NATIVE PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20988, 17 October 1933, Page 9

NATIVE PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA

MURDERERS AT LARGE MISSIONARY EXPEDITION SUGGESTED (.MOli OL'R OWK COJIRESru.ND&U'I.V SYDNEY. October 5. The capture of members of a murderous tribe of blacks at Caledon Bay, in North Australia, has provided the Federal Government with one of the most difficult problems it has faced in recent years. The aborigines who were responsible for the killing, some months ago, of a number of Japanese sailors, and for the murder, recently, of Constable McColl. are uncivilised and know nothing of the white man's laws. They regard all strange white men who enter their territory as trespassers and natural enemies, and for that reason there was a strong protest when it was proposed that a punitive expedition should be sent to the danger zone for the purpose of punishing the natives.

The Church Missionary Society was particularly loud in that protest, and as an alternative suggested that a number of missionaries should be sent to the natives in the hope that they would succeed in inculcating some idea of what was right and wrong, judged on the code of civilisation. It was even suggested that the missionaries might induce the tribe to surrender those natives who were directly responsible for the murders. The Government has accepted the offer of the missionary society to organise such an expedition. It was claimed on behalf of the society that there would be no lack of volunteers, but it would seem now that that claim was a little premature. The proposed leader was the Rev. T. T. Webb, a Methodist of outstanding qualities who knows the aborigines better, perhaps, than any other man in Australia. However, Mr Webb has not displayed the enthusiasm that marked the utterances of tiie society in Melbourne and Sydney.

Expert's Opinion. In a telegram to the general secretary of the Methodist mission Mr Webb said:—"Entirely disapprove peace expedition, as doomed to failure at this stage. The natives are split up in inaccessible country and are on the defensive. No hope of getting into communication with them, and, if contact made, impossible to bring in offenders without, force. Personally not prepared to join expedition at this stage. Strongly recommend abandonment of the proposal until next year." In an interview at Darwin Mr Webb explained more fully his attitude. "The only solution I can see is an expedition of perhaps two or three missionaries in 12 months' time," he said. "Providing there is no more police activity the tribes in Caledon Bay will have settled down by then, and will not be so aggressively on the defensive. Any expedition of the nature proposed would have to be camouflaged as a white trepanders' outfit. The missionaries would probably have lo talk with the aborigines for a

month or (wo to Rain their confidence, and explain to them the white man'? view of murder. It is doubtful whether they would understand, but it would be worth trying. Trickery enforce might have to be used as a last resort. I believe the only way the native.,- will be brought under proper control is through the establishment of a mission station at Calodon Bay. 7 ' In the meantime the idea of a peace expedition has not been abandoned and Ihe Minister tor Internal Affairs lias leit it lo the mission society to select a new leader. In view of the opinion expressed by Mr Webb ;hi--will not be an easy task.