AUSTRALIAN BLACKS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 21

AUSTRALIAN BLACKS

Change of Control

The future control of aborigines in North Australia may be influenced In an important way by a report to be submitted to the Minister of the Interior (Mr. Perkins) by the secretary of the Department of the Interior (Mr. H. C. Brown), who. is at present in Darwin. Mr. Perkins said that the report would deal generally with the control of aborigines in North Australia, but It would have special reference to the murder of Constable McColl by the blacks in Arnhem Land. Upon this report he would decide what action should be taken to arrest those responsible for Constable McColl’s murder. It seemed likely that it would be necessary to send a police expedition to arrest the murderers, but as the rainy season would begin in about a month it might be found necessary to defer action until after the rains. Mr. Perkins added that he bad been Investigating proposals for improved communications and transportation in North Australia. The threatened attack upon the Groote Eylandt mission station had emphasised the necessity for greatly improved transportation facilities. A relief party was dispatched to the mission from Darwin on September 12. A telegram he had received stated that the party reached the mission. Had the blacks attacked the station in the meantime, the assistance provided from Darwin would have come too late to be of service.

He was considering two different proposals for improving communications. One was the provision of a fast modern launch which could work from Darwin as a base to points about the coast of Northern Australia. , The alternative, which had Impressed him, was the provision of a flying boat at Darwin. He had discussed this proposal In Sydney earlier this week with Commander Bennett, who had just returned from a survey flight in North Australia, and was satisfied from what Commander Bennett told him that an aeroplane would be of the utmost value in the supervision of the Territory. He hoped that it might be possible to work in co-operation with the Defence Department in making an aeroplane always available for emergency use at Darwin.