NEW GUINEA PATROLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19121, 16 September 1936, Page 2

NEW GUINEA PATROLS

HIGH TRIBUTE PAID TRAINING OF NATIVES SYDNEY, Sept. 4. The Administrator of New Guinea, Brigadier-General McNieoll, in an address to members of the Millions Club yesterday, described the work of patrol officers in New Guinea. Ho said it, was one of the finest features of the New Guinea services. “1 never tire of extolling the men who are engaged on patrols,” said General McNieoll. “The policy is to pick from Australia cadets ,of from 21 to 22 years of age, and when they become patrol officers they may he many miles out, on the fringes or in the middle of an uncontrolled area. The reports they give mo make very thrilling reading, ’•'

General McNieoll mentioned one offiecr, Air. Charles Bates, who, after the murder .of two missionaries about IS months ago, had to land in a very excited and disturbed area, where the natives could not speak English. He built his station there with native help and native material, and, after a time, started the P#t ives on road-making. In'fhe last .few months they had become so enthusiastic that he had been overwhelmed with offers of assistance. He had made 50 miles of road. He had also gone .out- .100 miles further, and had men from other tribes ■brought in. to learn pidgin English and the white man’s ways. “BEST TILOTS IN WORLD.” General MeXicoll said the New Guinea air pilots were the best in the world. Such was their reputation that they were sought by industries in other parts of the world. They landed and took off in the same direction always, and very rarely was there a day that the pilots did not fly. A strip of land in a valley or beside a river served as an aerodrome.

Some of the 'planes took loads of Si tons or 15 passengers. It was possible t.o load a crate of cattle or horses direct from a motor lorry into tho ’plane. Referring to goldmining, General McNieoll said Bulolo was one of tho finest examples of organisation and success to De found anywhere. All the companies were going ahead very solidly. Tho policy towards uncontrolled areas was that the Government must go in first and obtain control o\ or the wild tribes, and when the territories. were considered safe the gold-soekea-s, scientists, and missionaries were, allowed to enter.