ? n J lderabl e time after Pearl Harbour, I do not know what happened to Page, at that time, but I have heard that Webster, with his cheeky, little, bucking “Kia-Kia,” did some rather plucky things in getting Europeans away from the Northern Gilberts.

The piloting of landing-craft into and across that Tarawa lagoon, under the masses of guns which the Japs had planted on Betio, must have been a foul job. During the time I spent on Betio, wandering dismally by the lagoon-side and wondering if I should ever get away, I got to know that lay-out well. There was a channel from near Betio, leading out to the gap in the reef, perhaps two miles westward; but the lagoon was studded with coral heads, and it shelved to wide shallows off Betio.

The way in which the Marines got across those obstructions, under the hell of fire released by the deeply entrenched Japs, is something still to be marvelled at. The courage needed by men called upon to pilot boats backwards and forwards across the lagoon, while one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War was in progress, surely earned the highest decorations.

Dr. McGusty Leaves Fiji Fine Record of Medical Services Chief AFTER thirty-three years of continuous medical service to the Colony of Fiji, Dr. V. W. T. McGusty, Secretary of Indian Affairs and Director of Medical Services, has left for overseas on retirement. He may reside in future in New Zealand. During his last week in Fiji, many farewell functions were arranged in his honour, particularly among the Indian communities of Suva and Lautoka.

During his term of office he was stationed in practically every part of the Colony. Apart from his medical duties he took over the job of Acting-Secretary of Indian Affairs and later Secretary, and at various times was Governor’s Commissioner, Acting-Colonial Secretary, Chairman of the Suva Town Board and Acting-Governor. He has given the best years of his life to Fiji, and no public official there is held in higher regard.

Dr. McGusty’s recent achievement, in planning a great new medical service to cover all the British territories in the South Pacific, will give his name a permanent place in the medical history of the South Seas.

Dr. H. S. Evans has been appointed Acting-Director of Medical Services pending a permanent appointment. It was announced in December that Dr. J. C.

R. Buchanan, formerly Assistant Director of Medical Uganda, has been appointed Inspector-General of Medical Services in the South Pacific, and would arrive in Suva about March. It was not stated whether this appointment of Inspector-General would supersede the position of Director of Medical t>ervi -s for Fiji and the High Commission for the Western Pacific.

New Appointment From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Feb. 21.

IT was announced on February 16 that Dr. George Kinnaird had been appointed Director of Medical Services in Fiji in the place of Dr. V. W. T.

McGusty, who has retired. Dr. Kinnaird gained his medical degrees at the Universities 'of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Since 1937 he has been Senior Medical Officer, Falkland Islands. *

Military Medal For

TERRITORIAN WE have only recently been advised of the award of the Military Medal to Lieut. S. L. A. Ashton, who won the decoration a year ago during a patrol from the Finisterre Ranges to the Rai Coast of New Guinea. Here is the citation: “For outstanding work in the handling of natives, devotion to duty and personal courage on patrol through the Finisterre Ranges to the Rai Coast.

“In March, 1944, W/O (he since has won his commission) Ashton, a member of ANGAU, accompanied by native police, went forward with a patrol of Australian infantry through the Finisterre Ranges to the Rai Coast to contact the natives living in this Jap-held territory and to gain information of enemy strength and dispositions.

“On March 18, 1944, the patrol was attacked whilst at Barum by a platoon of Japs carrying MMGs and mortars. W/O Ashton was with the patrol and by his outstanding coolness and courage he was an inspiration to other members. • “With untiring energy and courage he contacted Tul-tuls of 11 separate native villages, and the Luluais of five native villages. By capable handling and questioning of the natives he obtained information regarding the enemy which proved of inestimable value. His detailed reports and accurate interpretation of the native information was largely responsible for the success of this patrol.”

Mr. Ashton lived in Papua for some years before going mining in the Mandated Territory; he enlisted in the first New Guinea contingent of the AIF and went overseas in May, 1940 —first to England and then to the Middle East. When he returned to Australia he went to Milne Bay and was later seconded to ANGAU.

Fiji Banana Advisory Board From Our Own Corresnondent SUVA, Feb. 2.

ABOARD called the Banana Advisory Board has been appointed and supersedes the old Banana Licence Board.

The membership of the new Board is as follows: Director of Agriculture (chairman); District Commissioner, Southern; Hon. Mr. J. A. Garnett. NLC; Mr. H. L.

Gerrard; Ratu O. V. Baba.

Lieutenant S. L. Ashton.

39 BOYS ON A BAND PICNIC War Loan Stunt May Have Ugly Social Reactions ON Sunday, March 4, there arrived in Sydney 39 members of the band of the Papuan Armed Constabulary, specially selected and trained by Lieut.

D. Crawley, who was so successful in the years before the war in organising the Rabaul Police Boys’ Band.

This Papuan band, which is touring Australia—apparently partly in the interests of the War Loan, and partly in order that certain high officials may have their ego burnished—is in the personal charge of Lieut. Crawley and of Lieut.- Colonel C. Normoyle, who is in charge of police in Port Moresby. It is obviously a very excellent combination. It is composed partly of Papuans and partly of New Guinea boys; and the lot have apparently been splendidly trained and partly educated.

The appearance of the boys, their discipline and their fine performance as musicians reflect the greatest possible credit upon Lieut. Crawley and those who have been associated with him in training the organisation.

BUT the action of officialdom in bringing two-score of New Guinea natives to Australia, under the social conditions imposed by war, and sending them on a tour of the big cities, has been criticised by every Territorian who knows anything of Territorian conditions. It is another example of official stupidity in dealing with Melanesian natives.

These are primitive Melanesians. It is only because they have been properly looked after in their own country, by men who understand local conditions, that they have caused so little trouble to Europeans, and have been so loyal to European administrators in the difficult war years through which they have just passed.

It is shortsighted and wrong to bring these natives into Australian cities, where the whole social set-up is based upon the accepted fact that all classes are more or less equal. Social discipline in such countries as Papua and New Guinea is maintained only by strict observance of the rule that there is a distinction and a difference between white men and black men—they may not mingle on terms of social equality without disaster. Enough harm already has been done in the Territories by a too-familiar association between these natives and masses of European soldiers, without the experiment of sending 39 of these natives, from all parts of the Territory, to wander through Australian cities, even though they be under stern discipline.

Officialdom, of course, will rush angrily to its own defence with the statement that the natives are being closely guarded and looked after. That is nonsense.

These boys cannot be kept locked up like prisoners, and as soon as they wander in the streets with any degree of freedom they will soon find themselves on terms of intimacy with the low-class whites with which our cities teem; and thus there are established relations which will do untold harm when the boys return to the Territories and mingle again with their own people.

Through an inquiry received here for the. address of former Papuan friends, we have word of Mr. and Mrs. L. M.

Hammett, who were residents of Papua for 20 years. They left the Territory in 1931, for England, and now live in Cornwall (Woodlane Cottagfc, Woodlane,, Falmouth).

Presentation Of Vc To Parents Of

Fijian Hero

The Simple Dignity of Suva Ceremony rE ceremony in Suva, on February 6, when the Governor, Mr. A. W. G. H.

Grantham, presented the Victoria Cross to Lote Vulakoro and Fani Kuva. parents of Corporal Sukanaivalu, VC, impressed itself indelibly, by its sheer simplicity, on the minds of all who attended it.

While the Governor inspected the parade of Fijian Servicemen, Lote and Fani sat at the left of the saluting base, but when the inspection was finished, Ratu Sukuna brought them forward and, following Fijian custom in showing respect, they sat on the platform before the Governor.

The citation was then read in English by the ADC, Major Harrop: “Realising his men would not withdraw as long as they could see he was. alive and knowing they were all in danger of being killed or captured, as long as they remained where they were, Corporal Sefanaia, well aware of the consequences, raised himself up in front of the Japanese machine-guns and was riddled with bullets. This brave Fiji soldier, after rescuing two wounded men with the greatest heroism and being gravely bounded himself, deliberately sacrificed his own life because he knew that it was the only way in which the remainder of his platodn could be induced to retire from a situation in which they must have been annihilated had they not withdrawn.”

When Major Harrop stepped back, his place was taken by Ratu Sukuna, who before some thousands of his own people in uniform, repeated the citation in Fijian. Major Harrop then opened the small case containing the Cross and handed the medal to the Governor, who walked across to Lote and bent down.

Lote first clapped his hands together after the fashion of the Fijian when receiving a gift, then cupped them in order that the medal could be placed in them. The Governor shook hands with Lote and Fani, then stood erect. He stepped back and saluted, and the ceremony was completed.

“But,” says an eye-witness, “it was a superbljy dramatic moment. The Victoria Cross and all that it stands for, the humble Fijian couple and the people they represented, the young Fijian who, knowing that to save his friends he must die, died, all were saluted in that movement of the Governor’s arm. Those who saw it will remember it for many years to come.”

Mr. Marc T. Greene, peripatetic American newspaper man, who has been many times through the South Pacific Islands, arrived in Auckland in February, from USA. He was caught in Manila by the Jap invasion at the end of 1941, and spent some time in a prison camp there, and then was among a number of American civilians who were allowed to return home. He has been in the United States since 1943.

The Governor of Fiji, Mr. A. W. G. H. Grantham, presenting the medal to Lote Vulakoro. 9 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

TROPICAITIES A STORY from Time: A Lieutenant-Commander had been ashore on Leyte, and was tired. From a small boat in San Pedro Bay he pointed out whatr he thought was his ship, and the coxswain headed for her.

What neither of them knew was that from among the mass-produced ships, as like as Mike and Ike, he had picked out the wrong one.

The Lieutenant-Commander went aboard; crawled into bed in what he thought was his cabin. Presently an officer came around and awakened him. “This is 017, isn’t it?” asked the man from Leyte. “No, that’s down the other way,” he was told.

In 017, the weary Lieutenant- Commander found another officer’s gear. That was too much. He got mad.

He had the gear hauled out on deck and began to throw it overboard.

Observing these wild acts of rage, a messenger rushed to get help from one of the ship’s officers, a full commander.

“There’s an officer from another ship throwing gear he reported.

The commander laughed indulgently. The messenger went on: “But it’s your room and your gear, sir.”

The commander remembered that there was a war on. “Well, you’ve got a gun. haven’t you?” he roared.

“Why don’t you shoot the son of a bitch?” * WHICH has points of resemblance to the old New Guinea story.

Way back before the Army discovered that territory, two Administrative officers were hurrying hot-foot to the scene of a native “stouch.”

On the edge of hostile country they stopped for the night in a village resthouse. It was the usual grass hut, with a door at each end, and the officers erected their bunks and mosquito nets, one to a side.

Later, each placed his revolver and his torch under his pillow and retired.

Later still, one went out on a nocturnal prowl, somehow got twisted around, came back in the wrong door and, naturally, went to the wrong side of the house to get into what he thought was his bed.

He lifted the net and sleepily began to crawl in. The occupant woke with a start, gave a yell to awaken the dead, grabbed for his revolver, but got the torch and proceeded to belabour the prowler over the head with it. Prowler, for his part, thinking that he was being attacked by hostile natives, also gave tongue and started in with his fists.

Police-boy guards arriving on the scene, seconds later, with rifles at the ready and electric torches blazing, found two bewildered “Maps” sitting hpH^ 6 ? 00r m £ he ruins of one camp t b rvln^ d « ne shredded mosquito-net, trying to figure out just how it happened. * EXTRACT from a letter from an RAAF lad, somewhere in New Guinea: “We are (but briefly) living with the Yank Navy. And are we living? A long hut on top of a hill where we get all the breeze; sleeping on spring beds with real mattresses and sheets; eating piles of fresh food over which we cannot see!

“In fact it was so comfortable that I couldn’t sleep last night, being a mere Aussie Serviceman and not conditioned to such things. One of our lads took one look at our quarters when we were shown in, then turned and said, ‘Some trenches, huh?’

“We will dream of this food when we shortly move on elsewhere and back to plain Australian bully-beef. Fresh meat and four vegetables for lunch—followed by bread and butter and ice-cream cake.

Mumma!

“Their canteens are terrific. One here is done out in chrome, with all the green tiles and fixings of a high-class soda fountain. Their barber shop has eight chairs going full blast, with everything in the way of equipment from electric clippers upwards.”

The old idea that Australians, by nature, preferred to rough it, is outed by the enthusiasm, if not envy, these youngsters show for the equipment and treatment of American brothers-in-arms.

The Americans have shown beyond all doubt that they can win a major war yet provide some of the comforts of home for their men.

At the same time, one of the major mysteries of wartime Australia is the destination of so-called luxuries which civilians have been asked to give up for their fighting men. Servicemen deny that they ever reach the ordinary fighting soldier; where they do go no one knows.

SUVA seems to be having a wet summer.

Because of it an anonymous poet was moved to verse in the “Fiji Times” as follows: It rained and rained and -rained and rained— The average fall was well maintained, And when the roads were just like bogs It started raining cats and dogs; And after a drought of half an hour.

There came a most refreshing shower; And then— most curious thing of all— A gentle rain began to fall.

Next day was also fairly dry, Except for a deluge from the sky, Which wetted the party to the skin/ And after that the rain set in. * ON any comprehensive map of the New Guinea mainland, you can see marked along the long stretch of coastline between the northern tip of the Huon Peninsula and Bogadjim, the name Maclay Coast. Probably few Territorians know where this coast got its name.

F. S. Greenop, in a book “Who Travels Alone,” recently published in Sydney, tell of how a Russian scientist, Nicolai Miklouho Maclay (descendent of one of the many Scots who went to Russia with Peter the Great, in the 17th century, and stayed there) went to Astrolabe Bay in 1871 to study the natives, and who subsequently gave his name to that part of the coast referred to.

This was 14 years before the German annexation of New Guinea, but in ways known only to himself Maclay was able to establish friendly relations with the natives, who apparently believed that he was some kind of divine creature. Greenop states tha,t years after Maclay returned to civilisation, British scientists to whom he had told his secrets had a sure-fire password to safety and friendship amongst these people near present-day Madang, in the name Maclay.

Maclay was bom in the Ukraine, in 1846, studied law, medicine, and science at different universities in Russia and Germany, and became famous as an explorer in North Africa, Arabia, Asia Minor, the Malayas, Papua and New Guinea.

Practically nothing has been known of Maclay or his work in Australia. From scientific societies in Russia and some of Maclay’s own notes in 'Russian and German, deposited in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, Greenop was able to piece together this story of the first European to live among the people of the New Guinea mainland. * THIS is an “Oh yeah?” story, direct from America. According to one of their Navy newspapers, when Army construction gangs in New Guinea were recently building a couple of miles of road they just seized any old rocks they could lay their hands on and threw them into the rock-crushers and concretemixers.

Imagine their surprise, then, when the road dried out and they found that it positively “glittered in the sun.” Closer investigation proved that they had used 45,000 ounces of pure gold in the construction.

The gifted historian who recorded this gem failed to state whether maddened ex-mining members of ANGAU or other Australian Service personnel bore down on the gold-paved highway and tore large pieces out of it. That would perhaps have spoiled a good story.

Lieut.-Colonel F. G. Forster, who formerly commanded the Labour Battalion in Fiji, has taken up duty as District Officer in Rotuma, in succession to the late Mr. A. E. Cornish.

Calling The Islands

Able Seaman Grant Hennings, of Fiji, broadcasting from the BBC London recently on the “Calling The Islands” programme. He is in England training for his commission. —BBC photo. 10 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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Captain Johanson

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MANY people in the Pacific Territories will learn .with pleasure that the President of the United States has the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Elis R. Johanson, the well-known master of the liner “Monterey,” for “distinguished service in action against the enemy.”

The citation says: “In a night attack by enemy bombers, a troopship, carrying nearly 1,700 men, was torpedoed. In total darkness, and under most adverse-weather conditions of wind, rain and heavy swell. Captain Johanson located the sinking transport, held his own ship close aboard, and, by Vice-Admiral Greenslade pinning the Merchant Marine DSM upon Captain Johanson, “It was possible only because of the courage and skill of my officers and crew,” said Captain Johanson. means of his lifeboats, scramble nets, manropes and ladders, evacuated her crew and passengers in an outstanding display of seamanship and efficiency.

“The abandonment of the troopship and the rescue of her survivors were carried out with such dispatch that Captain Johanson’s ship was able to clear the scene *of action well before daylight, thereby avoiding further jeopardy from enemy aircraft or submarine.

“These operations, carried out without loss of life or injury attributable to the rescue, were indicative of a well indoctrinated and highly trained ship, and distinguished Captain Johanson as an outstanding officer and a leader of men.”

Sudden Death Of Papuan

Treasurer In Sydney

rE death of Mr. Sidney Smith, Treasurer in the Papuan Administration, occurred suddenly at his home in Sydney on February 21. He was a man in his early fifties and had been in apparently good health until a few days before he died.

He went to Papua about 1915 as an officer in the Treasury, and served in that Department (or its allied Department, Customs) in various capacities until the civil evacuation in early 1942.

He retired from the service during the evacuation period and became interested in a mining property in northern New South Wales. He had only recently returned from the north when he became ill and died within a few days.

He is survived by his wife and one son (by a former marriage), Lieutenant Sidney Smith, of ANGAU.

Mr. Smith, Sr., who was held in high regard by residents of the Territory, is one of many Territorians who have died in exile in Australia during the last two years. For the most part these have been men in the prime of life. The worry attached to the evacuation period must be held partly responsible for their early deaths.

Mr. Angus McKenzie died suddenly on his estate at Buca Bay, Fiji, on February 9. He came to the Colony from Australia about 30 years ago. He is survived by a widow and four children. 11 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH. 1945

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Future Of Pacific Mandates

Great Decisions Likely at 'Frisco Conference THERE are four Territories in the Pacific whose future must be affected by the Pacific war. They are Territories held by certain Powers under Mandates from the League of Nations. The League of Nations (see articles on pages 3 and 32 of this issue) is to be replaced by some new International Organisation to be formed at the United Nations Conference at San Francisco next month. It follows, therefore, that the Mandate system will be reviewed and, almost certainly, replaced by some other system. The four Territories are: Mandated Territory of New Guinea, administered by Australia.

Mandated Territory of Western Samoa, administered by New Zealand.

Mandated Territory of Caroline, Marshall and Mariana Islands, administered by Japan.

Mandated Territory of Nauru, administered jointly by Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Since it became clear, late in 1942, that the United Nations could count upon the complete defeat of the Axis Nations, and that decisions made in conference by the United Nations would take the place of any peace conference (such as that at Versailles after World War I) plans have been drawn for some sort of International Organisation. The first steps were taken at Dumbarton Oaks (USA) last year; the next at the Crimea Conference of the Big Three, in February; and the next (and most important) will be decided upon at the San Francisco Conference next month. (See articles on pages 3 and 32.) But, amid all these conferences, nothing official has been said as yet about the future of the League of Nations and of the Mandate system.

On February 18, however, the following letter was published in the New York Times, and we are indebted to the US Office of War Information for the text of it. The letter was signed by the following, and its significance will not be lost upon the many people interested in the future of the Pacific Territories: John W. Davis, Democratic candidate for President in 1924; Huntington Gilchrist, consultant on international affairs to the State Department; Arthur N. Holcombe, chairman of the War Production Board Appeals Board; Emory Ross, executive secretary of the Foreign Missions Conference of North America; James T. Shotwell, chairman of the Commission to study the organisation of peace; Sumner Welles, former Under-Secretary of State; Quincy Wright, Professor of International Law at the University of Chicago.

Plea For Continuance Of " Trusteeship"

IN his speech at the dinner of the Foreign Policy Association at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, on January 19, 1945 (says “New York Times” letter), Colonel Stanley, British Colonial Secretary, referred to the Mandates system as representing “the old theory of trusteeship.”

It might be inferred from his address that he favoured abolition of this system.

We believe this is the first public intimation of such a policy on the part of any of the Mandatory Powers. . . . We hope it will not be considered inappropriate for us to point out the significance of any such development.

The Mandate system, it will be recalled, was set up at the end of the last war for the government of those fourteen dependent Territories, including Palestine and Tanganyika, and many islands in the Pacific, which were taken away from Turkey and Germany.

It seems pertinent and proper to ask whether we correctly understood Colonel Stanley, and whether he is now perhaps in favour of the annexation of Mandated Territories by the Powers administering them. We also believe it pertinent to ask what is the policy of our own Government, and the Governments of other Powers on this point.

We might add that, in our opinion, Pacific islands formerly Mandated to Japan should not be annexed by the United States but should be governed by this country as trustee for the United Nations. Suitable strategic arrangements should, of course, be assured.

COLONEL STANLEY quite properly outlined the truly remarkable achievements of the British Government in the development of its colonies, and proposed for thejfuture a system of international regional advisory boards, like the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission. 12 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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TELEPHONE: B 7901 Box 543. G.P.0., Sydney BPI .45 i .. 1 •, ' . i... " J 7 We support this proposal, and hope that such Commissions will do much to raise the standards of agriculture, public health, education, etc., in the various regions concerned.

This system Colonel Stanley calls “partnership.” To us, it supplements rather than supplants the “trusteeship” system of Mandates which the British Government in the past has loyally supported, and which, in the opinion of many experts, might well be extended to other dependent Territories.

Abandonment 6f the gains which are inherent in this system might imply a step toward the division of the world into several Great Power zones of exclusive domination. It would weaken the system of international responsibility for dependent peoples which was actually practised between «the wars* The continuance and development of this principle, and its extension to other dependent Territories, especially those to be taken from our enemies at the end of this war, would imply just that much more confidtnce on the part of the United Nations in the success of their new venture.

IT would seem desirable politically (if not necessarily legally) that any fundamental change in the status of the Mandated Territories (including the Pacific islands formerly under Mandate to Japan) should be made only with the consent of that “civilisation” in whose trust they were placed. This would require the consent of the League of Nations (and the United States), 1 or of the new United Nations, and not merely a decision by a small coterie of Great Powers of whom mierht be directly interested- in the result.

Nothing on this subject is contained in the Dumbarton Oaks proposals; and, presumably, this situation has been given further consideration since that meeting —perhaps at the time of the Crimed Conference.

It is to be hoped that this important matter will be placed on the agenda of the San Francisco Conference, and that the peoples of the world will be given the opportunity to express their views before any binding decisions are made. (See comment in article or. page 3) French Anthropologist Safe M. OSCAR MEYER, a member of the Pacific Islands Society, is now safe, after having been a prisoner of war since the Japanese occupied Indo-China.

A cable received by Mr. Eric Ramsden (now of Wellington, New Zealand, and formerly the Society’s secretary), stated that he was now with the French Military Mission at Kunming, South China, and “free.” M. Meyer did anthropological work in the Marquesas and in New Guinea, and was also known in Tahiti, where he resided for some time. He left Sydney to join the French military forces in Indo-China. For a time he was employed by the Australian forces on special duty in New Guinea before the Japanese invasion.

The death occurred in Suva, Fiji, in early February of Mrs. D. G. Canard after a long illness. Mrs. Canard was very well-known in Fiji and had many friends.

Her youngest son, Pilot-Officer Ernie Canard, went away with the Fiji RAF contingent and was later killed in a flying accident in South Africa. Her other son, Harry, is attached to the Public Works Department in Lautoka. 13

Pacific Islands Monthly March, Ims

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Cable Address:

“David Trading

MELBOURNE”

Branches and Agents in All Ports.

Open To Appoint Agencies Where Not Represented

Mrs. C. P. Purcell, who will be remembered at many Pacific Island Society’s gatherings in Sydney in the early period of the war, is now at Delhi, India. Captain Purcell, her husband, has been a prisoner in Japanese hands since the fall of Singapore; he was formerly head of the Education Department in the State of Johore.

Only One Caledonian Candidate Successful—Yet From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Jan. 5. (§UCH are the 'problems of ordinary sea-mail transportation in the South Pacific since the war moved north, that we have just received the results of the New Caledonian General Council elections which were to be held on January 7. Apparently, too, the whole issue is not concluded in one day, as in British countries, but (according to our Noumea correspondent) the first day’s poll is but a preliminary canter—it is the second election day (January 21, in this case) that matters.) ABOUT half . the New Caledonian population qualified to vote went to the polls on election day, January 7, but I am informed that this is quite usual, as it is rare for all 15 members of the General Council to be elected at the first vote, and many voters—particularly those in outlying places—wait for a second election day, when there is a straight out “ballotage.”

The rule for the first day is that no candidate can be elected who does not poll a quarter of the votes cast. As there were 50 candidates for the 15 seats, only one was able to fulfil this condition. He is M. Berges, a colonist of La Foa on the west coast, who has been for long a general councillor and who was president of Governor Sautot’s nominated (and now disbanded) Administrative Council which admirably served Free France during the threat from Japan. He polled 1,140 votes of the 4,100, which were cast in his electorate—this represents a personal triumph for the man who for most of his life has been a leader among Caledonians who claim a greater share in their own government.

The party which M. Berges leads has a liberal programme, and has called itself the Comite Caledonien. It polled 8,452 votes, the vast majority in country districts, compared with 8,417 cast for the Social Progress or Labour group, which has much the same sort of general programme, but whose support comes mainly from Noumea town.

The latest sensation of the election is that these two groups have after the first day’s poll agreed to unite, appointing only 14 candidates between them for the ballot on January 21.

This simplifies the position and puts the amalgamated party in a strong position as against the Conservative or “Union”

Party, representing big business and popularly known as the “Ballande Party.”

These Conservatives polled 10,523, with relatively strong support in the town, but poorer support from “the bush.” Their leading candidate was a priest, the Rev.

Pere Bussy.

French soldiers and sailors when serving with the colours are not qualified to vote, thus reducing the electoral role by some hundreds.

There was no time to prepare a new voting list of the island’s potential 5,000 women voters (French women were recently given the right to vote) who will have to wait another year of two for the next general election. Women candidates were allowed, however, and two were included in the Social Progress group nominations. They were Madame Palladini, wife of the party’s leader, and Madame Tunica y Casas. They did moderately well, but are not included in the list for January 21.

Mr. Paul Cuer, who polled the highest number of votes among the five independent candidates, announces that he will not stand for the 'ballot, but that he adheres to the new popular party.

“Within the framework of the French community,” said M. Berges, “we want Caledonians to be allowed at last to act as free men, free to vote on financial matters and absolute masters of the proceeds of the taxes they vote.”

Caledonians, he added, have the right to be considered as real French citizens, worthy of accepting democratic responsibilities. The general interest of the country has often lain in opposition to big business interests, which however neces- ‘ sary they may be to the country’s economy should not be allowed to use their financial power to overcome the people’s will and control the local Assembly.

In announcing the fusion of the two parties, last week’s Social Progress candidates also laid stress on the “imperious necessity of presenting a united front to the ‘gros capitalisms local.’ ”

This election is of more than usual interest, as it seems to show that a breath of democracy, felt at the time of the Free French movement in 1940, is still blowing across the coconut palms and mountains of this once neglected reef-engirdled isle.

NOUMEA, Feb. 9.

AS I forecast, the elections resulted in an overwhelming victory for the candidates of what one may call the “Popular Front” —the two social progress parties whose aims include a greater share of self-government for New Caledonia, and closer Governmental control of the mining industry which they claim has hitherto made huge fortunes for individuals outside the country without really benefiting the colony. These allied parties are the Comite Caledonien, which gained eight seats, and the Social Progress Party, which gained five.

The leader of the first-named is M.

Berges, long a champion of self-government and a practised politician; he will undoubtedly be elected president of the new Council. Head of the Social Progressives is M. Florindo Paladini, former general councillor, and something of a Socialist firebrand. In the past he has 14 MARCH, 194 5 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

* vr £ S&L C C-; t i/i rx mm 'J & lL m nw Sketched at Thursday Island by Douglas Annand Yesterday’s peaceful places have been caught in the whirlpool of war and some have achieved considerable importance in the pattern of our strategy.

The diverse demands‘of war have also brought Berger’s important tasks. These include the production of aircraft finishes, “quick-bakes” for industry, protective coatings for food containers and specialised formulations for electrical, shipping and transport requirements. In short, the House of Berger is fully equipped to make its full contribution, not only to a world-at-war, but to the iridescent new world that awaits tomorrow.

Berger’s paint "Keeps on Keeping On challenged the position of the richer people and the snoßs of the colony.

He has frequently been ejected from the Council for his biting personal remarks about former councillors—on one occasion, on being put out through the door, he came back, still talking, through the window. Hitherto, as even his bitterest enemies grant, he has had a certain nuisance value in opposition. It remains to be seen whether he is able to act with statesmanlike method in public matters now that his party and its ally are in the majority.

M. Berges was elected by an absolute majority at the election at the beginning of January, leaving 14 seats to be contested for at the second “ballotage.” The allied parties gained 12 of these, which left only two for the so-called “Ballande Party.” This party will therefore be represented by a Roman Catholic parish priest from Bourail, Pere Bussy, and by Monsieur Bonneaud, who is one of Ballande’s local directors.

Seventeen of the original 50 candidates, including the two women, Mmes. Palladini and Tunica y Casas, withdrew before the second ballot—which took place on a day of heavy tropical downpour, so that once again only about half of the electorate went fo the polls.

Though French countries have known women mayors of municipalities, this seems to be the first time in France or the French Empire that women have been candidates for an elected parliamentary body.

The election period, in general, was marked by a virulent exchange of polemics and personalities, but there was also a good deal of good political, wellreasoned argument. The Catholic Church, which has always been a power in the land, joined in with a pamphlet warning good Christians against voting for parties allied with Bolshevism. Actually, there is little immediate danger of practical Communism developing in this isolater corner of the universe. The tendency of many, however, will always be to take their cue from France. In the purely Caledonian arena, the winning battle-cry was “H faut que ca change!”

THOSE with any knowledge of New Caledonia’s backwardness and prewar neglect must have a certain sympathy with such a cry. With goodwill on all sides, and favoured by wartime prosperity, it is to be hoped that changes can be brought about of permanent benefit and that population will increase and a fairer social system be developed.

New Guinea Air

MAIL Will be Run in Future by Qantas IT was announced by the Australian Government in March that, although air transport services running within Australia are to be nationalised, the services running from Australia to places outside the country remain under private control.

It was stated that, following upon the sale to Qantas, Ltd., of the Australian- New Guinea service run by W. R.

Carpenter & Co., Ltd., Qantas, Ltd., would, as soon as possible, re-establish the regular air service between Australia, Papua and New Guinea, which was interrupted in 1942 by the Japanese invasion.

W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., and Burns Philp & Co., Ltd., are large shareholders in Qantas, Ltd.

It is believed that the Australian-New Guinea air service will become part of an important air link between Australia and the Far East.

Although Sir Walter Carpenter is now living in Canada, he remains chairman of the board of the parent company. Mr. R.

B. Carpenter is managing director, and Mr. C. H. Carpenter is assistant managing director. Those three, with Messrs. W.

S. Bennett, D. J. Brownhill and Sir Henry Braddon constitute the board of W. R.

Carpenter & Co., Ltd. The constitution of the board was erroneously stated in the January issue of this journal.

Mr. W. H. B. Buckhurst, Assistant Director of Surveys in Fiji, has been appointed to be Director of Lands, Mines and Surveys. He commenced his service with the Fiji Government in April, 1928.

Lieut. Geoff. Kilner, of Rabaul, writing to his wife on December 11, 1944, from a Japanese prison camp, reported that he was “fit and well.” Mr. Kilner’s reports on other New Guinea prisoners are published elsewhere in this issue.

Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Ragg, of Fiji, are at present spending three months’ holiday in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Henry Edwin Addis was killed in Suva, Fiji, on February 10, when he fell from the balcony of the Colonial Memorial Hospital. He was born in the Colony in 1913 and held many posts in the Government service. Last year he met with a motor accident which seriously affected his nerves. He was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Val Addis, of Suva. 15 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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Commander H. Mayo Harris, formerly Vicar of the Suva Pro-Cathedral, is at present stationed at Flinders Naval Depot, Victoria (Australia). Writing recently to friends in Suva, he said that he, his wife and their daughter were eagerly looking forward to their return to Suva some day.

His job at present is to arrange the training of all officers entering the service or doing later courses.

Wholesale Theft of PI Year Book in United States Genuine Publishers Have No Remedy AS an example of the thieving tactics which Australian publishers may expect from certain interests in the United States, we publish the following: The owners of this journal (Pacific Publications Pty., Ltd.) published “The Pacific Islands Year Book” in 1942, and it was widely distributed. There was another edition in 1944, and the 1944 edition was sold for reproduction in the United States.

Before the book could be reprinted, however, the USA publishers reported that the Year Book already was in circulation. After much confusion and inquiry, it has been found that a concern in USA has “pirated” the book. It procured a copy of the 1942 edition, reprinted it exactly as in the genuine edition, except that it was called 1944 edition, and sold it far and wide in the United States, as the genuine 1944 edition.

Ordinary British people might imagine that such bare-faced theft could not go unchecked or unpunished. But appeals to American authority brought merely a shrug of the shoulders—Australian copyrights have no force in the United States —any Australian book may thus be “pirated,” and the Australian author and publisher will have no remedy.

Contributions from Fiji to the Duke of Gloucester’s Red Cross and St. John Fund now total £34,200.

Overseas Trade

What Fiji May Expect in 1945 CERTAIN modifications to Fiji imports will be made this coming year. This was announced recently by Mr. John Hinchey, Controller for Imports and Exports.

Brandy, gin, liquers, rum and whisky cannot be imported from Australia without a licence—licences to be granted on the basis of applicant’s average imports from all sources during the period 1937-39.

Amounts up to these quantities (if available from Australia) will be released, less any other amounts obtained from other sources. (Considering the state of the liquor market in Australia, Fiji traders will be lucky indeed if they receive anything approaching their requirements. To-day. in Australia, it is virtually impossible to purchase by the bottle any of the lines mentioned—through legitimate channels at all events. It is reported, however, that “sly-grog” merchants are still doing a brisk trade with whisky at £4/10/- per bottle.) The United Kingdom has indicated that it can now supply electric light bulbs, certain motor car parts and aluminium in ingots or in semi-manufactured form.

Aluminimum hollow-ware is still in short supply and complete car engines will be supplied only where urgently necessary.

Two million feet of timber will be made available to the South Sea islands by Canada in the coming year. Licences necessary for this are obtainable from the Economic Warfare Officer in Suva.

Australia and New Zealand—both feeling the loss of phosphates from Ocean Island and Nauru—have notified the Fiji Government that they cannot supply blood and bone manure during 1945. 16 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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Fiji Merchants Lose Their "Booking Fee"

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Feb. 1.

A BILL to amend the “Prices of Goods Ordinance” will be submitted to Legislative Council during its sitting commencing on February 16. The amendment is to repeal sub-section 5 of section 4 of the Ordinance.

Under that sub-section, traders were entitled to charge, in addition to the maximum selling prices fixed by the Competent Authority, an additional sum not exceeding 5 per cent, of the price of any goods sold when the sale was otherwise than for cash. Practically all stores in Fiji took advantage of this section and charged the 5 per cent, “booking fee” on all credit sales, with the provision that a discount of 2i per cent, would be allowed for payment of the account on or before the last day of the month following that in which the goods were delivered. , . , The matter of this “booking fee” has been a vexed one for some time, and the consuming public will, of course, be in sympathy with the proposed amendment.

The total amount by which the stores in Fiji have gained by reason of the charge for the “booking fee” on credit sales since its inauguration on January 1, 1942, must represent a considerable sum.

Some objection by the stores can be expectecf to the proposal for its discontinuance. The Suva Chamber of Commerce is holding a special meeting on February 6 to consider the proposed amendment.

February 25.

WHEN the Bill to amend the “booking fee” clause of the Goods Ordinance was brought up in the Legislative Council during the last week the debate was long, and at times, heated.

Mr. Ramsay Main, Deputy-Chairman of Supply and Production Board, introduced the Bill. He stated that the fee was no longer justified.

Principal opponent to the amendment was Mr. W. G. Johnson. He admitted that the proposed legislation would be popular—but contended that popularity alone did not justify the abolition of the fee— which would in effect deny to those who extended credit the opportunity of making a reasonable charge for it. He wanted to know why, if the fee were considered desirable at the time it was introduced, it was now considered unjustified.

Indian members were all for the removal of the fee, as were most other members. Mr. Johnson asked that if the Bill were passed there should be some delay before it came into operation, in order to give merchants an opportunity to make arrangements for the changeover.

With the amendment that the Bill should not come into force until March 1, it was finally passed.

Appointment to N. Caledonian College From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Jan. 15.

FOR a long time, Noumea’s secondary school, the College de la Perouse, has been understaffed, but there are now prospects of receiving new blood from France.

The first appointment, news of which has been received by cable, is that a Caledonian-born student, Raymond Colonna, has just won his doctor of science degree in France and will come out to Nouniea, as chemistry professor.

Marriage Of Rabaul Man

A WELL-KNOWN resident of Rabaul, Lieutenant Gregory D. Ade-Kent, was married in Brisbane on January 15 to Corporal Muriel Taylor.

AAMWS. The ceremony was performed at St. John’s Cathedral and a reception held at the Belle Vue Hotel. The bridegroom was attended by Captain W. Kalbfell (formerly of Bums Philp & Co., Rabaul) and by Captain K. Clinton. Mrs.

Jeanne Gordon, also of Rabaul, was one of the guests at the reception.

Lieutenant Kent was formerly the local manager for the Southern Pacific Assurance Co., Ltd., and Southern Cross Marine Insurance Company in Rabaul.

He is at present attached to an Australian Plantation Control Unit in New Guinea.

Wau Airman Lost Flying-officer john w. McDonald is now officially posted as killed. He was previously posted as missing in air operations over France in February, 1944.

Before enlisting in the RAAF, he was superintendent of works for New Guinea Goldfields, Wau, New Guinea. He is survived by his wife, who at present is residing at Holland Park, Queensland.

Mr. C. H. Beach, who until recently was Town Engineer of Suva* Fiji, has been transferred to Nigeria. 17 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1946

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Indenture Controversy Causes Territorian Bitterness Methodist Speaker Revives Threadbare Subject

By R. W. Robson

THE campaign launched against the native indentured labour system by Mr. Eddie Ward, MP for King’s Cross, Sydney (and, by one of the queer accidents of politics, Minister for External Territories) proceeds spasmodically.

Even Mr. Ward (whose political career never has been besmirched by an admission that Mr. Ward possibly could be wrong) probably is aware by now that the overwhelming majority of people who know anything about the subject are emphatically of opinion that (1) the system is not the evil thing that it has been painted; (2) it must continue until something better has been devised, to take its place. But others are carrying on.

The great majority of Islands missionaries—and certainly the most influential missionary leaders —have expressed themselves strongly, in the past year, against the immediate abolition of the system.

The Ward campaign, however, is being carried on by a handful of missionaries who, for the most part, have little practical knowledge of Islands conditions.

For some extraordinary and unexplained reason, the pronouncements of mission chiefs against Mr. Ward’s plan are given no space whatever in Australian newspapers; while the anti-in denture fulminations of people who are practically unknown are given considerable prominence. This applies especially to the “Sydney Morning Herald,” which is a newspaper with a reputation for fairness, but which in this matter of indentured labour has been singularly cock-eyed.

THE only missionary men of any note who have supported Mr. Ward’s plan are Bishop Cranswick, Rev. J. W.

Burton, and Professor Elkin. Bishop Cranswick is prominently associated with the Australian Board of Missions but, as far as I know, he never has had any practical experience of the Islands mission field. Mr. Burton is head of the Methodist Missionary Society; and his Islands missionary experience is confined to his work among the Indians in Fiji.

Professor Elkin is the head of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Sydney; he was (and presumably still is) a clergyman, and his practical knowledge of the indentured labour system, if any, was gained in his investigations as an anthropologist in the Islands.

The personal reputation of these three men is so high that no one would question their motives. As Christian gentlemen, they are eager to do the best possible for the Melanesian natives. But one does question their qualifications to give a lead on this most difficult subject.

They have had no practical experience of life in .Melanesia: the opinions that they are constantly thrusting under the noses of the uninformed Australian public are formed by their hearts, and not by their heads.

ON the other hand, every Islands missionary, whether leader or ranker, who has spoken publicly on this subject—that is, every missionary who really has lived the Islands life and knows something of its practical problems—has aligned himself with the European residents of the Pacific Territories in arguing that, in the interests of the natives, as well as of the Europeans, the system must go on for some time yet. No one denies that reforms are necessary—that was shown by the report of the Native Labour Commission in New Guinea, just before the invasion—but all are agreed that nothing but economic disaster could follow the change (immediate abolition of the. system) proposed by Mr. Ward and Mr. Beasley for Australian political purposes over a year ago.

A tactical error was made by Bishop Cranswick and Mr. Burton, in rushing into the “Sydney Morning Herald” in that joint pronouncement, wherein they supported Mr. Eddie Ward’s demand for the abolition of the labour system—and, incidentally, scolded me for arguing that this was not the time to abolish the system.

The two missionary leaders not only placed themselves onside with one of the least admirable figures in Australian political life; they also found themselves completely offside so far as the European residents (including missionaries! of the Islands are concerned.

The picture of Mr. Ward, Mr. Burton and Bishop Cranswick riding together on the same donkey was quaint and diverting enough, but harmless; but harm was done to the goodwill hitherto enjoyed by the Missions in the Islands. Territorians 18 MARCH, 19 45 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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The reverend gentlemen intended no harm, of course; what they did was done in blind ignorance of the practical facts of the situation. Territorian resentment probably will long continue against those missionaries whose chiefs urged a change so far-reaching and disturbing. rE trouble is that such a campaign, once started under such auspices, is carried on by well-meaning but ignorant people. The Methodist Missionary Society, for example, recently held a “conference” in Sydney; and here is a paragraph from “Sydney Morning Herald” report:— “The Rev. Percy Clark, addressing the annual meeting of the Women’s Auxiliary of Overseas Missions, said that the indenture labour system was one of the main factors in the disintegration and degradation of the Pacific natives.”

The Lord knows who Rev. Percy Clark is, and what are his qualifications to speak in such a way. I cannot find his name in any present-day list of Islands missionaries. Mr. Clark, known or unknown, is entitled to express his opinions, of course; and the women he was addressing are entitled to listen to any speaker they please.

The trouble commences when a newspaper like the “Herald” reports such utterances which, being divorced from any statement of facts and appearing as the opinion of one unknown man, are regarded by Islanders generally as utterly stupid and dangerous. Not one Territorian who read that report is going to feel very well disposed towards Methodist missionaries in future.

THERE still is some fanaticism among rank-and-file missionaries. The strange folk who invaded the Islands in frock-coats and poke-bonnets a hundred years ago, and drove the natives into trousers and Mother Hubbards, and compelled them to abandon perfectly natural social customs on the grounds that Anglo-Saxondom thought them sinful —these people have their counterparts in certain of The missionaries who are sent into the Islands to-day—and especially in some of the mainland bodies which speak on behalf of missionaries.

Unintelligent and unadaptable, they persist in measuring their native charges according to European standards. They even try to make primitive natives accept sectarian differences and distinctions which, long ago, have been repudiated by thoughtful Europeans. They walk everlastingly in the hope of a crusade —seeking some oppression or cruelty or dreadful sin concerning which they may unfurl a banner and scream a mediaeval challenge.

Their conduct suggests that they thought they had found such an object of crusade in the indentured labour system. The Melanesian labourers were to be presented to the world as the chained and oppressed slaves of the heartless Europeans exploiting the Territories.

It was quite a good idea —Australian public opinion, wholly uninstructed and ignorant, was quite prepared to believe it.

When I first protested against the crusade, as being utterly stupid and uninformed. the ineffable Mr. Ward described me as “the mouthpiece of the capitalistic interests exploiting the Territories,” and Mr. Ward’s henchmen cheered, and the dear old missionary chiefs apparently endorsed that brilliant analysis.

However, much has happened since then. Territorians, to a man, and all the Islands missionaries who really know anything of the circumstances, have defended the system, and demanded its retention until something better can be devised to take its place.

That is the present stage of the controversy; and that is where it should be left. If there is not to be a great deal more of misunderstanding and bitterness, the headquarters of the various missionary bodies would be well advised to keep their Percy Clarkes off the controversial subject.

It was talked but, months ago. A solution which will represent a fair and decent compromise—and which will take care of the interests of both natives and of European employers—is on the way.

WEDDING MISS FAY DAWN MacGREGOR, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy MacGregor, of Madang, New Guinea, was married at St. Phillip’s Church, Sydney, on March 2, to Mr. C. J.

Mortimer, of the RANR. In the absence of Mr. Roy MacGregor (who is back on active service in New Guinea) the young bride was given away by her uncle, Lieut.

W. A. MacGregor. There was a reception at Rose’s, where guests were welcomed by the bride’s mother, Mrs. Roy MacGregor, and the latter’s sister, Mrs. Geoff Kilner, of Rabaui; Guests included the following Territorians: Mr. and Mrs. Ward Oakley; Mrs. J. H. McDonald; Mrs. Brooks; Lieut.

Douglas MacGregor: Mr. Eric Guthrie.

The British Empire Medal has been awarded to Sergeant Veneniki Raiwalui, of the Fiji Military Forces. On May 21, 1944, he saved boxes of small arms ammunition, grenades and mortar bombs from a burning store, at great risk to his own safety. In the process he was badly burned but carried on in spite of his injuries. 19

Pacific Islands Monthly March. 194 S

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F.l By-passed Phosphate Islands Produce of Nauru and Ocean Is.

Now Wanted in South WINSTON TURNER, one of the few war correspondents who, travellingthrough the Pacific Islands, really understood the Pacific’s political and economic set-uo, published recently a long article in Sydney “Sun”—“Return of Islands Would be a Boon to Our Farmers.”

He pointed out that the richest gift which the Allies could make to Australian farmers would be the restoration of the phosphate industry of Nauru and Ocean Island. Australia normally used 1,000,000 tons per annum of this nonorganic fertiliser; and most of the needs of Australia and New Zealand were supplied from the two islands. Now, the two countries are being severely rationed on superphosphate, and the reaction upon food production is serious.

The Japs occupied both Ocean Island and Nauru in the early part of 1942. In the past year, they have been driven so' far north of the equator that there seems no serious obstacle in the way of the re-occupation of both islands (which lie close together, right ,on the equator).

But re-occupation does not appear to be part of the strategic plan agreed upon by Washington and London. The urgent needs of the farmers upon the food front seem to have been overlooked.

The huge installations on both phosphate islands were demolished when we withdrew; and the Japs, who urgently need phosphate, have made no attempt to work the deposits. They do not seem to have done anything on Ocean Island: but it is known that they have used Nauru as a staging base, have constructed an airfield and barracks there, and mounted guns on the coast.

JAPAN had nursed a grievance over Nauru for 27 years (says Winston Turner). She missed getting the island by only three days during the last war. On November 9, 1914, three days after HMAS “Melbourne” had landed an Australian detachment which took over from the Germans without firing a shot, a Japanese warship and transport appeared, but sheered off when the Australian flag was sighted.

In March, 1942, some 200 employees of the British Phosphate Commission were evacuated from Ocean and Nauru under the noses of the Japanese, after destroying what remained of the installations — the locomotives and electric trains, the cantilever loading system, the drying units and storage bins, the electric power station, huge refrigeration plant and water condensing plants.

The natives remained. There were some 1,600 of them before the war. Their spirit and loyalty were indicated when they offered £lO,OOO for the war effort against Germany. This amount they specified, was to be paid in sterling. When it was suggested to them that a fifth of that amount would be adequate for such a small community, their indignant response was immediately to remit £12,500 in Australian currency.

WHEN evacuation was ordered in 1942, certain officials remained voluntarily to meet the Japs and help the natives—the Administrator of Nauru (Colonel Chalmers), and the Government Secretary on Ocean Island (Mr. C.

G. F. Cartwright) being among them.

Their fate is unknown.

New Guinea Casualty

LIST Killed in action: NGX39I, Lieut. P. A.

Tuckey, Infantry, Springwood, Queensland.

Accidentally killed: PX76, Captain P. P.

Brewer, HQ Unit, Port Moresby, Missing—believed prisoner of war: NGXIB9, Captain M. G. Evenson, HQ Unit, Rabaul, NG.

Missing: NGXIO, Captain J. E. Grimson, HQ Unit,' Rabaul, NG.

Placed on seriously-ill list: P 448, T/WOII H. F. Bitmead, ANGAU, Sairope, Papua.

Previously reported missing—believed killed; now reported killed in action: P 507, Pte. W. J. Hook, HQ Unit, Aitape, TNG.

Death of Suva Boy While on Active Service WORD was received in Suva, in February, of the death of Lieutenant Harrowby Ryder, son of Mrs. S. Nelson, of Suva, and an old boy of the Suva Boys’ Grammar School. He was 23 years old.

He went to the Middle East with the 9th Division of the AIF, celebrating his 21st birthday overseas. When he came back to Australia with the Division he fought in New Guinea and in 1943 was wounded. He met his death as the result of an accident while on active service in the Pacific.

Flight-Lieutenant R. Wallace, a member of the Fiji RAF contingent, is now flying Liberators in Burma. 21 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

ft* rttmtrt 90 YEARS V* S WALLOWt JLIIILL in -3 ■ •■ill If HSMITi • Ilia Mllllll . Cllll . «(!•«<« . |C( (1(11 '>l.o uia >ak g iu •< 'i,v-iy>v g ~WL> Donald—The Generalissimo's "No-man"

BORN in Australia in 1875, W. H.

Donald, adviser to Chiang Kaishek, is still going strong, although just recently released after three years in Los Banos internment camp on Luzon. He had previously been reported rescued from Santo Tomas, Manila.

John Gunther in Inside Asia, describes him as “matchmaker to Chinese politicians, confidant of Generals, handyman of war-lords and the bottomless receptacle of more news, information, chit-chat and, above all, State secrets than any foreigner who ever lived in China.”

About 40 years ago, Donald was a reporter on the Sydney Daily Telegraph. One day he received a letter from the editor of a Hong Kong daily offering him a job and stating that £l2O expense money was being forwarded to Sydney. Donald had never heard of the Hong Kong paper, or its editor, but his own editor, when consulted, advised him to see if the money were there and, if so, to go if he wished.

The money was, and Donald did.

His new boss told him that a worldcruising friend had been told off to keep his eye open for a newspaperman who did not drink and. if and when he was found, to cable him (the editor) in Hong Kong. It took seven years to find one such—Donald.

Donald later switched to the New York Herald, as their China correspondent; but then he became fascinated by the Chinese, and gave up newspaper work, devoting himself to various of China’s causes. He had a special capacity for gaining the confidence of all manner of people, and early joined Sun Yat Sen’s revolution—he, in fact, wrote several of Sun’s first proclamations.

The Chinese Government Bureau of Economic Information, which he founded, paid his living expenses—his tastes in all things were very moderate. In 1928 he adopted Chang Hsueh-liang (the Young Marshal), son of a Manchurian war-lord, cured him of the dope habit, took him to Europe and arranged for a meeting between the Young Marshal and Chiang Kai-shek, between whom no love was lost.

IN 1933, Donald bought a small yacht, intending to leave China, but he teamed up with the Chiangs instead. He was devoted to Madame, and he told the Generalissimo exactly what he thought—about the one man who could. He has never learned one word of Chinese; refuses to eat Chinese food; does not care two hoots about Chinese customs or ritual and has been described as the greatest enemy of “face” in China.

He is full of vitality and good cheer —a ruddy man with thick glasses. A little stout now (or was, until his term of internment); has an amazing- W. H. Donald (second from right), photographed with members of the Chinese community, Suva, Fiji, in early 1941, while holidaying in the South Pacific. 22 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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Just before the outbreak of the Pacific war he had a holiday in the South Pacific Islands and New Zealand—he refused to stay in Australia because Australia was selling scrapiron to the Japs—and was in the Philippines on his way back to China when the Japs occupied the Archipelago.

Even before the war the Japs had put a price on Donald’s head—they felt that he was responsible for getting British and American sympathy for China. But they never succeeded in identifying him, although they suspected that he had fallen into their hands somewhere in the Philippines. Although time after time they went to Los Banos looking for him. says Donald, the other internees held his identity in the strictest confidence.

United nations censorship clamped down on all references to him—but only after a high-ranking Chinese official in London had let the cat out of the bag by stating publicly that Donald had been captured in the Philippines—but as far as was known was being tolerably well treated. Relatives in Sydney were warned that any efforts to try to trace him or communicate with him might cost him his life.

Little has yet been said of Donald’s future activities; but if ever the Chiang Kai-shek set-up needed a Noman adviser of Donald’s calibre, that time certainly is now. On his release 23 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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Donald said that he was anxious to communicate with Madame Chiang; and that he was ready to do whatever she advised in order to help China against Japan.

The final accounts for the successful carnival which was held at Nadi, Fiji, last December, in aid of war funds, showed net proceeds were £629.

The Fiji Information Office has recently begun publishing a news magazine for the people of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. It has been called “Sail Ho”— because with these islanders the coming of news usually coincides with the arrival of a ship from the outside world.

Island Potters —And Their Wares

By F. J. Morgan

fpHE craft of the potter is one of the JL oldest known to man. Fragments of pots have been found in the most ancient sites of human habitation throughout Europe, Asia, and both North and South America.

Yet, notwithstanding the high development of Polynesian society in the Pacific, pottery was neither known nor used by them. This is all the more remarkable since races of both sides of Polynesia were adept potters.

The Polynesians used only coconuts, shells or carved wooden bowls for carrying liquids or as food containers, but earthenware vessels of excellent workmanship were made in many places from Papua to Fiji. Tonga is the one exception! in Polynesia; but in this case it is considered that the craft was introduced from Fiji.

IN many of the islands certain villages specialise in making pots which are traded for food or weapons. In the Port Moresby district, pottery is still a thriving industry. The red unglazed pots find a ready market on the coast of the Gulf of Papua in exchange for canoes filled with sago.

In the New Hebrides, where the trade is confined to the west coast of Espiritu Santo, the local pots are similar in design to those made in Fiji and common to Melanesia.

Except in Fiji, glazed ware is not made without European influence. In parts of New Guinea, however, the salt water treatment of water vessels may possibly result at times in a light salt glaze.

Fijian potters evolved an interesting method of. producing a glazed article by applying Kauri gum to the hot surface after firing. These pots are used for storage of liquids. This art is apparently peculiar to Fiji.

Whilst, in general, island pottery is red or brown, variations are produced by the use of white pigment, and a wide range of ornamentation, by inscribed lines or decorated edges.

Although the potter’s wheel is unknown in Melanesia, native pots are symmetrical in appearance and very well finished. In some places the quality of clay and workmanship is so good that very large vessels, which ring loudly when struck sharply, are produced with remarkably thin walls.

That pottery is not a recent introduction into the islands can be proved in many places. In New Guinea and in the New Hebrides, fragments of pots of very early origin have been found on sites of vanished villages. Some of the older pottery which has been unearthed on sites of ancient villages w which were abandoned centuries ago is superior to the local modern article.

A representative collection of island pottery from the south-west Pacific can be seen at the Australian Museum in Sydney, and at other museums in Australia and New Zealand.

POSSIBLY because the potters are women accustomed to baking traditional shapes of utility value only, no attempt appears to have been made to produce small pots such as might be carried in a service kit. Although some makers of native weapons, grass-skirts and necklaces seem to have enjoyed in the last year or so a whole century’s normal turnover, no sign of wholesale trade in pottery souvenirs has yet been reported, although some servicemen have made use of native pots for various purposes.

In a few more years outside influences may have introduced glazes and alterations to shapes in the islands. There will never be a better opportunity than the present for native potters to open up trade with the many museums, large and small in USA and elsewhere, who are usually interested in adding to their collections with examples of pure native craftsmanship, however primitive it may be.

Captain “Jimmy” Smith, now well on in his ninth decade, sends greetings from Vatukaula, Savu, Fiji. He lived on Abemama for many years, and was there in 1942; “but,” he writes, “the Japs did not finish me off, as they did many of my friends in the Gilberts.” 24 MARCH, 1945—-PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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A Pioneer Passes

Charlie Coppard of Misima CHARLIE COPPARD, one of the original pioneers of Misima Island (Papua), died there on January 21, at the age of 79, having left the Territory only once in the 40 odd years of his residence.

He and five others—Bob Boyd, Sandy Grant, Dick Smith, “Black” Reid and Jimmy the Reefer (James Carlow)—went to Misima from Cooktown, Queensland, somewhere between 1888-90, and started alluvial workings. Most of the others subsequently drifted away, but Coppard stayed on and later developed a small coconut plantation, as a side-line.

When Broken Hill Block Ten started operations on the island, Coppard went to work for them until the price of gold fell and Broken Hill pulled out. When Cuthbert’s took over the old Broken Hill workings, Coppard became attached to the company and continued with them until the end; of later years, however, when he became too old for active mining, he merely supplied them with coconuts and produce for the native labourers and lime for the mine.

He made his only trip South about nine or ten years ago, when Mr. Bob Bunting induced him, to fly from Sydney to Melbourne—that impressed itself upon his mind more than any other aspect of southern civilisation.

During the whole evacuation period after the beginning of the Pacific war he remained on the island.

He was held in highest esteem by Misima—ari?T other Papuan—residents. He was honest, straightforward and likeable —typical of the best of the pioneers who, towards the end of last century, wrote the opening chapters of Papua’s story.

Value of Palms and Driers Headaches for War Damage Conditions VARIOUS reports from New Guinea plantation owners, who have been in consultation with the War Damage Commission, indicate that the Commission is experiencing difficulty in trying to assess the value of plantations on the new basis permitting compensation for indirect war damage.

Under the old regulations no compensation was payable for plantations which had deteriorated through neglect. Under the new regulations, all such deterioration is assessable as war damage.

Among other things which the Commission has to decide is: What is the value of a palm that was abandoned in 1942, that is still healthy but which has suffered from neglect?

What was the value of a palm that was destroyed as a result of war operations in 1942? In 1943? And in 1944?

The old pre-war valuation of one coconut tree was approximately £l. It is estimated that it costs 5/- to clear the ground and get one palm growing strongly.

Then there must ensue from five to seven years of attention and cultivation before the palm bears. In spite of all this, a number of NG planters have been putting in claims to the War Damage Commission in which they assess the value of their individual palm trees at 5/-.

In many cases, copra driers have to be claimed for as property lost, directly or indirectly, as a result of war conditions.

What is the value of a copra drier? The estimates vary widely. As far as can be ascertained, it costs not less than £lOO to build a good copra drier of the Ceylon type. Yet a number of people have put in claims for copra driers as low as £2O.

A statement by the War Damage Commission, outlining the basis upon which such damages are assessed, would be welcomed by the majority of planters from Papua and New Guinea.

Cost Of Living Bonus

For Fiji's Public Servants From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Feb. 1.

A BONUS, to offset the increased cost of living in Fiji, has been announced for civil servants and pensioners, by the Government.

It will be on the following scale: The bonus will be payable with monthly salaries commencing from January, 1945, and it will be revised from time to time.

Mr. C. C. Beckett, who was for many years an officer of AWA and who served at various stations in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea, recently spent many interesting months as a Press Relations official with the Australian and American forces thrusting north-westward in the western Pacific. He saw many of General MacArthur’s most interesting operations.

Then he contracted pneumonia and, after a spell in an American hospital in New Guinea, he was sent south. He is now convalescent and making a good recovery. 25 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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PATROL Major Trench, of BSI, Gathers Information (From a hook by Harold Cooper on the war in the South Pacific) ON Guadalcanal, late in 1943, with New Georgia wrested from the enemy’s grasp, the finishing touches were being put to for the liberation of other islands in the western Solomons.

One of these islands was well-known to Major David Trench, the Acting-Resident Commissioner, and he readily volunteered to reconnoitre it with a mixed Allied patrol.

The task of the patrol, which was to be put ashore after making the journey from Guadalcanal, was to ascertain the size of the Japanese garrison and to select beaches where an invasion force might later disembark. It was not exactly the sort of work the Colonial Office had in mind when it drew up its curriculum for the Cadets’ training course which Trench had attended at Cambridge; but his experience with native scouting parties on Guadalcanal had taught him all the bushcraft he needed.

This is how Trench afterwards described the three eventful days he spent on the island: WE arrived offshore in perfect weather —by which I mean that it was as black as pitch and raining like hell.

We had no information whatever about Jap dispositions on the island, so we decided to go in to what seemed the best points and chance our arm.

“We dropped two patrols off the western end of the island first and then our patrol was dropped off the eastern end. The night was starless and, although the boys gave us a bearing to paddle by, we had the helpless feeling of not knowing quite where we were going There was a sharp little sea running, ’ but our boats behaved beautifully “We were close enough to the coast to determine our exact position and we found we were about five miles west of where we should have been. This meant we were coming in roughly at the point where the two other patrols should have been dropped.

“We were just debating what to do when a dark shape loomed up on the water in front of us. I don’t need to tell you that we moved towards it with a certain amount of caution, for the last thing we wanted to get mixed up in was a night naval action fought from small boats at point blank range “When we got within fifteen yards of the shape we heard the unmistakable click of a carbine rifle being cocked and realised that we’d run into one of the boats from the other patrols. been* rTOm° forH^haT^sor^of^hina moved Soto it and Earned Dants west of the island O like^us PP fhnnd thPv were making for shore far na axm f. lol snore lar from then in- “We took counsel and decided to go in together. This we did, making the landing without incident. We hid the boats and then dispersed into the bush in different directions. That was the last we saw of the other patrols until a few hours before the time arranged for re-embarkatiom ' “11TE sat down quietly in the bush for Tf about an hour until the moon was up and while we were waiting we made up our minds that, since we were so far from the area we had been ordered to reconnoitre, the best thing to do was to make our way boldly along the beach, in order to reach our objective with as little delay as possible. We had to take account of that fact that, by the time our mission was accomplished, we might have the Nips on our tail, in which case we should need an extra half day or so in which to make a devious withdrawal through the thickest jungle we could find As we had been warned that the natives might be unfriendly, our policy at first was to avoid contact with them—a somewhat troublesome proposition, as the course we’d charted took us through two villages.

“We negotiated the first with what we were pleased to regard as a velvet tread and got through safely, but as we approached the second a dog heard us and let forth a series of yelps which we felt sure were audible in Rabaul. A man in the village woke up and came sleepily to the door of his hut, but we kept right on down the main street, hoping he’d take us for Japanese. He did.

“During this night trek we saw no sign of the enemy, but a Solomon Islands sergeant who was with us picked up the tracks of a Jap patrol in the sand. We reached our objective in the first light of 26 MARCH. 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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“As dawn broke we came across more and more signs of Jap activity and by the time it was fully light we were on the very outskirts of an enemy camp, which we could hear coming to life, with a babble of raucous sound, no more than two hundred yards away. We edged on a little further and got to the bank of a river, the mouth of which it was part of our task to reconnoitre.

“This was the point where we had originally intended to land; and it was fortunate indeed that we missed our way, for otherwise we should have landed in the arms of the Japs, and that would have been the end of our adventure and probably the end of us.

“117’E found the Japs were disposed f? along the river in considerable strength and that it was impossible to cross it. So we withdrew through the bush parallel with the beach, this time keeping well clear of all villages. But our luck was out, for we ran into one old woman who was working in a garden.

She took one look at us and fled shrieking into the bush.

“We pushed on with our fingers crossed more firmly than ever, and by 4 p.m. we’d managed to cover a fair amount of ground, turning at right angles for an occasional furtive trip down to the beach so that our landing expert could take photographs and make notes.

“By now we were all dog-tired and we decided to bivouac for the night. As we were settling down two natives suddenly appeared on the scene, and we thought for a moment that the jig was up., But it was soon apparent that the stories we’d been told about the unfriendly attitude of the Islanders were very wide of the mark.

“Our two visitors hailed us with obvious delight and were disappointed when I did not immediately recognise them as old acquaintances. They gave us any amount of useful information, including the extremely welcome tip that it was the custom of the Japs to maintain a patrol on the stretch of beach which it was our job to reconnoitre the next day.

“The natives spent the night with us and in the morning led us to the headquarters of the local Chief, who stripped his larder bare to provide a feast fitting for the occasion. With the aid of a strong escort, mustered by the Chief, we were able to keep so closely in touch with the movements of the Jap patrol that during the day we made a thorough examination of almost every yard of the beach in which we were interested.

“rnHERE were two mildly diverting in- A cidents. At one stage we heard a number of heavy detonations and asked a native what they were. He said he didn’t know, but would go and find out. About a quarter of an hour later he came back and informed us that some Jap guns were being test-fired. We asked him how he knew and he replied: ‘Oh, I just went down and asked the Jap patrol,’

“The other laugh we got that day was when our native sergeant volunteered to go down to the beach and take photographs of the Jap patrol from close range.

We explained the mechanism of the camera and he went off determined to make a success of the job. When he came back he reported that he’d taken a number of excellent shots. Unfortunately our instruction had not been quite painstaking enough, for we discovered he’d taken them all on the same section of film.

“After a night spent in great copifort as the guests of the Chief we set out slowly on the morning of the third day for the point at which the boats were hidden. On our way we were disturbed to receive news that a native messenger we had sent to warn our other patrols of the Jap dispositions had failed to contact them but had run into a party of Japs, who had told him that there were Americans on the island, and that all hatives should be on the lookout for them.

“Our sergeant, who was the real hero of the expedition, volunteered to go back himself and endeavour to contact the patrols. This he managed to do. Our anxieties for them were groundless, for they, too, had found native friends who, throwing a protective screen round them, were bringing them through the bush to our point of rendezvous at a rousing pace.

“fpHEIR mission, like ours, had laeen X completed with only minor misadventures. Once one of their native NCO’s and another man had been separated from the rest of the patrol and had bivouacked by" themselves in the bush. In the morning they were awakened by a Jap bugler sounding Reveille about fifty yards away; and the NCO, still half asleep, had stumbled to his feet and almost fallen in with the Japs from sheer force of habit.

“On another occasion one of the patrols ran slap into a Jap patrol. The two patrols stood staring blankly at each other for several seconds before deciding to make off in opposite directions.

“That night, with natives mounting guard in a semi-circle round our beach hide-out, we were able to re-embark in our boats in perfect security and this time our steering was so accurate that we soon made contact.

“Once aboard we were quickly in good spirits again and on the homeward voyage we could always work up a glow of satisfaction by picturing to ourselves the badtempered behaviour of the Japanese on the island, who undoubtedly spent the next few days thrashing about through some of the most unpleasant country in the South Pacific, in pursuit of an enemy who was safely out of their reach.”

TRENCH was taken • back to Guadalcanal, where he resumed his duties as Acting-Resident Commissioner.

The patrol had been a pleasant interlude. He began to think of drawing up, an advertisement for use by the Recruiting Branch of the Colonial Office. It would describe the life of an Administrative Officer in the Western Pacific and would carry the headline, “Never a Dull Moment!”

"Friendly" Islands

Letter to the Editor IN a little speech I made some time ago, when our Foa people were entertaining HBM Consul and Agent from Nukualofa, and Dr. McGusty, from Suva, I said I would like to endorse Captain Cook’s remarks, as written in his logbook: “The Tonga people are hospitable and are friendly”—and that was why he called Tonga the Friendly Islands.

A few days later, I was approached by one of our local European residents who censored my remarks. He said my expression should have been: “The Tonga peonle were at that time hospitable and friendly, but have changed a lot since those days.”

I do not accept that. I left the Old Country 62 years ago, and, during those 62 years, I have been twice around the world, have visited five continents and most of the islands of the Pacific —Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Guinea, New Britain.

New Ireland, all the different islands nearby, the Solomons (Buka and Bougainville), Marshall, Gilbert and Caroline, I have sat and eaten with kings and princes, European and native, and I have sat and slept with the worst cannibals in New Britain in 1884-5. So I should know something about people.

I do not want to say that our Tonga pedfcle are angels and saints. They have their good and bad here, as in the world all over. But I endorse Captain Cook’s remark of 150 years ago: “The Tonga people are hospitable and friendly.”

I am, etc., Haapai, Tonga.

P. T. GOEDICKE. 27 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 194 5

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A Garden In

ROTUMA BY “AMEL”

IT has always been my opinion that the best place to have a vegetable garden is somewhere near the flower garden . . . that is, as close to the house as possible. After all, one does not usually grow one’s flowers in a distant part of the bush. The idea is to have them somewhere handy, to see and enjoy. And so it should be with vegetable gardens.

In Fiji, the main drawback to having a garden near the house was the overabundance of land-crabs, annoying creatures with large burrows and voracious appetites, extremely partial to flowers and vegetables, small puppies, kittens, chickens and even human beings . . . according to Dad!

He was trailing one—or maybe it was trailing him!—around the verandah in his bare feet one dark night, and he couldn’t find the torch or the matches.

His imagination worked overtime. He said it had eyes like clothes pegs and he could hear its claws clanking as it prepared to spring at his throat. We reckoned it must have been his knees knocking together!

HERE in Rotuma, we have no crabs to contend with: but the other pests are overwhelming. We are surrounded with a great variety of livestock belonging to our neighbours. Of course, as far as fowls are concerned, it must be admitted that ours also do their share of scrat c*}ing where they should not—but we consider that they are privileged. . Tlle , ne l ghbours ’ livestock, however, does not stop at fowls. It also includes norses, cows, goats, pigs, ducks and dogs. all of which spell ruination to a garden any sort * fV , The L do f 1 eat anything, but bones in. the nice soft soil of E" e garden; and it’s funny how they f" ust . slee P on the plants, even when H}f re ls ,P len ty of lawn at their disposal, ducks don’t do any scratching, but . to ar g rea t hunks out of everything H 1 anc * s*° a °f shovelling with tneir bills, which is just as bad. ur neighbours’ cows and horses never sie ®P* They prowl all through the night, rattling chains, rustling ropes, chewing riedges and pushing the fences over. In daytime, the goats and the pigs afflict us, one of the latter having the ill-grace to expire under the front porch.

J the depredations of these bipeds and quadrupeds, the elements ar . e also leagued against us. Our p i a £ e 15 situated on the windward side of M °tusa’s narrow isthmus, and is fully exposed to the sweeping, salt-laden wind blue Pacific, which withers everything it touches.

The soil of the isthmus is almost pure sand — one can dig to a depth of eieht fppt and still find white sand—but there must be some nourishment in it, because it supports numerous coconut palms bananas and huge native trees, all of which do very well.

But. apparently, to grow European vegetables one must add something, such as seaweed or manure, and bring earth from the bush, to supplement the sand.

We did this, and after much hard work have managed to raise a small plot of very nice vegetables.

But with all the obstacles to be overcome, there is no need to wonder why we find it easier to obtain vegetables from a tin!

Territorian Bride

Captain J. R. Grey, who has been Shipping Controller in North Queensland for the past two years, has now been transferred to Western Australia to take up a new position.

A former well-known resident of Fiji, Mrs. C. H. H. Irvine, died in Sydney recently. She was married in Levuka in 1874, the year of the cession of Fiji to Britain, and her husband, who later became Attorney-General of the Colony, died in 1903. Mrs. Irvine had been living with her daughter, Mrs. Doyle, in Australia, for many years, Mr. R. F. Freeman, who died recently at the age of 76 years, went to Fiji in 1888 as a chemist for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. He stayed with the company until 1898 when he leased the Baulevu estate in the upper Rewa. Mr.

Freeman left Fiji a number of years ago and since lived in retirement in Sydney, where he died.

On November 4, 1944, Miss Shirley Evelyn Chugg married Mr. George W. J. Manners, of South Camberwell, Victoria. This photograph shows the couple leaving the church after the ceremony. Miss Chugg was born in Kavieng, TNG—one of the first white children to be born in the then newly-constituted Mandate. She is the elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Chugg, well-known residents of New Guinea. Before the evacuation, Mr. Chugg was stationed in Madang. 28 MARCH, 19 4 5 -PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

*\ 4 1 0 m { Sl. m COMt: ■ V *> v \i A \ m The famous Aladdin Kerosene Mantle Lamp gives brilliant 75-candlepower white light without pumping or pressure at a cost of approximately 2 hours’ light for one penny. As easy to light as the old-fashioned flame lamp. »V ft NOW every island home can enjoy the comj fort an d convenience of a / _%/ S' L- brilliant white 75-candlepbwer light thanks to Aladdin, the world's most wonderful lamp. Introduced to the Islands for the first time, this world-famous Kerosene Mantle Lamp is artistic in appearance, economical in use and as easy to light as an ordinary flame lamp. Burns only kerosene, the safest and cheapest of fuels— without pumping, pressure, noise, smoke or fumes. Write AT ONCE for illustrated leaflet showing the full range of table, floor pedestal, hanging and wall-bracket models.

Popular Aladdin Storm Lantern , solidly constructed of brass for hard wear. Gives vivid 200-candlepower white light from ordinary kerosene at a cost of approximately one halfpenny per hour. Widely used by Army and ISavr during the war.

AGENTS WANTED. Opportunities exist for alert storekeepers to act as authorised Aladdin storekeepers in the Islands. Special discounts and the distribution of Aladdin wicks , chimneys , mantles , shades , and spare parts are among the many advantages of the Aladdin franchise. m uma °. ne of the netlTT , famous Aladdin /n^ mbers °f the green ena/n I Smartly j in^p *93-3799 ALADDIN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD. 61.71 BOURKE STREET. SYDNEY 29

Pacific Islands Monthly March. 194 B

Pacific Islands Society

Visitors from the Islands to Sydney (or those Interested In Islands affairs), are advised to communicate with the honorary secretary of Ihe above Society, which has been formed to study the history, traditions, economics, and political developments of the Pacific Islands.

Regular monthly meetings are held at History House, 8 Young Street, Sydney.

Address for Correspondence: THE PACIFIC ISLANDS SOCIETY, Box 2434 MM., G.P.0., Svdney.

William Atkins Pty. Ltd.

Head Office 449-451 KENT ST., SYDNEY.

Iron & Steel Merchants-Engineers' Supplies Coach Cr Motor Hardware

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MILD STEEL: Rounds, Squares, Flats, Half-rounds, Hexagons, Bevel, Shoeing, Tyre, Angles, Tees, Sheets, Plates, Girder Plates, Chequer Plates, Channels, Hoops, Etc.

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Extra Special High Speed Tool Steel, Mining Steel, Blister Steel and Spring Steel, Rounds, Flats £r Squares.

Bor Iron All sections and sizes.

Engineers' Supplies; Set Screws, Studs. Metal Thread Screws, Coach Screws, Files, Cotter Pins, Bright and Black Bolts, Rivets, Etc., Hack Saw Blades.

Power Transmission Gear: Including Plummer Blocks, Couplings, Collars, Etc.

Coach and Motor Hardware: Axles, Springs, Wheelstuff. Duck, Paints.

Farriers' Supplies: Horse Nails, Anvils, Vices, Etc.

Motor-Trimmers and Motor Builders' & Motor Painters' Requirements C. A. WILLEY'S Quick-Drying Coach and Car Paints. Roughstuff, Elastic Gloss, Synflex Enamels, Lacquers.

DUCO Lacquers and DULUX Enamels—FAßßEX Motor Toppings and Leather Cloths, House a Decorators' Paints, Varnishes tx Brushware.

Sole Distributors of CHAMPION'S Decorators Point Products.

Distributing Agents for BROLITE Lacquers, SYNFLEX Enamels and "POLYGLOSS" Finish.

Mr. Peter Kellert, owner of “Stockholm” and other plantations in eastern New Britain, has had a spell in hospital in Sydney and has undergone a couple of operations. He now is convalescent and appears to be making an excellent recovery. Mr. Kellert, and members of his household, were rescued last year by an Australian commando, after they had been prisoners of the Japs on the north coast of the Gazelle Peninsula for 2i years. While he was in hospital, Mr.

Kellert was visited by a young, smiling soldier—the officer in charge of the commando which had rescued him in 1944.

Mr. Kellert at first did not know him— the man who got him away in the darkness before dawn one night was rough and tough and heavily bearded, and did not look very “civilised.” A former resident of New Guinea, who now holds a commission and a couple of decorations, may be amused to hear this description of himself.

Mr. F. G. Everett, formerly accountant at the Labasa branch of W. R. Carpenter & Co. (Fiji), Ltd., has been transferred to Rotuma, to take the place of Mr. C. E Christoffersen, who left Rotuma some months ago.

Formosa—Stepping Stone To Tokio

T'HE island of Formosa, situated 90 miles off the China coast, and conveniently between the Philippines and the Japanese homeland, was (until the beginning of the Pacific war) one of the least-known regions of the world. We have learned something in the last three years of this semi-tropical region where Japan trained her jungle-fighters, and now, with the Philippines liberated by MacArthur, we are destined soon to learn much more. There are nearly 6,000,000 people in Formosa.

One hundred and fifty thousand native tribesmen live mostly on the island’s mountainous eastern half.

They are of Indonesian stock and have racial and cultural resemblances to the natives of northern Luzon. They speak a language that belongs to the Malaya-Polynesian group and, among their more annoying habits (from the Jap viewpoint) is that of headhunting. Both the Japs—and the Chinese before them—had much trouble with these unquellable mountain tribes. rpHE island is said to have been dis- A covered by a Portuguese navigator who named it “Ilha Formosa” (Beautiful Island). The Dutch settled there about 1624 and remained until 1661. Chinese started to migrate in large numbers about the same time and at the end of the century annexed the island.

After the conclusion of the war between China and Japan, in 1895, Formosa was ceded to Japan and exported by her. The present nonmdigenous population is 5£ million Chinese and 300,000 Japanese. The pre-war European population was negligible: members of the American or British Consulates and a few tea merchants.

Japan has put a great deal of money into improving and buildingrailways, roads and power plants. The Japs created monopolies for camphor, opium and salt, introduced pineapplegrowing and canning, stimulated sugar cane, rice and tea production.

Coal, gold, copper, petroleum were of fair importance. But, in spite of these things, the migration of Japanese settlers was. small, in view of the overcrowded millions in their homeland. Most Japanese were “white collar workers” who regarded Formosa as a means to an end—the end being a return to Japan with some degree of wealth.

The island lies, roughly, between 25 and 22 degrees north latitude. A chain of mountains runs north and south on the east coast, some peaks rising to 14.000 feet. The short winter is wet and, particularly in the mountains, cold. The summers are long and humid. Typhoons are prevalent in the season.

On the east coast, near Suo, are some of the highest cliffs in the world 30 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

Kangaroo Brand

Ropes, Cordage, and Twines for every purpose Backed by 86 years of service Manufactured by: M. DONAGHY AND SONS, Pty. Ltd., Geelong and Sydney.

Fiji Representatives: PEARCE AND CO.

LIMITED P.O. BOX 257, SUVA Ship Chandlery Hardware r Write for j j Ship Chandlery / I Catalogue J Special “In Bond” Prices for all Islands enquiries quoted on application.

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152 SUSSEX STREET SYDNEY.

Cables: "Boom”, Sydney.

Large and Complete Stocks of

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Sole Agents for: P H MUNTZ St CO.’S 3-CROWN BRAND METAL SHEATHING.

PEACOCK & BUCHANS’ ENGLISH READY-MIXED PAINTS.

Hula-skirts : Hula-skirts : Hula-skirts

Shell Necklaces : Shell Necklaces

Mother of Pearl Brooches —Coloured Grass Leis The Hula-skirts are in assorted bright colours with decorated waist band.

Mother of Pearl Brooches are supplied in a large assortment of lovely designs, individually carded. These are made in our own factory by native craftsmen, so you are assured of the prices being right.

The Shell Necklaces consist of small shells. Each necklace, 60” long.

Cable for wholesale prices. Can quote you a c.i.f. price, any part of the world. All goods sent by parcel post, ensuring quick delivery. Parcels are franked with valuable Cook Island stamps, which have a high resale value.

Any quantity supplied. Terms: D/P your own bank.

Wm. H. WATSON, Wholesale Island Trader

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Cable Address : “ Watson , Rarotonga .”

Bankers : Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. —they tower up 6,000 feet from the sea.

The capital is Taihoku, linked by rail to the chief port, Keeling, on the north coast.

FORESTS cover about two-thirds of the island; but, due to the mountainous nature of the best timber country, little of it is milled. Cedar, camphor and hibiscus is used for most local cabinet work and house building.

Formosa is the world’s chief source of camphor. Chinese workers go into the forests to fell the timber and cut it into chips, which are boiled down in large iron utensils, the crude camphor-gum then being delivered to the camphor monopoly in Taihoku.

An extensive scheme of reforestation has been carried out where camphor trees, growing in their natural state, have been cut down for production of camphor oils.

The Japanese have tried to pacify the natives by gradually encroaching on their territory, taut with indifferent success.

As far as the Chinese are concerned, they are treated by their Jap overlords with harshness and contempt. The Japanese have tried to force their own language and culture on the Chinese, have forbidden the use of Chinese in schools or in the publication of newspapers. The Chinese are the artisans and the tillers of the soil.

IT was from Formosa that the Japs first attacked the Philippines in 1941; and it was here that many of the most important Allied prisoners of war were interned: Lieut.-General Wainwright, who took over from MacArthur on Bataan; Sir Mark Young, the Governor of Hong Kong; Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of the Straits Settlements; and other highranking Dutch and British officials caught by the Jap invasion of Indonesia.

At the Cairo Declaration of December 1, 1943, the island of Formosa was named as one of the territories which Japan should be forced to return to its original owner—in this case, China.

Formosa was first attacked by our forces in November, 1943, when Chinabased American air forces raided the Jap air base near Shinchiku. The island was bombed fairly regularly from that date and in October, 1944, US navy and air forces combined to strike a heavy blow at its shipping and military installations.

Only 225 miles separate northern Luzon (Philippines) from Formosa.

Formosa will probably see much of the US air forces in the next few weeks.

Seven students from American Samoa, instead of the usual one, were admitted recently to the Central Medical School in Suva. They are: Fiafia Tuana (27), Aukusotino Tuiteleliapaga (22), Taielua To’afili (21), Keli Tauvela (lih, Suisami S. Leiata (19), Vausigago Uperesa (20), Etauati T. Leiato (18).

Rabaul Men In Jap Prison

CAMP rERE recently was published, in the “POW, Bulletin,” in Sydney, a photograph of a group of Australians in the Sentsuji Prisoners of War Camp, in Japan; and three Rabaul men—Lieut. C.

G Kilner, Lieut. Clarrie Archer and Major (Dr.) N. B. Watch—are there clearly recognisable. They appear to be in good health.

Mrs. Geoff Kilner has received a number of letters from her husband, written in that camp. In a letter which was received in Sydney in July, 1943, Lieut.

Kilner said: “The following Rabaul prisoners of war were well, when I saw them last: Spensley; Garth Walker; Jack Evans; Evan Evans; Philpott; Goodwin; Bird; Haslam; Beckett; Lionel Saunders; lan Mac Lean; Mac Ewan; Coote; Harold Page; Gerald Hogan; Field; Townsend; Harry Adams; Frank Saunders; Mac Lean, Snr.”

In a letter received in Sydney in January, 1945, Lieut. Kilner mentioned another Rabaul man: “Jack Barrie (Rabaul Electricity) was not in the prison camp with the others, and I did not see him during the action. There is no word of him at all.” (Editorial Note: From apparently authentic reports received from several sources, it is believed that Barry met his death at Tol, New Britain, in the Japanese massacre there in the early stages of the enemy occupation of the Gazelle Peninsula in 1942. Kilner and Archer were also reported victims of the Tol massacre, but later were reported POW in Japan.) 31 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH,, 194 5

W. Kopsen & Co. Pty. Ltd.

Shipchandlers & Hardware Merchants

Manufacturers °f all classes of boat-building materials and boat accessories. Agents for the best Australian hardware manufacturers. Some of the new attractive lines are as follows; Kopsen's 300 c.p. Kerosene Pressure Lamps; Thermil Kerosene Stoves; Darlton Blowlamps; CQR Anchors; Vortex Bilge Pumps; Companion Primus Stoves; Briggs & Stratton Petrol Motors and Power Generators; Dekol Wood Preservative, Alpha Antifouling Paints, Please Send List of Your Requirements for Quotation.

Simplex 10/12 h.p. Marine Engine Also made in 3 h.p. and 5 h.p.

Simplex Marine Engines

for all small boats are the most popular in Australia to-day.

Used by all Service Departments, including Navy, R.A.A.F., and Army. Available at present only for essential orders or licensed fishermen.

SIMPLEX LAUNCHES we regret are temporarily unavailable, but we shall be pleased to forward details on request. >.

Simplex Motor Launches, 14 ft., 16 ft., 18 ft., and 20 ft. long. 376/382 KENT STREET, 'Phone: MA6336 (6 lines).

SYDNEY, N.S.W.

Cables: Kopsen Sydney.

On April 25: Most Important Meeting in World History rpHE most important assembly m the A history of the human race will take place in San Francisco on April 25 1945. Representatives of all the belligerent nations—except Axis and non-liberated nations—will gather there to create an international organisation which will prevent another World War, and which may take steps to remove the causes of war (greed, poverty, injustice, oppression), World War I ended in an Armistice, based on the Fourteen Points of President Wilson. The Fourteen Points provided for the creation of a League of Nations—which was to prevent future wars. The League was hamstrung from its inception mostly because two of the world’s four greatest nations, United States and Russia, were not members. USA, home of the Fourteen Points, swung to isolationism, and abandoned the League. Russia was in the throes of revolution. From about 1931, the League became merely a gorgeous facade at Geneva, and the Rome- Berlin-Tokio Axis, unchecked, prepared for World War 11.

Having bv a escanpd g thp npHis S nf l i e Q‘RQ°L m 5 C i 0S ’

Ji.? ? enl . s °f 1939-42 and become world-dominant in 1944-45, the three Great Powers of Britain, United States and Russia are planning an international authority which will prevent war. In September and October, 1944, the representatives of the United Nations (United States, Russia, Britain and China) met in conference at Dumbarton Oaks, United States; and they there hammered out the framework of a plan for an international organisation designed to police the post-war world, forbid wars and, above all, remove the economic and social conditions which lead to international friction.

The conference finished on October 7, and the outline of the plan quickly was submitted to every non-Axis Government in the world. Wholly in principle, and generally in substance, it was approved by all the Allied nations (over 20).

WHEN the Big Three (Churchill, " Roosevelt and Stalin) met at Yalta, In the Crimea, in January, and got ready for the final and early destruction of the power of Germany and Japan, they resolved also that there should be a very early conference of all the nations, to form the international organisation outlined at Dumbarton Oaks. That is the conference to be opened in San Francisco on April 25.

The proposed set-up has as yet no name: it still is referred to as “an organisation.” It must have a headquarters; but no place has even been hinted at.

Practically all the non-Axis nations capable of expressing an opinion have approved the plan; but, whether they approve or not, the plan will go through, and will function, because the Big Three, being in this matter completely in accord, have agreed that it shall. The rest of the nations will do what they are told—or else!

Those of us who have seen the horrors of two World Wars, and witnessed the pitiful breakdown of the League of Nations because it was too cumbersome, and had no teeth, can but thank God that at last there has arisen an authority (the Big Three) strong enough to really take charge of world affairs, and with vision enough to make an intelligent attempt to drag humanity out of the morass into which it has fallen.

The Dumbarton Oaks plan, which the ’Frisco conference will implement, is too long for publication'here. But we have compiled, from the official report issued on October 11, the following summary of its recommendations:

Dumbarton Oaks Plan

AN organisation is to be set up to maintain international peace and security, by collective action. There must be international co-operation in the solution of economic and social and other humanitarian problems, which otherwise might lead to international friction, and 32 MARCH. 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

Kidney Trouble and Backache Gone in 1 Week Flush Kidneys With Cystex and You'll Feel Fine Cystex—the prescription of a famous doctor —improves faulty kidney action in double quick time, so, if you suffer from Rheumatism, Sciatica, Neuritis, Lumbago, Backache, Nervousness, Leg Pains, Dizziness, Circles under Eyes, frequent Headaches and colds, poor Energy and Appetite, Puffy Ankles or Interrupted Sleep, go to your chemist to-day for Cystex.

Cystex Helps Nature 3 Ways The Cystex treatment is highly scientific, being specially compounded to soothe, tone and clean kidneys and bladder and to remove acids and poisons from your system safely, quickly and surely, yet contains no harsh, harmful or dangerous drugs. Cystex wo-ks In these 3 ways to end your troubles: — (1) Starts killing, the germs which are attacking your Kidneys, Bladder and urinary system in two hours, yet is absolutely harmless to human tissue. (2) Gets rid of health-destroying, deadly poisonous acids with which your system has become saturated. (3) Strengthens and reinvigorates the kidneys, protects you from the ravages of diseaseattack on the delicate filter organism, and stimulates the entire system.

Feels a Different Woman “I have been taking Cystex for Kidney and Bladder trouble and it has made a different woman of me. I am feeling splendid, can do all my work, run about and walk miles although I am 63 years of age. Cystex does all you claim for it.”—(Sgd.) M. L. Zessin, Thompson Estate, Brisbane.

Now Able to Walk Without Stick ‘‘l had Kidney and Bladder complaint, pains in leg and back; in fact, I had to use a walking stick. I have used two bottles of Cystex, now I have no pains anywhere. I consider Cystex the greatest medicine in the world for Kidney complaint.”—(Sgd.) J. McPherson, Nangeribone Station, N.S.W.

Guaranteed to Satisfy or Money Back Get Cystex from your chemist to-day. Give it a thorough test. Cystex Is guaranteed to make you feel younger, stronger, better In every way, or your money back If you return the empty package. Act now!

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JEAN DIDIER Pans i At m present being *r. made in Australia m J 7/ JEAN DIDIER'S Famous PERFUMES will soon be available Sole Distributing Agent for the Pacific Islands : E. J. BRIAL, 528 Collins St., Melbourne.

Enquiries through your usual channels appreciated.

W* | | | k | r* \ 1 Bond Street, Sydney, Australia.

H-k J t y'j JJ l V J TeL B 4167. Box 3615 G.P.O.

SUPPLIERS OF GENERAL MERCHANDISE TO LEADING FIRMS THROUGHOUT THE

Pacific Islands

Exporters .... Importers ... . Manufacturers' Representatives Bankers; Bank N.B.W. Bank of Adelaide. Comptoir Nat. d’Escompte de Paris.

War Time Cable Address: GOUGH CO., 1 BONDSTREET, SYDNEY.

Codes: Bentley’s, 2nd and Comp. Phrase; A.8.C., sth and 6th; Peterson, 2nd and 3rd; Banking; Acme, to war. A centre is to be found, where international action for these purposes may be harmonised.

In pursuit of these purposes, the members of the international organisation should act in accordance with a set of principles, which include the sovereign equality of all peace-loving nations; and each member to accept certain obligations for the purpose of maintaining world-wide peace. Each member is to assist the organisation where necessary in enforcing the Charter, and to refrain from assisting non-member States in resisting the organisation. All peaceting States may become members.

The structure of the organisation should be; A General Assembly; a Security Council; an International Court of Justice; a Secretariat; and whatever subsidiary agencies may be found necessary.

The General Assembly, comprising representatives of member States in numbers fixed by their individual charters, should meet annually to consider any matters relating to the maintenance of international peace, and to make recommendations concerning same to the Security Council, and to other executive agencies of the organisation. Each member should have one vote, and important decisions should be made only by a twothirds majority.

Subject to certain clearly defined rules, the security Council should be the execufive boc jy of the organisation, and should exer cise absolute power in carrying out the ob j ec ts of the organisation: and all mem ber States should accept the obligation to support the Council in that respect. The Council should consist of one representative of each of 11 States (five of which should always represent Britain, United States, Russia, France an fi china, and six elected by the General Assembly). Voting procedure in the Security Council has still to be fixed. The Security Council should function contmuously; but, while each member State should have permanent representation at the organisation’s headquarters, the Council should have liberty to meet anywhere, at any time.

The International Court of Justice should be constituted in accordance with a Statute which would be part of the Charter of the organisation.

International disputes which threaten peace should be dealt with immediately by the Security Council, which is empowered to take any action deemed necessary. Normally, disputes which appear 33 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

TOBACCO “hIAILROD”—Fo Native Trade

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Indent through your Sydney Agent, or direct through the Sole Export Distributors ; C. SULLIVAN Pty. Ltd. 379 Kent Street, Sydney, N.S.W.

C. SULLIVAN Pty. Ltd.

General Merchants Islands Agents

REPRESENTING LEADING FIRMS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Islands Produce sold on Shippers’ Account—Liberal Advances against Consignments.

Buyers of all Islands’ Requirements on Commission—Original Invoices Furnished.

Bankers'. Bank of New South Wales .. Bank of New Zealand .. Comptoir National d’Escompte de Paris.

Wartime Cable Address: Sullivan, Kentstreet, Sydney. 379 KENT STREET, SYDNEY, N.S.W. 34 MARCH, 1945- PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

A. B. DONALD Ltd.

AUCKLAND

Island Traders & General Merchants

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Telegraphic and Cable Address; "Gilbeys" Melbourne 109 REGENT STREET, SYDNEY Telegraphic and Cable Address; "Gilbeys” Sydney incapable of settlement by negotiation, should go to the Court of Justice. But if the threat to peace is urgent, or if reference to the Court is impracticable, or if the authority of the Council or the Court is defied, then the Council may take any measures it thinks fit to maintain the peace, including the use of armed force.

“Nothing in the Charter should preclude the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security as are appropriate for regional action’ —but, of course, all regional arrangements are to be in accord with the purposes and principles of the organisation.

The General Assembly should set up an Economic and Social Council for “the creation of conditions of stability and well-being, which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations.”

The General Assembly would nominate 18 States, whose representatives would constitute the E. and S. Council. The Council would have a permanent Secretariat. and would have power to carry out the decisions of the General Assembly; to make recommendations, on its own initiative, to the Assembly; to receive and consider renorts from all agencies brought into relationship with the organisation.

TO better understand what is planned, a comparison may be made between the League of Nations and the proposed set-up, which may be called DO (Dumbarton Oaks).

In the League, the paramount authority lay with the General Assembly, which was composed of the representatives of "'some 50 little nations, and a few big nations, and in which the vote of the little nation was almost equal to that of the big nation. The Council appeared to be important—actually, it was dragged always at the tail of the Assembly.

The DO plan places the authority wholly and absolutely in the hands of the Security Council, which can enforce the co-operation of member States in maintaining peace.

In the League set-up, the nations could withdraw, and ignore their obligations, and little could be done about it.

Under the DO plan, nations which do not join the “organisation” will be at a very grave disadvantage in world affairs; and those who do wish to enter may not do so until they have given certain undertakings that they will support the Council in whatever police actions the Council considers necessary.

In the League organisation, the control was clumsy and top-heavy. In the new set-up, the control will be in the hands of a permanent Security Council of eleven persons, five of them the direct representatives of the Big Three, France and China.

Under the League, any nation which decided to defy the League’s wishes (seizure of Manchuria by Japan, and of Abyssinia by Italy, for example) could “get away with it.” But, under the DO plan, the Security Council need not wait even for Assembly discussion; it will have authority to immediately attack the offending nation with the strong forces permanently at its disposal.

Small disputes in distant places 35 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH. 1945

TAHITI SOUVENIRS BEAUTIFUL SHELL NECK-

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SHELLS IN BULK, COLOUR- FUL HULA COSTUMES.

Posted, or Shipped Wholesale, from TAHITI “The Pearl of the Pacific.”

Wholesale inquiries especially invited.

Write or Cable direct to

John R. Farnham

Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands.

Woven Wire for all Industry

Copra Drying Trays, Floors, Etc

FRUIT DRYING TRAYS, MINING SCREENS.

Heavy Mosquito Gauze in Phosphor Bronze and other Metals Impervious to Salt Sea Air.

Wire Door Mats And General Wire Works

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For Skin Sores , Pimples and Itch, could not be dealt with by the topheavy and centralised League. But the DO plan provides for “regional arrangements,” so that local disputes can be settled locally, with reference to the central authority necessary only when all other means fail.

The League, theoretically, tried to remove the causes of war, but actually it did nothing. The DO proposal provides for a special Economic and Social Council, with wide powers, the general purpose of which is to remove the economic and social causes of friction between nations.

Before the new “organisation” can function, the huge but useless structure of the League of Nations (which in 1928 was costing about £1,000.000 per annum) has to be got out of the way and liquidated.

Mr. Henry Dexter, formerly a trader at Milne Bay, Papua, and now a tomatoplanter at “Samarai,” Hayling Island, Hants., England, is 80 years old on March 26, In a recent letter, he sends greetings ■to Papua friends—and one infers from his remarks that, while his body is in Hayling Island, his heart remains with his memories in his old trade-store on Milne Bay.

MOKOGAI The Story of Fiji's Model Leper Settlement rIS map is a reproduction of the cover of a small booklet issued by the Information Office, Suva, Fiji, and written by Dr. C. J. Austin, Medical Superintendent of Mokogai Central Leper Hospital. It is, as the title indicates, the story of the Hospital since its inauguration in November, 1911.

Dr. Austin describes Mokogai as “noted for its beauty . . . the varying blues and green of the lagoon, the white of the surf contrasting with golden sands and the red roofs of the buildings enhancing the grace and colour of coconut and other tropical trees, provide a picture to stimulate the most jaded taste.”

Dr. Austin says that there is evidence from Fijian mythology and the language to indicate that leprosy was known in the Fijian islands long before the advent of Europeans or Asiatics. Mention was made of the disease by the earliest missionaries, and it was found after Cession that leprosy was a serious and increasing problem. Fijian chiefs, it is said, ascribed this increase to the Government’s action in forbidding the clubbing of advanced cases. A Lepers’ Ordinance was passed in 1899 and a station was established on the island of Beqa; this was later removed to Mokogai, in 1911.

There were 44 patients at that time but as the years passed the numbers increased —not because the disease increased, but because other Territories arid islands were included in the scheme. There were 631 inmates at the end of 1943.

The staff to-dav consists 6f the Medical Superintendent, 16 Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary and ten native Sisters to assist them. Apart from the general nursing in the hospital itself, the Sisters, each day, visit the hospital villages for inspection purposes: they also do the laboratory work, assist at operations and the more medical aspects of the clerical work of the settlement. They also control the patients’ rations and run the Cooperative Store.

The lav staff includes a clerk, farm overseer. Public Works overseer, foreman mechanic. Captain of the “Mokogai.” a baker and a lorry driver, as well as Fijians and Indians working under the foregoing.

The main hosnital area is divided into a women’s and a men’s section; but the more able-bodied people live in villages— 36 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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The women do a great deal of the laundry and mending work for the men and are expert needlewomen. Some of the men have become expert house and boat builders, under the supervision of one of their members, and are regularly employed by the Public Works Department of Fiji.

IN the matter of treatment, Chaulmoogra Oil is regarded as of first importance, although every type of leprosy treatment has been tried at Mokogai. Mokogai’s own Hydnocarpus trees (from which the oil comes) provides about half of their requirements. An appeal was made a year or so ago to Fiji planters to grow one or two of these trees and thus assist in the good work.

Leprosy cannot yet be said to have a cure; “arrested” is the word used in connection with a patient who has shown no clinical or bacteriological signs of leprotic activity over a period of two years. Of the 660 patients discharged on parole, and subject to periodic examination, 103 have had to be re-admitted to Mokogai. The average of re-admitted cases has, however, fallen by 5 per cent, in the last decade.

Dr. Austin, in conclusion, states that there is still some controversy with regard to contagion, and therefore the isolation policy. In 1919 there were 352 Fijian patients at the hospital; to-day there are 444, an increase of 92. This might seem that the isolation policy had coihpletely failed, but it is pointed out that in 1919, all cases admitted were in advanced stages—no cases at all were admitted in the early and relatively non-infectious stages.

To-day, however, all cases admitted are in the early stages and stand a very good chance of ultimately returning to normal life.

This booklet, which is profusely illustrated with excellent photographs, gives the outsider a new line of thought.

Leprosy which is traditionally regarded a$ something abhorrent and calamitous is brought into new focus in reading of the model settlement of Mokogai.

The Selection Committee which recently awarded the first Morris Hedstrom University Scholarship to Ravuama Vunivalu consisted of Mr. F. R. J. Davies, Acting Director of Education, Fiji; Mr. Robert Munro, LL.B., Auckland University: and Sir Maynard Hedstrom, of Suva, Fiji.

Lautoka Thanks Its Town

Board Chairman

rE conclusion of the Lautoka (Fiji) Town Board’s activities for 1944 was made an occasion for a vote of appreciation to Mr. David P. Ragg, chairman of the Board., Deputy-chairman, Mr. H. W. Gray, in replying to the chairman’s seasonal greetings, said: “The progressive and conscientious policies adopted by the chairman has brought about many commendable improvements in the town area, despite the small amount of funds available. The chairman’s unsparing efforts on behalf of the community has involve.d far-sighted, intelligent and sedulous planning, particularly in this initial year of the Board under the town’s new constitution.”

He voiced the sentiments of all members when he stated that it had been a pleasure to serve under the chairman.

Meetings and deliberations throughout the year were conducted with the utmost harmony, and members indicated that they would be happy to serve another year under the able * direction of his chairmanship.

Mr. David P. Ragg, since January, 1944, has been Lautoka’s first chairman under its new constitution. He is a son of the Hon. H. H. Ragg, MLC, of Fiji.

Other members of the Town Board are: Dr. James Taylor (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. R. B. Roberts (District Engineer), and Messrs. C. A. Adams, J.

Bucknell, R. Prasad, A. Lakshman and Ratu Meli Qoro. Mr. R. C. Evans is the Town Clerk.

Captain A. S. Fitch, the energetic and apparently tireless founder of Steamships Trading Co., Ltd., of Papua, was laid low by illness a couple of months ago, and finally .underwent special treatment at the Wahroonga Sanatorium, Sydney. He took a definite turn for the better early in March, and now is making a satisfactory recovery. 37 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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CHICAGO, USA. a i t SLI Easter Is. Glyphs Probably Belong to Much Later Period Than Statue-makers TAHITI, Dec. 14.

IHAVE been looking again at the problems of the Easter Island glyphs.

A re-examination of my sources of information has convinced me that there is not the slightest evidence to connqpt the celebrated inscribed wooden tablets with the very remote period of image sculpture on Easter. It is clear that the present inhabitants bear no relationship with the ancient artisans who carved those grim guardians.

Men so indefatigable as workers in stone—had they possessed any system of ideographs—would not have entrusted the perpetuation of their literature (whether sacred or common) to. perishable tablets of wood. Nor would any island timber have survived the long centuries following the departure of the last of the original inhabitants.

Two interpretations of the mystical script have been described by Mr. William Churchill, in the introduction of his scholarly “Easter Island”: “In the first volume of the Journal of the Polynesian Society (1892) Dr. A. Carroll, of New South Wales, undertook to read them. The reading was far too glib; it was a record of obscure events upon the slopes of the Andes, Called upon to explain the principles of interpretation, Dr Carroll vanishes from the record.

“Paymaster Thomson was an eye-witness of the reading of the hieroglyphs by an Easter Islander. He has to acknowledge that a fraud was practised upon him by the reader. Yet he offers what purports to be the text and translation of several of these tablet records . . .

“The translation can have no value save only insofar as it shows that Dr.

Carroll’s version is in no wise concerned with the same part of the world.”

A generation of vipers has grown up on Easter —and on many other islands as well —whose delight has been to lead unsuspecting scientists into enticing bypaths which invariably end in the deserts of confusion worse confounded.

These gentry—foreseeing the day when scientists (now gnawing at their chains in the dismal, dusty apartments of their museums) will again be free to ransack the islands—are, no doubt, preparing new material to astonish and excite the investigators.

The obvious and logical explanation that the hieroglyphs of Easter Island tablets are merely mnemonic symbols, designed to guide the priesthood of a lately-arrived neo-Polynesian tribe, through the intricate complications of elaborate ritual, would rob them of their mystery and, at the same time, destroy a thriving industry.

Many prows will be pointed toward Easter in the not distant future.- ACR.

New Tb Hospital In Fiji

rE Methodist Overseas Missions had been asked to supply a nursing staff for a hospital for tubercular patients which the Fijian Government had decided to establish at Tamsmia, in Fiii, the secretary of the missions (Rev. J. W. Burton) told members of the Women’s Auxiliary at their annual meeting in Sydney in March.

A matron, three trained nurses, and 10 trainees would be required. Four nurses had already volunteered, Mr. Burton said.

For rehabilitation awaiting the missions in the Islands and in India, £lOO,OOO had been saved, but .it was possible that £250,000 would be needed.

Mr. V. R. Cleary, of the Fiji Customs Department, has been transferred to Northern Rhodesia as a Customs Officer.

He was born in Suva and joined the Customs Department as a clerk in 1927 and has been in the Customs Department continuously. During last year he acted as Comptroller of Customs at Lautoka.

A recent portrait of Ravuama Vunivalu, winner of the Morris Hedstrom Scholarship for 1945.

This award was announced in February “PIM.” 39 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH. 1945

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ANGAU Officer Married in Sydney CAPTAIN KEVIN CLARK ATKINSON, of ANGAU, was married to Miss Patricia Charker, in the Archbishop’s Chapel, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, on March 11.

Captain Atkinson is a son of Captain O. J. Atkinson, also of ANGAU, who was Resident Magistrate at Buna, Papua, prior to the Japanese invasion of the area.

An elder brother, Mr. R. Atkinson, was a Queensland Rhodes Scholar and is now an aeronautical engineer working for the British Government in England.

Ersatz Curios

A Flourishing Trade in Polynesia From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, Feb. 1. rjTHE article of commerce popularly A known as the Hawaiian grass skirt, is not compounded of grass. In these islands, it is fashioned from the inner bark of the Fau tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus).

The process, from the tree to finished costume, is long, complicated, and requires skill and patience.

Actually, this ’Ahu More—as the skirt (and the corselet and headpiece which usually go with it) is named, is the only “curio” available in the islands which is not ersatz. Most of the other objects offered as “curios” are manufactured by Chinamen and Europeans with the aid of noisy, power-driven machines.

Before 1914 the old Boche sent out shiploads of carefully executed replicas of Polynesian artifacts which were judiciously planted in the several islands.

We suspect that many of these ersatz artifacts are now reposing - in museums whither they were taken by learned scientists who swarmed over the islands during the notorious 1920 decade.

The ’Ahu More are now in great request, as souvenirs, by men of our armed forces. This “curio” commerce has brought considerable (so-called) Dollar Prosperity to the islands. Unhappily, most of the gain has stuck to the fingers of predatory middlemen. We learn from the radio that the proprietors of the several Hollywood honky-tonks have been “brought before Jhe beak” on charges of scandalously overcharging men of the armed forces. That, precisely, is what is going on in the islands of the Pacific.

War profiteers are an undying race. As often as not, they are the very men who radio to our soldiers and sailors overseas— “We are behind you 100 per cent.” So they are; but the percentage is usually very much higher!

The notorious 1920 decade in the United States was a saturnalia of war profiteers —a prolonged Witches’ Sabbath of ghouls and harpies fattened on the blood of battlefields.

During this war, the vampires appear to have been frustrated. The little leeches, however, swarm merrily in the jungle growth of the wilderness through which we are passing.

N. Caledonian Resident

Killed In Italy

From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Feb. 9.

CHARLES WITT, a New Caledonian of Australian origin, has been killed on the Italian front. His mother is in Sydney.

During the war he served here in the French censor’s office and then became secretary of M. Antier, of the civilian section of the d’Argenlieu mission, with whom he eventually left for London.

There he asked to see service with his Caledonian compatriots of the Pacific Battalion, wtih whom he was serving as aspirant, or cadet officer, at the time of his death.

He was a most likeable and hard working young man whom it was always a pleasure to meet when one entered the censor’s office in Governor Sautot’s day, and sympathy goes out to his family in their loss. 40 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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41 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH. 1945

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Fijian Affairs Personnel Appointed From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Feb. 21.

THE constitution of the Fijian Affairs Board under the Fijian Affairs Ordinance, has been announced and comprises the following personnel: Lieut.-Col. the Hon. Ratu J. L. V. Sukuna, CBE, Secretary for Fijian Affairs; Hon. Ratu George C. Tuisawau, Roko Tui, Rewa; Hon. Ratu Tiale W. T. Vuiyasawa, Roko Tui, Ba; Hon. Ratu George B. Toganivalu, Roko Tui, Bua; Hon. Ratu Edward T. Cakobau, MC, Roko Tui, Lomaiviti; Hon. Ratu George W. Lalabalavu, MSM, Roko Tui, Cakaudroye; Sir Henry M. Scott, KC, legal adviser; R. H.

Lester, clerk and treasurer; J. R. Stevenson, accountant; E. Tuiloma grade “A” clerk; W. C. Nayagodamu,- grade “B" clerk.

Henri Sautot Promoted

Prom Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Feb. 12.

THAT good Republican, Henri Sautot, whom the New Caledonian “broussards” or “maquis” brought from the New Hebrides to be first Free French Governor, has at last seen his services to his country rewarded by promotion to Administrator, First Class.

As Governor of the Province of Oubangui-Chari, in Central Africa, he last year attended the Brazzaville Conference of Governors and delegates from all French African territories. The conference approved a proposal that a mission be sent to Russia to study methods of rapid development in outlying regions.

Territorian Wedding In

SYDNEY Miss Fay Macgregor on her wedding day. A report of the wedding appears on page 19.

Peter Kilner, nephew of the bride, acted as pageboy. —Photo by Howard Harris. 42

March, 194 & - Pacific Islands Monthly

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| MANUFACTURERS r ‘ will answer enquiries, 'Phone MX 2411, or write to G.P.O, Box 474, Sydney. •s; -j' Local Distributors: Asbestos • cement sheets Are You a PAPUAN?

One of Papua's "Forgotten People"?

Don't be Forgotten !

Join the PAPUAN ASSOCIATION and help your countrymen to help YOU.

Papua’s future lies in the hands of her people.

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Fight For It!

For particulars of postwar policy apply (enclosing bona fides) Secretary, The Papuan Association, G.P.O. Box 571-J, Brisbane.

N. Caledonia Nickel for Europe And Cheap Electricity for Noumea From Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Feb, 9.

THE important role that New Caledonian nickel may play in the reconstruction of Western Europe was indicated to me this week by Monsieur Rapadzie, manager of the Nickel Company here. He said that, although the contract under which the Colony has, since 1940, furnished all its nickel output, save the requirements of Australian industry, to the United States came to an end on December 31 last, there is a great probability that all the 1945 production will still ga to America, where it will be made available to the Governments of war-torn France, Belgium, Holland and Italy.

As the uses of nickel in times of peace are as important as its wartime uses, the demand for Caledonian nickel is not likely to fall. In the last two or three years, with American technical improvements, Noumea smelters have maintained their production at almost the pre-war level, two furnaces doing as much work as three furnaces previously.

M. Rapadzie revealed that when a Japanese invasion of this island was expected early in 1942, Australian commandos had everything prepared, in cooperation with the company’s staff, to destroy vital parts of the Point Doniambo smelters, and to hide other parts.

At the company’s Yate smelters at the extreme point of the south-east coast, arrangements were made to dismantle and hide the regulators of the hydroelectric works, which were a Swiss patent irreplaceable by the Japanese, and this could also have been done with a minimum of delay. mHE Nickel Co. has now in hand an J. important plan which will lower the cost of electricity in the township of Noumea to one-quarter or one-fifth of its present high price of 5 frs. the kilowatt.

This is a' high figure by Australian or New Zealand standards —Sydney electricity costs the householder only about onetenth of the Noumea charge—and a cheaper supply will be a boon to small industrialists and workshops in this backward port, as well as for household use and badly needed refrigeration. Port installations should also benefit. The current will be brought 37 miles from Yate, where the works have been closed down since electrolytic smelting ceased there in 1932. This was at the time of a nickel slump, when the Thio smelters were also closed and all Caledonian smelting concentrated at Noumea. The cost of the scheme is in the region of 40,000,000 francs (£250,000), and the line is expected to be through by about July, 1946.

The route has recently been surveyed by an Australian engineer, Mr. Carter, in conjunction with the company’s engineers, and will cross the solid ironstone Plaine des Lacs, about the most barren region of New Caledonia, and then go underneath the new road constructed by French military forces to the La Coulee River and the capital. The copper wire has been ordered in the USA and the transformers, switches and piles are likely to come from Australia.

The industry, says M. Rapadzie, is organising to produce more; also to refine nickel to 99.5 per cent, pure instead of having this done in Europe as formerly (matte of 78 per cent, nickel being sent there from the Noumea smelters). This will be possible because electrolysis will be able to supplement the present blast furnace smelting. The average power available from Yate was given me as 8,000 kilowatts per month, the maximum being 14,000 kilowatts in the height of the rainy season, falling to perhaps 3,000 in months of low rain such as October - November. 43 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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Floor always ask for it Harbour Cruise A Howling Success THE Pacific Territories Association cruise on Sydney Harbour, on February 23, drew the largest crowd of Territorians ever collected in one spot in Sydney. It is estimated that between seven and eight hundred people were on the ferry when it left Circular Quay— and, for once, most of them were early and the ferry was late.

The roar of sound from No. 7 wharf, as the Territorians loosened up their tongues, could be heard two blocks away.

And with little interruption this went on after they had eihbarked, and throughout the rest of the evening. A musical programme had been arranged, but it is a safe bet that not more than two people on board had any idea what it was about.

In other words, the whole show was an unqualified success: when a Territorian can meet friends whom he may not have seen for many moons, and talk his head off, he is supremely happy. There have been many requests to the PTA for a repeat performance. If this should happen, it has been suggested that the executive hire “King George V,” or the Sydney Town Hall, in order to give plenty of space to move about; and that, if music is provided, it be only in the form of a soft, background noise against which Territorians swopping news or reminiscences will not have to compete.

The PTA executive is to be congratulated on a good idea, and on the admirable organisation which made of it so great a success.

News has been received that Mr. Tony Wane, of Ba, Fiji, who is serving in Italy has been wounded. He is a son of Mr and Mrs. Geo. Wane, of Rarawai

Papuan Association

Still on Warpath HAVING gained little or no satisfaction from the present Government (represented by External Territories Minister Ward) the Papuan Association of Brisbane has decided to try the other side of the political fence.

A telegram has been sent to Mr. Menzies—who the Association feels may have some barbs in his armoury they do not possess—asking him to inquire into the Government’s reasons for not restoring civil control. The telegram emphasised the fact that in other areas reoccupied by Allied Nations forces, civil administration naturally followed those forces.

A member of the Association speaking in Brisbane, recently, said that certain selected planters and their wives were being permitted to return to selected areas providing that the wives paid their own fares and freight. Apparently the Government intended to make all evacuees pay their own fares when they returned to the Territories

Nelson & Robertson'S

Jubilee Celebration

A NUMBER of old business and personal friends of the firm of Nelson & Robertson Pty., Ltd., met at dinner at Ushers Hotel, Sydney, on February 20, as the ‘guests of the directors, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the business. Mr. Norman Nelson, presiding, created a happy and mellow atmosphere, in which memories of the good old days found an interested audience.

The first toast honoured, after “The King,” was a tribute to the late Ivan Nelson, founder of the firm, and his energetic profitable activities among the Pacific Islands were recalled. All the old servants of the company, with their wives, were present as guests, and directors took the opportunity to praise their long and loyal service. Mr. J. A. Burke brought greetings from an associated Queensland company. A toast was drunk to Mrs. Ivan Nelson, widow of the founder, and “She’s a Jolly Good Fellow’’ was sung very heartily. 44 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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Split In Guinea Airways

mHE disagreement among shareholders J. of Guinea Airways, Ltd., on the proposed merger with Australian National Airways (which was defeated in a general meeting) looks like developing into a legal squabble. Four of the directors responsible for the merger plan resigned. The four vacancies were contested by two panels: Pro-Merger: S. Powell, A. Moulden, R.

B. Wiltshire, W. lan Potter.

Anti-Merger: R. M. Ansett, Donald Reid, L. H. M. Marritt, R. P. Goode.

The voting at the general meeting called to elect four directors was very close, and was complicated by the lodgement of an extraordinary number of proxies.

After an adjournment, and a counting of votes, it was announced that the Pro- Merger Panel had been successful, by a comparatively small majority.

Although there has been no indication that the merger plan will be proceeded with, there appears to be much ill-feeling between the two sections of shareholders.

Mr. R. M. Ansett has announced that he intends to challenge the election of the four directors in the South Australian Courts. (GA head office is in Adelaide.)

Ng Club Party

ABOUT 60 people attended the bridge party arranged by the New Guinea Women’s Club of Sydney, in the Feminist Club Rooms, on March 3.

Although there was not such a large gathering as is usual at club functions, members who attended enjoyed a pleasant evening at cards.

The next social function will be held at some date yet to be fixed in April.

Further Fmf Awards

NEW awards to members of the Fiji Military Forces were announced in mid-February. They included the award of OBE to Major S. G. C. Cowled and of MBE to Captain J. S. Thomson.

Major Cowled, who in civilian life is a Methodist missionary in Fiji, is Senior Chaplain to the Fiji Military Forces. He went overseas with the Ist Battalion and served in the Solomons for 16 months.

The citation accompanying his award said that during that time he made the wellbeing of troops of all creeds his constant concern. His influence could be discerned throughout the spiritual and social life of the Battalion.

Captain Thomson in civilian life is an officer in the Administrative Service in Fiji. He was Adjutant of the 3rd Battalion during the five months when it was serving on Bougainville.

Suva Memories

Letter to the Editor MR. HANCOCK is substantially correct in his description (in your issue of November) of the episode of the horse-trough. But he omitted the lady in the affair. One of the lads was a member of the Bank of N.S.W. staff, who bet the Bank of NZ lad, in the presence of the lady, that he was not game to dive into the horse-trough. He lost.

On the following New Year’s Day the lad who dived into the horse-trough espied an Indian laundryman’s delivery van outside the Grand Pacific Hotel. He promptly took charge and drove the van all over Suva, delivering the laundry indiscriminately, so that Mrs. Jones received Mrs. Smith’s washing, and Mrs.

Brown received that of Mrs. Jones. In fact, there was such a mix-up that the episode nearly ended in a riot.

Needless to say, head office heard nothing of these affairs. They were happy days.

That la has made the supreme sacrifice. Rest to his gallant soul!

I am, etc., ATHOL MATTHEWS.

Auckland. 45 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

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Mr. A. I. Biggs, an assistant master of the Boys’ Grammar School, Suva, was recently admitted to the Colonial Service, and has now been transferred to the Gold Coast, W. Africa.

Papeete Street Names

From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, Feb. 1. /|LD customs are very tenacious. For example, every avenue and by-way of Papeete has been duly named; yet I doubt if anyone has the foggiest idea of the name of the highway on which his domicile is situated.

Long ago, while Papeete was a Polynesian community, each little section was given a Tahitian name. Those names persist. One may be aware that he resides in Orovini, or in Taunoa, and be profoundly ignorant of the street names thereabout.

When -street names appear on official notices, one has to inquire regarding the district in which they are situated in order to identify the location.

Caledonians fa be "Rescued"

From Australia Prom Our Own Correspondent NOUMEA, Feb. 9.

THERE is some hope that the many New Caledonians stranded in Australia will soon be able to return to this country, if not by ship, then by air.

Through the intervention of the representative of the French Government in the Commonwealth, an Australian company is said to be prepared to put a 20passenger plane at the disposal of such passengers for two or three flights, Sydney-Brisbane-Noumea, during the present month. This should considerably relieve the situation.

With the authorisation of the Noumea authorities, Caledonians bound for Australia for health or business reasons will be taken as return passengers. The single fare is quoted at 5,670 francs. (About £A35.)

Sir Charles Rosenthal

MUCH satisfaction was expressed in Norfolk Island recently when it became known that the Australian Government had decided to keep Sir Charles Rosenthal in office as Administrator for the present, although his five years’ appointment had expired.

Sir Charles has been one of the most energetic Administrators the little Territory has ever known. Before the Pacific War, he directed his attention to public works and the establishment of new industries. The war created for him a large volume of additional work; and as he is a distinguished military officer (rank of Major-general) he was able to render very useful service in connection with war organisation in this part of the world.

Fijians Farewell Their Co

MEN of his battalion recently farewelled Lieut.-Colonel A. B. Ackland, commanding officer of the First Battalion, Fiji Labour Corps. * He was accorded full Fijian cerefnonies and was presented with an engraved tabua, a tortoise-shell cigarette case and an album containing photographs of the Battalion camp and personnel and views of Fiji.

Lieut.-Colonel Ackland left shortly afterwards for England, where he will attend courses in connection with the Land Agency to be set up to deal with native lands in British Colonies. He was accompanied by three Fijians, who will be his assistants on his return. 46 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY

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Bicycles and Cargocycles.

Animal Glues for all Purposes.

Electric Lighting Plants.

Aromatic and Perfume Compounds, Camphor.

Pencils, Penholders, Erasers.

Grinding and Crushing Mills.

Californian and Mexican Wines.

Mexican Jade Curios, Ornaments.

Canned Fish, Piece Goods.

Motor Oils, Diesel Oils.

POST-WAR; Sewing Machines.

Refrigerators, Radio Receivers.

Paper Products.

Barbers’ Chairs, Beauty Parlor Fittings.

Electric Appliances.

Typewriters.

Tyres and Tubes.

Lumber.

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About Islands People

Messrs. W. H. B. Buckhurst and C. Harvey have been appointed official members of the Legislative Council of Fiji; and Mr. I. E. Lucchinelli and Dr. H. S. Evans have been appointed provisionally as official members.

Lieut.-Col. D. Junor, of the AIF, has recently been promoted to the rank of Colonel. Col. Junor left Fiji in July, 1940, to join the AIF as a Major in the Signal Corps. He served in the Middle East and North Africa and, after returning to Australia, went to New Guinea to commence a school of signals of the AIF forces in New Guinea. He is now on the headquarters staff at the Central Signals Training Depot in Victoria.

Mr. H. J. Moorhouse, who has been the manager of the Queensland Insurance Co., Ltd., for Fiji for the past 10 years, has been transferred as manager* for India and Burma. He expects to leave Fiji about next May. In his place, Mr. I. B. Chalmers has been appointed acting manager for Fiji. Mr. Chalmers is a son of Mr. Nat, Chalmers, solicitor, of Ba, and was born in Fiji. He was serving with the Fiji Military Forces until his recent discharge.

Good work has been done in Canberra during recent weeks, in framing the new Native Labour Ordinance for the Australian Pacific Territories, by Mr. Robert Melrose (former Director of the New Guinea. Department of Native Affairs)' and Mr. N. Penglase (former District Officer), The new Ordinance probably will come into operation simultaneously with the new Provisional Government; and it is anticipated that Messrs. Melrose and Penglase will hold important positions in that Government.

Mrs. Wikitoria Byron, hon. secretary of the Polynesian dub of Sydney, recently sustained the loss of her mother, Peepi Mokena, relict of the late Tamaiharoa te Tauri Mokena, of Awahou, Rotorua, NZ.

Mrs. Mokena was a chieftainess both of the Ngati Rangiwewehi, sub-tribe of the Arawa, and of the Ngati Ruanui of Taranaki, NZ.

Mr. C. W. Seton, well known in prewar days as a planter in the British Solomon Islands, has been awarded a DCM. He now is in the Australian Forces; but it is believed the decoration has been given for good wdrk done by him under the Americans, some two years ago, when the Japs were being cleared out of the Solomons.

Mr. Albert C. English, Papua’s oldest and most highly esteemed resident, has received official permission to return to the Territory and is now in Sydney awaiting transport. Mr. English was a youth of 20, when on June 23. 1883 —over 61 years ago—he landed at Kerapuna to collect natural history specimens. He spent the rest of his life in New Guinea, first as Government official, and latterly as planter. He enjoys magnificent health, and he is in better shape physically than many men thirty years his junior—but he is quite determined that he will not spend another winter in the chilly westerly winds of New South Wales.

Mr. E. Taylor, formerly Assistant Director of District Services in New Guinea, is now recovered after a very long illness, contracted in the service of ANGAU (where he held the rank of Colonel) and has been discharged from the Australian Forces. It is presumed that he will have a place in the new Provisional Administration.

A Fijian, Alipate Dovirata, who a few months ago was fined £5 and bound over for 12 months for assaulting a woman in Toorak Road, Suva, recently assaulted another European woman and was imprisoned for six weeks. The woman and her husband were walking along the street when the Fijian, in a state of intoxication, came along and used indecent language to the couple. The husband remonstrated with him, whereupon the Fijian knocked the woman down.

Papa Noel Brings Queer

THINGS From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, Jan. 2.

PAPA- NOEL —our Saint Nicholas —is quite as real to our South Sea children as he is to little tots elsewhere in the world.

The problem of toys for our babies has been*difficult. Some toy animals of a new and strange species have been evolved. Rag dolls that look like visitors from Mars have taken the place of the glamorous models of Hollywood blondes formerly available.

The spirit of Christmas is, nevertheless, unquenchable. Our babies have had quite as hilarious a time with their oddlooking presents from Saint Nicholas, as have those of other lands with their model tanks, airplanes and rocket-bombs. 47 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945

Copra (Plantation Grade) Copra (FMS Grade) .. £ 18/10/- Copra Sacks, each Kerosene, per gallon .... "

Flour, per sack, 32/6; per lb Sharps, per 140 lb. sack ... ' 94 /« Sharps, 5 lb.

Barbed Wire Pearl Shell, per ton ..

Beche-de-mer (best quality) about ib.

Beche-de-mer (raw fish) about lb Trocas Shell, per ton . . . . . 6d. . . 4d.

Benzine, per gal ' o/m Benzine (bowser), per gal COPRA South Sea, Plantation, Sun-dried Hot-air Dried.

London to London Rabaul Price on— Per ton. c.i.f.

Per ton. c.i.f.

January 1, , 1932 . £14 0 0 £14 15 0 June 17 . £13 2 6 £13 5 0 December 16 .. £14 2 6 £14 5 0 January 6, 1933 . £13 0 0 £13 12 6 June 30 . £10 17 6 £11 0 0 December 1 . . . . £8 12 6 £9 0 0 January 5, , 1934 ., £8 0 0 £8 7 6 June 15 . £8 i 0 0 £8 12 6 December 28 ., . £9 i 0 0 £9 12 6 January 4, , 1935 . . £9 5 0 £10 5 0 June 7 .. £11 15 0 £12 7 6 December 6 . . . . £12 17 6 £14 0 0 South Sea South Sea Plantation Smoked to Genoa Sun-dried Hot-air Dried London and Marseilles, to London.

Rabaul.

Price on— Per ton, , c.i.f.

Per ton, c.i.f. . Per ton. c.i.f.

Jan. 3, ’36 £13 ; 2 6 £13 15 0 £14 0 0 Mar. 6 . . £11 15 0 £12 15 0 £13 0 0 June 5 , £11 10 0 £12 0 0 £12 17 0 Sept. 4 . £13 : 2 6 £13 10 0 £14 12 6 Dec. 4 . £19 ' 7 6 £19 7 6 £20 7 S Jan. 8, ’37 £22 12 6 £22 12 6 £22 12 6 Mar. 5 . £19 ( 3 0 £19 5 0 £20 0 0 June 4 . £15 15 0 £15 12 6 £16 12 « Sept. 3 . £13 ! 5 0 £13 5 0 £14 0 0 Dec. 3 . £12 10 0 £12 12 6 £13 7 e Jan. 7, ’38 £12 12 6 £12 15 0 £13 12 6 Mar. 4 £10 17 6 £11 0 0 £12 0 0 June 3 £9 15 0 £9 15 0 £10 12 6 Sept, 2 . £9 10 0 £9 10 0 £10 10 0 Dec. 2 . £9 { > 0 £9 5 0 £10 2 6 Jan. 6, ’39 £9 12 6 £9 15 0 £10 10 0 Peb. 3 . £9 10 0 £9 12 6 £10 10 0 Mar. 3 . £10 0 0 £10 2 6 £11 0 0 Apr, 6 . £9 12 6 £9 15 0 £10 12 8 May 5 . £10 0 0 £10 5 0 £11 0 0 June 2 . £10 1 r 6 £10 10 0 £11 7 6 July 7 . £9 2 6 £9 7 6 £10 5 0 Aug. 4 £9 2 6 £9 5 0 £10 5 0 Sept. 1 £9 10 0 £9 12 6 £10 12 6 FIJI Mid-Jan.

Mid-Feb.

Mid-March Emperor Mines . .. bll/9 bll/9 bll/9 Loloma .. bl9/3 bl9/6 bl9/6 Mt. Kasl . sl/8 bl/8 bl/8 Bulolo G.D

New Guinea

., b97/6 b99/b99/- Guinea Gold .... .. blO/9 sll/3 sll/3 N.G.G., Ltd b2/6 b2/6 Oil Search ....., .. b5/4 b5/3 b5/3 Placer Dev b80/b80/- Sandy Creek ... .. sl/6 sl/6 sl/7 Sunshine Gold .. ,. s7/6 s7/6 s7/6 Cuthbert’s PAPUA .. bl2/6 bl2/6 bl2/6 Mandated Alluvials s4/s5/s5/- Orlomo Oil b2/4 b2/4 Papuan Aplnaipl . b3/4 b3/3 b3/3 Yodda Goldfields . N.Q.

N.Q. * N.Q.

RUBBER Plantatlor London Para.

Smoked.

Price on— per lb. per lb.

January 6, 1933 2.43d July 7 3.71d December 8 .. . 4.0 5 / o d January 5, 1934 4.28d July 6 7.06d December 28 .. . 5d .. 6y«d January 4. 1935 6%d July 5 .. .. . 7 7 /sd December 0 6 3 /sd January 3. 1936 6 3 /id .. 6%d June 5 7 l /*d December 4 . . . 9 l-16d January 8, 1937 . lOVad June 4 lid .. 9 3 /sd December 3 .. . 7y a d January 7, 1938 . 7d July 1 7y»d December 2 .. . 8d January 6, 1939 . 7d . sy 8 d July 7 8>/4d December 1 .. . iiy 2 d January 5, 1940 . 13d .. 11.6 7 /«d July 5 12 3 /*d December 6 .. .. 12d January 3„ 1941 . 13d .. 12.47 7 /sd February 7 .. .. , 12.5*/ed March 7 13%d April 4 14y«d May 2 14.0<y a d June 6 13.5»/«d July 4 13 7-16d August 1 ny»d September 5 .. . 13 %d October 6 13 11-ltd October 10 —Price officially fixed at .. 13%d Buying. Selling. £ s. d. £ s. d.

Telegraphic transfer ... 110 15 0 112 0 0 On demand 110 12 6 111 17 6 Buying.

Selling. £ s. d. £ s. d.

Telegraphic transfer — £125 10 0 On Demand £122 18 9 125 7 6 30 days 122 8 9 125 2 6 60 days 121 18 9 124 17 6 90 days 121 8 9 124 12 0 120 days 120 18 9 — Call.

Wave Sign.

Time.

Length.

Frequency.

VLR8. 6.30-10.15 a.m. 25.51 metres 11.760 M/cs VLR3. 12.00-6.13 p.m. 25.25 metres 11,880 M/cs.

VLR. 6.45-11.30 p.m. 31.32 metres 9,580 M/c§ Power: 2 kilowatts.

Islands Produce

COCOA Official prices for New Hebrides cocoa beans, controlled by the Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery Committee, are as follows; — Buying: £4l/10/- per ton, f.o.b. Island port.

Selling: Delivered Sydney, Melbourne or Hobart, £53/5/- per ton.

Accra: £69/10/- (on wharf, Sydney, all charges paid).

New Guinea cocoa beans: No quotations.

Western Samoa: Last sale reported, Ist quality, £BO (f.0.b., Apia). „

Trochus Shell

No sales have been reported since January, when small parcels changed hands at £llO per ton. Nominal quotations obtained in mid- March indicate that the market is unchanged at that figure.

COFFEE No purchases are permitted without the consent of the Tea and Coffee Control Board, to whom all offers must first be submitted.

Nominal quotations as follows: — New Caledonian: Arabica, £Bl per ton (c.l.f.

Sydney). Robusta, £63 per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

New' Hebrides: Robusta, £63/10/- per ton (c.i.f. Sydney).

Mysore; £240 (c. & f. Sydney).

New Guinea and Papuan; No firm quotations available.

No quotations.

Vanilla Beans

White Label and Yellow Label, 17/2 per lb., c. & f. Sydney.

KAPOK Market for Javanese kapok has been suspended.

Indian kapok is being quoted for Indent at 1/6 per lb. c.i.f. stg.

COTTON Government controlled. Stocks being made available to manufacturers at following rates:— For spinning and weaving yarns, 14y 2 d. per lb.; cordage making, 11 3 / 4 d. per lb.; condenser yarn, 12d. per lb.

Ivory Nuts

No firm quotations available.

RICE No quotations.

Green Snail Shell

f.a.q., £lO3 per ton, In store, Sydney.

Pearl Shell

Government-controlled price:— “B” Class, £2OO per ton. “C” Class £l9O per ton. “D” Class, £135 per ton.

Fiji Buying Prices

Suva, February 13 T'' HE following, taken from the "Fiji Times,” shows the prices current in Suva on the date mentioned. The prices, of course are given in Fiji currency, which is 12Vi per cent, below sterling, and 12y 2 per cent, above Australian.

Price Of Gold

Standard £lo/9- oz £9/11/7 Sept. 8.—Not quoted—outbreak of war.

Sept. 15 to 29.—Not quoted.

Oct. 6 . . £ll 15 0 [unquoted] £l2 15 6 Oct. 12.—Fixed price based on £l2/7/6 per ton, c.i.f., London, for plantation hot-air dried.

Jan. 8. 1940, to April 20, 1940 —Fixed price for plantation hot-air dried, £l3/5/- per ton, c.i.f., London.

April 20, 1940.—Fixed price for plantation hotair dried, £l2/17/6 per ton, c.i.f., London.

On February 18, 1942, FIJI and Tonga copra, Ist grade, was fixed at £lB per ton (Fijian), f.0.b.; and in July: Plantation Grade, £lB/5/-; Fair Merchantable Sun-dried, £18; and Undergrade, £l7/15/-. The values are stated in Fijian currency. To get Australian or New Zealand values, add 12 y 2 per cent.; sterling values, deduct 12 y 2 per cent.

In April, 1942, unofficial quotations in Sydney were around £24 (Aust.) per ton, c.i.f., Sydney.

July, 1943.—N. Guinea and Papuan copra under Aust. Government control. Fixed prices, payable at port of shipment, or on plantation, where no coastal shipment is involved: Hot-air Dried, £l5/10/-; Sun-dried, £l5; Smoke-dried, £l4/10/per ton. These prices subject to circumstantial considerations.

In September, 1943. prices were revised as follows: Hot-air and Sun-dried, £lB/10/-; Smoke-dried, £l7 per ton. Tentative thereafter.

New prices covering the period October 1, 1943, to June 30, 1944, were declared in 1944, as follows: Hot-air and Sun-dried, £lB/10/per ton; Smoked, £l7/10/- per to».

Prices to operate from July 1, 1944, were tentatively fixed at: Hot-air and Sun-dried, £l9; Smoked, £lB per ton.

Quotations For Mining

SHARES July, 1943.—Papuan rubber under Australian Government control. Fixed prices, payable on plantation, where no coastal shipment is involved, or at port of shipment: No. 1 Grade, 1/6; .No. 2 Grade, 1/4; No. 3 Grade, 1/2 per lb. These prices subject to circumstantial considerations.

In September, 1943, prices were revised as follows: No. 1 Grade, 1 /6Vz\ No. 2 Grade, 1/4; No, 3 Grade, 1/2; Inferior, 10 Vzd. to 1/2 y 2 per lb. Tentative thereafter.

In September, 1944, the following new prices, covering the period October 1, 1943, to June 30, 1944, were proclaimed: No. 1 Grade, 1/6 y 2; No. 2 Grade, 1/5 y 2; No. 3 Grade, 1/3 y 2 per lb. Commencing July 1, 1944, prices were tentatively fixed at; No. 1 Grade, l/4y 2 ; No. 2 Grade, l/3y 2 ; No. ,3 Grade, 1/1 y 2 per lb.

Exchange Rates THE following exchange quotations show the rates existing in Sydney in mid-July:— FIJI Through Bank of NSW and Bank of New Zealand: —Australia on Fiji on basis of £lOO Fiji: Buying, £Alll/2/6; selling, £AII3. FIJI- - on basis of £lOO London:—

Western Samoa

Through Bank of New Zealand; —Australia on Western Samoa on basis of £lOO Samoa: Buying, £ A99/12/6; selling, £AIOO/2/6. Samoa on London on basis of £lOO in London:—

New Guinea And Papua

Only nominal at present.

Free French Pacific Colonies

Buying, 160; selling, 163; francs to Aust. £.

Australian Short Wave Broadcast AN Australian radio programme is broadcast daily on short wave from Lyndhurst (Victoria) for listeners in the Western Pacific:— 48 MARCH, 1945 PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY Published by PACIFIC PUBLICATIONS PTY. LTD., Union House, 247 George Street, Sydney. (Telephone: BW 5037). Wholly set up and printed m Australia by the Sydney and Melbourne Publishing Co. Pty. Ltd., 29 Alberta Street. Sydney. (Telephone; MA7101).

Major T. GRAHAMSLAW, AMF, formerly of Papua. Awarded OBE for conspicuous devotion to duty in the Buna area (Papua) during initial Japanese landings in the district.

Walter GRAND, Fighting French Pacific Battalion, formerly of Tahiti. Awarded Croix de Guerre, with one star, for bravery during the Battle of Bir Hacheim, 1942.

A /Sgt B. W. G. HALL, formerly of TNG.

Received DCM in April. 1944. Later promoted to rank of Lieutenant.

Squadron-Leader Godfrey HEMSWORTH, RAAF formerly a well-known New Guinea pilot, who was killed in action against the Japanese In May. Posthumously awarded the Air Force L. HENDERSON, AMF. formerly of Papua. Awarded MBE for courage displayed during the Oro Bay operations when he was in charge of small ships operating in those waters. . , „ _ .

LUCTEN HERVOUET. formerly of New Caledonia. Awarded Croix de Guerre while serving with Fighting French volunteers in Egypt.

Lieut Colin HILL, RANR, of the Australian destroyer, “Waterhen”, formerly second officer on the trans-Pacific liner “Niagara”. Awarded the OBE.

Capt Ernest HITCHCOCK, ANGAU, formerly of Mandated Territory. Awarded US Legion of Merit for assistance to American forces in Salamaua area.

Lieut D. C. HORTON, RANVR, formerly of District Services, BSI. Awarded the United States Silver Star for distinguished services in the Solomons.

Lieut. Gordon HOWE, RANR. formerly an officer in Burns Philp ships. Awarded the US Legion of Merit for meritorious service in leading a reconnaissance party to Russell Islands, BSI Lieut. H. E. JOSSELYN, RANVR, formerly of District Services, BSI. Awarded United States Silver Star, for distinguished services in the Solomons. , . , Lieut. J. R. KEENAN, RANVR, formerly of New Guinea. Awarded the DSC.

Capt. H. T. KIENZLE, ANGAU, formerly of Papua. Awarded MBE for devotion to duty during the campaign in the Owen Stanley Ranges. .

Lieut. Isereli KOROVULAVULA, FMF. Awarded the Military Cross for devotion to duty while serving in Bougainville.

Pte. Sairusi KOTO, Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded US Silver Star for bravery and devotion to duty in the Solomons.

Wing-Commander C. J. N. LELAU, RAAF, formerly of Suva, Fiji. Awarded the OBE for distinguished service Pte. Villame LAUTIKI, of Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded MM for services in South-west Pacific area.

Cpl. Elaitia LEDUA, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Lieut. Paul LOBENDAHN, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

L/Cpl. Viliame LOMASALATO, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Sgt. *T. Me AD AM, NGVR, formerly of New Guinea Forestry Dept. Awarded Military Medal for gallantry in New Guinea.

Lieut.-Commander A. W. R. McNICOLL, RAN, son of Sir Ramsay McNicoll, Administrator of New Guinea, and Lady McNicoll. Awarded the George Medal.

Sgt. Josefa MAINAVOLAU, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Pte. Akuila MARAIVALU, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Petty-Offlcer PAUL MASON, RANVR. formerly a plantation inspector at Inus, Bougainville, TNG. Awarded American Distinguished Service Cross for "extraordinary heroism in action.”

HENRI MAYER, formerly of New Caledonia.

Awarded Croix de Guerre while serving with Fighting French volunteers in Egypt Fit.-Lieut. George B. (Golly) MEIDECKE, RAAF, formerly of W. Samoa. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Capt. J. K. MCCARTHY, formerly of TNG.

Received the MBE, April, 1944.

Lieut.-Commander H. A. MACKENZIE, RAN, formerly of Rabaul, TNG. Awarded the US Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious services at Guadalcanal.

Capt. John Malcolm METHVEN, AIF. Mentioned in despatches for distinguished services during the seige of Tobruk. Since reported killed in action. (See section “Killed.”) John MILNE, Wireless Operator, Gilbert Islands. Awarded British Empire Medal for distinguished service.

Sgt. Geoffrey MOORE, of the RNZAF, formerly engineer on the NG inter-island vessel “Maiwara” and on the trans-Paclflc liner “Aorangi”. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. , , r „ .

Capt G. B. MORGAN, DSC, formerly of Union SS Co Awarded DSO and Lloyd’s war medal for his part in Allied landings in North Africa in 1942, when he was captain of the “Awatea.”

ANDRE MORNAGHINI, formerly of New Caledonia. Awarded Croix de Guerre while serving with Fighting French volunteers in Egypt.

Flight-Lieut. G. B. MEIDECKE, RAAF, formerly of W Samoa. Awarded the DFC for “courage, coolness and tenacity, and flying skill of the highest order.”

Pte Fred Charles NARRUHN, Fiji Military Forces. Awarded US Silver Star for gallantry and devotion to duty at Butaritari, Gilbert Is.

Flight-Lieut. M. O’CONNOR, RAAF, formerly of Suva, Fiji. Awarded the DFC for a “high record of success on operations” in the Middle East.

Lieut. S. S. PAGE, RNZNR, formerly of LMS ship “John Williams.” Awarded US Bronze Star for “heroic service while piloting ships entering perilous waters.”

Capt. Raymond PERRAUD, FF Pacific Battalion. Awarded Croix de Guerre at Bir Hacheim in 1942. Awarded Liberation Cross in Europe in 1944. Later killed in action.

Lieut. B. PHILPOTT, FMF. Awarded Military Cross for service on Bougainville.

Flight-Lieut. H. G. PILLING, RAF, formerly of Suva, Fiji. Awarded the DFC, May, 1942. (Killed a few days later.) Cpl. Jone RAVESOLI, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Lieut. W. T. READ, RANVR, formerly of District Services, TNG. Awarded American Distinguished Service Cross for “extraordinary heroism in action” while in South Pacific Waters.

Lieut. A. RHODES. RANVR, formerly of BSI.

Awarded American DSC for heroism in SW Pacific in 1942. In June, 1943, awarded American Silver Star when he guided a party of US commandoes to the beach on Rondova.

Pilot-Officer Pat RICHARDSON, RAF, son of Mr. W. Richardson, formerly of Penang, Fiji.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

W/O A. L. ROBINSON, NGVR, formerly of New Guinea. Awarded DCM.

Commander Alvord S. ROSENTHAL, RAN, son of Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal. KCB.

CMG, DSO, VD, Administrator of Norfolk Lsland. Awarded the DSO. November, 1941; awarded the Bar to DSO. February, 1942.

W/O K. W. RYALL, of ANGAU, formerly of TNG. Awarded Military Medal for conspicuous service in the Arawe Peninsula area of New Britain.

Cpl. Manoa ROKO, of Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded MM for services in South-west Pacific area. . .

Cpl. Sefanaia SUKANAIVALU, FMF. Awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously, for conspicuous gallantry in Bougainville.

Sgt. Atunaisa TAVUTU, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Lieut.-Colonel J. B. K. TAYLOR, Commander of Fiji Military Forces overseas. Awarded American Purple Heart, March, 1944. Awarded OBE. 19'44.

Cpl. Manasa TIKOCA, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

Capt. A. T. TIMPERLEY, AMF, formerly of Papua. Awarded MBE for work on Goodenough Island when he acted as a guide.

Major David TRENCH, formerly District Officer in BSI. Awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service and gallantry in the South-west Pacific. , , Lieut.-Col. G. T. UPTON, FMF. Awarded American Bronze Star for outstanding leadership while commanding Fijian troops on Bougainville. Awarded DSO, 1944.

Cpl. Waisele VEIKOSO, FMF. Awarded Military Medal for service on Bougainville.

F/O Leigh G. VIAL, RAAF. formerly ADO In TNG. Awarded American DSC for outstanding heroism in New Guinea in September, 19*2.

Lieut.-Col. F. W. VOELCKER, FMF. Awarded American Bronze Star for outstanding Leadership while commanding Fijian troops on Bougainville. , - Lieut. G. J. WEBSTER, RNZNR, formerly of Gilbert Is. Awarded US Bronze Star for “heroic service while piloting ships entering perilous w’aters.” _ AA _ Squadron-Leader Charles WIDDY, RAAF, formerly of BSI. Awarded the US Legion of Merit for meritorious service in leading a reconnaissance party to Russe 1 ! Bb _< Lieut, (then W/O) Raymond WATSON. A IF, formerly of TNG. Awarded MBE for bravery and devotion to duty during the Papuan cam-, Pa sgt.’ Ilaitia WAQA, of Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded MM for services in South-west Facinc Capt. D. E. WILLIAMS, of Fiji Military Forces.

Awarded American Silver Star for gallantry In action while leading patrols in Guadalcanal.

Lieut G. K. WHITTAKER, NGVR, formerly of Lae, TNG. Awarded MBE for gallantry in New Guinea.

Lieut. George Raymond WORLEDGE, of the p ANVR, formerly of Fiji. Awarded the MBE (Military).

Lieut. H. M. WRIGHT, RANVR, formerly of New Guinea. Awarded DSC.

Mentioned In Despatches

Rifleman G. R. Archer, Corporal A. Moore, TNG. TNG.

Captain A. H. Bald- Captain J. J. Murphy, win, Papua. TNG.

Captain N. B. N. Meut. K. C. McMullen, Blood, TNG. TNG - , . , _y Rifleman J. Cavanagh. pt «; A P isai Naika, TNG FMF - Rifleman J. W. Currie. p *- Peni Nasuva.

J? Mr .

Warrant-Officer J. B. W /° Victor Neuman * Davies Papua. captain N. Owers.

Captain L. S. Dexter. Su £_Lieut. c . Page, Papua. TNG.

Capt. W. M. Edwards, Lieut R H Phillips, TNG. TNG.

Major S. Elliott-Smlth, Lieutenant J. I. Rae.

Papua. Papua.

Warrant-Officer P. R. pt e . A. A. Ramsden, N. England, TNG. Papua.

Rifleman H. W. For- pte. Inoke Rasiga, rester, TNG. FMF.

Lieut. K. G. Fuller, Cpl. Neman! Ravia, Tonga. FMF.

Sergeant V. H. Gil- Major D. G. Rice.

Christ, TNG. Pte. S. M. Richie, Lieut. S. G. Grimshaw, Papua.

TNG. Pte. J. E. Rosa, FMF.

Lieut. C. G. Harris, Cpl. Luke Sailada, TNG. FMF.

Lieut. L. A. Render- Sergeant Akuila Sauson, FMF. kura, Fiji.

Lieut. L. F. Hewlett, Lieut. T. C. Scott, TNG. FMF.

Sgt. H. E. Jarrett, Lieut. W. W. Sherratt, Papua. FMF.

Major E. W. Jenyns, L/Cpl. Are Sitiveni, TNG. FMF.

Warrant-Officer I. F. Lieutenant C. H. Smith, Jones, Papua. TNG.

Lieut. H. T. Kienzle, Warrant-Officer R. A.

Papua. Smith, Papua.

Rifleman J. R. Kinsey, Lieut. A. P. Spittal, TNG. FMF.

Cpl. Josefa Lorima, Pte. R. M. Stewart, FMF. Papua.

Corporal Malakai Mo, L/<"inl. Josefa Tatau, Fiji. FMF.

Staff - Sgt. Manzoor Lieut. A. T. Timperly, Beg, FMF. Papua.

Corporal M. Marlay, Captain L. N. Tribolet, TNG. TNG.

Rifleman J. E. Mayos, Lieutenant A. G. Vagg, TNG. TNG.

CSM D. Miller, FMF. Captain G. H. Vernon, Cpl Jona Moli, FMF. MC, Papua.

Air Fatality Off Fiji

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, Feb. 1.

ARNZAF Catalina crashed into the sea near the Island of Beqa, south of Suva, on Saturday, January 27.

Five RNZAF personnel, and one Fijian civilian employee of the Base, were picked up by the local cutter, “Tui Vunilagi,” close to Kadavu, on Sunday, after they had been afloat and drifting in rubber dinghies for about 22 hours. Later they were flown back to the Base by one of the aircraft engaged in the search for the lost plane. None of the survivors was seriously injured in the crash. Twelve other members of the crew are still missing. . „ „ . „ Captain Whippy, of the “Tui Vunilagi, said that when he sighted the dinghies they were close to the south end of Kadavu, the most southerly island in Fiji, and the direction of the wind and currents might possibly have made it difficult for the missing men to reach land.

Miss Esme Brown, who at one time was on the staff of Morris Hedstrom. Ltd., Suva. Fiji, is a member of an Australian Red Cross Unit which will shortly leave for Greece for rehabilitation work.

Roll Of Honour

(Continued From Inside Front Cover)

Established 1914

Thirty Years Of Pacific Islands

DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE.

W. R. CARPENTER & GO. LTD.

Capital £1,000,000.

General Merchants And Shipowners

Buyers and Exporters of All Kinds of Islands Produce Copra Merchants and Millers Agents for Australian, European and American Manufacturers Distributors of Every Description of Merchandise AGENTS FOR: FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA DODGE BROTHERS INC.

ELECTROLUX REFRIGERATORS WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRICAL CO.

T. G. & C. BOLINDERS (ENGINES) CATERPILLAR TRACTORS Etc., Etc.

Branches Throughout The Pacific Islands

Head Office: 16 O'CONNELL STREET, SYDNEY In London: W. R. Carpenter & Co. (London) Ltd., Coronation House, 4 Lloyd's Avenue London, EC.

The W.R.C. Line 9, Regular Cargo and Passenger Service between Europe and Pacific Islands’ ports was established by W. R. Carpenter & Co. Ltd.

PACIFIC ISLANDS MONTHLY MARCH, 1945