CHASED AND CHAINED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1929, Page 9

CHASED AND CHAINED

UNHAPPY BLACK IN AUSTRALIA.

CANBERRA, July 27. Considerable indignation was expressed last week by several piiblic bodies, following the publication in a Sydney Newspaper of a photograph of an aboriginal in chains. Certainly, if the black’s escort had known that the photograph was to be given publicity, he would not have permitted it to be taken; for the public has heard more than enough of police doings among the aborigines since the Royal Commission sat in the north of Western Australia a couple of years ago, and even since the sitting of another com-

mission which charged the crime of murder against Commonwealth police in the Northern Territory. The indignation referred to has by no means been calmed by the comment of the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Abbott, who has just returned from an air trip to the north. While not belittling the critics, Mr Abbott inferred that they knew nothing about the blacks and the north that the police did, and that the police were “the best judges” of how to treat their prisoners. To this there is the sarcastic rejoinder that, since Mr Abbott has been fully a fortnight away in tho wilds of the vast north —oi’ had, at least flown over it for quite a number of hours, and then was for some days steaming along its coastline —he would naturally be an authority on the north and the manner in which the police dealt, or should deal with tho blacks. In which, as Minister for the Northern Territory, he offers an apology to the First High Lord of the Admiralty, who had “never, never been to sea,” for, previous to this, he had never, never been in the Northern Territory.

On this question of the aborigines, I have been particularly interested, because I cannot help contrasting Ihe treatment of the native inhabitants here to that accorded the Maoris by the white people of New Zealand ■ very much to the disparagment of Australia. Therefore it was that I sought out the Rev. E. R. B. Gribble, head of the Forest River Mission, in the north of Western Australia, and who is at present on furlough in this State—and who may not return partly owing to his unpopularity with certain settlers who believe in shooting aboriginals on sight, but mainly because he intends to found another mission in another part of Australia where his presence may be required even as much as it was in the nor’-east. Gribble is the man who first reported the killing of two men and two women, and the burning of their bodies, and thus caused the appointment of the Royal Commission. Briefly, the incident that led to the cold-blooded killing of at least 20 aboriginals, and the suspected killing of-10 others (who “disappeared”) was the killing of a settler named Hay—only, in this case, Hay having met with death at the hands of a black, the killing was termed “murder.” It seems that maxim of “killing not murder” applies only when the white kills the black. An aboriginal named Lumbia, having incurred the displeasure of Hay, for whom he worked (wages food only), fled to the Forrest River. Hay rode after the man, and thrashed him with a stockwhip across the head and face until he fell to the ground. Maddened with pain, the aboriginal jumped up and stabbed Hay with his shovel spear. And what more natural thing for an untamed black to do? Immediately a police party was organised. Two constables arrived at the Forrest River Mission station, and Asported that they had seen no natives on the way. Later, Mr Gribble was informed that the police had taken two men and two women (one a sick and lame old man), chained them to a tree, and shot them, afterwards burning the bodies. The burned bones of these people were discovered with plain marks of careful attempt to hide all traces. Further tracking resulted in the discovery of the burned bones (in three other places) of 16 other natives, including those of women. Police Inspector Douglas, who came from the Police Department to investigate these charges, came to the definite conclusion that the 16 had been murdered and burned by the police (there were tell-tale holes in the trees to which the unfortunate aborigines had been chained), but the Commission could only feel positive on the evidence available, that Constables Regan and St. Jack were “the only persons responsible” for the deaths of the first foui’ murders —those of the two men and women.

It found, however, that seven other aborigines met their deaths, and had their bodies destroyed by burning, while in the custody of Regan and St. Jack, assisted by some special constables and civilians, but that “there was not sufficient evidence before the Commission to establish definitely the actual perpetratoi- oi* perpetrators of the murders.” How difficult it must have been to obtain evidence among black-chasing, black-shooting whites of the district may be imagined from an extract from a report from Inspector Douglas to the Commissioner of Police:—

“It is going to be an extremely difficult matter to definitely prove anything, with everyone in the district, except the Rev. Gribble, up against me, and the Rev. Gribble is so cordially hated that most men here will go to any measure to thwart his object.” This was the Rev. Gribble, “so cordially hated,” because he dared, in his capacity as minister, a deputy protector of aborigines and a justice of the peace, to tak action against the wholesale murdering of the blacks, whom I interviewed regarding Mr Abbott’s astounding statement that “the police were the best judges” as to how the aboriginals should be treated. THE SHAMEFUL PAST. Mr Gribble was mild. Regarding the Minister for Home Affairs, he contented himself with observing: — “Now that Mr Abbott has returned from his aerial tour of the North, his views on the question of the control and welfare of the aborigines should be of interest. The aborigines have not had a fair square deal in the past. They have disappeared, to all intents and purposes, from tho older settled parts of the Commonwealth, and in that disappearance our “civilisation,” as well as our neglect and cruelty, have played a terrible part. As far back as the time of Governor Gibbs’ wholesale massacres of the natives occurred until Governor Gipps at last issued strict orders prohibiting indiscriminate military massacres. “Investigation of police court and hospital records in parts of North Australia will reveal the fact that the histdry of the earlier settlements in Australia is repeatingitself in the North. In 1927 we had a Royal Com-

mission into atrocities in East Kimberley, its findings causing a sensation throughout the world. “Then quite recently came the inquiry into the shooting of a large number of native men and women in Cen-. tral Australia, This occurred in the arrest of two men who were ultimately acquitted. A board of inquiry found that the police acted in self defence and completely exonerated them from blame.

“No doubt,” said Mr Gribble, “there are many in North Australia who could if they dared, bear testimony to the fact that the natives of the north are not receiving at the hands of White Australia a just deal. It is not so very long since, a native stockman in the North West, in a dispute with a white man, speared him and then took a gun and went to the bush. A constable from Darwin was sent out with trackers to secure him. A West Australian constable with trackers was also sent out with the same purpose.

“The two constables joined forces in the hunt. A drover, on his way

for cattle with his men, came to the police camp. They found the constables in the camp. A few miles along the- road after leaving the camp they met the trackers. coming back with a number of natives as prisoners, and Bobbie’s head in a bag. The drover reported the matter. “In connection with that affair one of thfe constables was compared by a Minister of the Crown to the heroic police of the North-West Mounted Canadian Force. He had rid the country of a dangerous nigger. As a matter of fact he had remained in camp, and the trackers had ‘done the job.’ No doubt an investigation into that caso would reveal much more. “Those who know the aboriginals of the north best would not advocate the payment of money in all cases, as few understand the value of it. But the present system in North-West Australia is far from just. To employ a native costs the employer 5/- per annum for a permit. The employer has only to find food and clothing, which, after all, is not much of a burden in that part. There are stations in Australia managed entirely by black stockmen under these conditions. “Australia is a very wealthy coun-

try, it cost nothing to acquire, no conquest; we just walked in and settled. Surely every right thinking Australian citizen will recognise that the natives whom we have dispossessed deserve better treatment. From wool alone we derive from 60 to 70 million pounds a year, yet New South Wales spent upon hei’ few aboriginals at the rate of four pence per head of the white population. There are at the present time some six Acts of Parliament dealing with the aboriginals. What is needed is Federal control and one Act of Parliament. Then only can a better state of things come about. Mr Abbott has hinted at the idea at the methods of the famous North-West police of Canada. The slogan of that famous body is ‘Arrest, not kill.’ In further conversation, I was assured that the police were in the habit of chaining not only prisoners but native witnesses, to ensure their custody. The chaining of witnesses for the police stands out in sharp contrast to the treatment of those against them. In the recent N.T. inquiry two most essential witnesses mysteriously disappeared. I will quote in conclusion, the remarks of the Royal Commissioner (Mr G. T. Wood, S.M.), in his report on the W.A. massacres. “I have to report also the absence of three important witnesses in the persons of trackers Sulieuman, Windie, and Frank, who were employed by the police during the expedition. Although I gave the police specific instructions to have those witnesses brought before the Commission, and although they were held in Wyndham until a few days before the Commission opened there, they were permitted to escape to the bush, and efforts to compel their attendance were fruitless.”

Regan and St. Jack, it will be remembered, were acquitted on charges of murder, despite the findings of the Commission. Such is the value set by some white Australians on the life of the black!