End Of Aborigine Tribal Life Predicted

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29783, 28 March 1962, Page 7

End Of Aborigine Tribal Life Predicted

( N JZd'. a. -Reuter—Copyrig ht)

MELBOURNE, March 26. Within the next 10 years there would be no aborigines in the Northern Territory living a tribal life, the Director of Native Welfare in the Northern Territory (Mr H. C Giese) predicted last night This would be tihe result of long-term programme of assimilation of aborigines in the territory, he said in a television interview "Since 1951 there has been a strong development of this assimilation programme, particularly in the educational field.” Mr Giese said. "The bulk of aborigines will not seek the right to vote, but through the work we are doing they will eventually want to exercise this right. "The significance of the right to vote will not be apparent to them for a long time, and it will have no significance for the older people.” Mr Giese said the total

European and mixed race population in the Northern Territory about 27,000 would not be sufficient to justify a full-time member of Parliament. Tlie question of whether aborigines wanted the white man’s civilisation was one that welfare officers asked them every day, he said. “There is no dottb* at all that they want our way of life Even the older people realise they must accept changes."