BELLIGERENCE OF THURSDAY ISLANDERS DENIED BY MISSIONARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22818, 13 December 1948, Page 3

BELLIGERENCE OF THURSDAY ISLANDERS DENIED BY MISSIONARY

•‘ln the course of a debate in the Queensland Parliament a good deal was said about sly-grogging on Thursday Island,” says the Rev. J, M. Fisher, an Anglican missionary stationed on Thursday Island, in a letter to his brother in Christchurch. “One of the speakers made the absurd statement that the natives had lost all their morals,” the letter continues. “I’m afraid that gentleman would find it difficult to produce a white community with such high moral standards.”

Mr. Fisher was commenting on a cabled message from Brisbane on November 8, saying that Thursday Island natives “openly” threatened white people and were almost uncontrollable.

"In regard to the natives hating the whites, well, they raise their hats to me or shake hands if they meet me after some time,” said Mr. Fisher, giving numerous instances of natives’ respect and affection for himself and other white people.

“There is little trouble with most of these people. There is a certain amount of drinking, but it is confined to a few natives. These do not attempt to interfere with whites provided they are left alone. It is definitely untrue to say that Thursday Island is not safe for whites,” concluded Mr. Fisher.