NEGLECTED NATIVES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1930, Page 7

NEGLECTED NATIVES

AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINALS

SYDNEY, July 3

The treatment of Australian aboriginals has been in marked contrast with the treatment of the Maoris by New Zealand. Full-blooded aborigines are dying out, and their place is being taken by a race of half-castes which is earning an unenviable reputation. The treatment of the Australian native could not be better exemplified than in the case of “King” Walter, the 28-year-old chief of the once powerful Murumbidgee tribe in New South Wales. Me presented a pitiable figure the other day when he appeared before the Parramatta district coroner at an inquiry into the death of his brother. George Anderson, the former “king” of the tribe. He was collarless, unshaven and without socks. George Anderson was found dead, and the doctor said he died of heart failure, accentuated by heavy drinking. “Wing” Walter said he had travelled 22- miles to be present at the inquiry. To obtain the money for his far he had been compelled to make and sell two boomerangs. The Coroner: Don’t you get anything from the Government? The “King”: Not a penny or a blanket.

The Coroner: Well, that seems a shame.

"King” Walter said that his brother had been a heavy drinker of methylated spirits, wine and whisky. He had been a clever tracker and an expert at making boomerangs. Following close upon this case came the remarks of the Rev. M. Boxall, who, while addressing a conference of clergy at Perth, said that Australia would soon have to face the problem of dealing with half-castes, who were increasing under sordid conditions outback. They knew little of the comforts of civilisation. The native mia mias have been replaced by primitive, dirty huts. A vast majority of the half-castes had no religion whatever,* and there had been a general breakdown of morality. No marriage ceremony existed. Usually parties agreed to live together, and when they tired of one another a new partnership was formcd.