Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-05-30

back as a reserve? The story is a
very interesting object lesson in col
onization.
The British New Guinea Govern
ment consists of an administrator, an
executive council of officials-to be
strengthened in the future by some
nominees of the five hundred nom
official white residents-and a num-
Der of magistrates living at conven-
lent centers near the coast. Behind
them is the power of the governor
general of the Commonwealth of Aus
/ traliaa Naval Squadron and the troops
of the Australian defense forces
The process adopted by the govern
ment in assuming authority over the
natives is as follows: When govern
ment party meets new tribe every
effort is made by native interpreters
to open up peaceful relations Some
times the natives attack the party,
and then shots and arrows are ex-
changed. Sc dom-practically never
are hostilities begun on the govern
ment side. No government official
may use firearms except in self-de-
Tense In some cases the making of
peace treaty between the tribe and
the government has to be deferred
till a second visit, but in all cases
one is eventually made
Then the next step is taken This
is" Mr.. Hunt says, ito select one of
the most influential men of the tribe
and make him a village constable. He
is given a uniform, pay of 81 year,
pair of handouts, and a brass
badge; and he is expected to keep or
der in his village and to bring Of
| Tenders before the resident magis-
trate. Village after village has to
be treated in this way" The process
is slow, and demands great vigilance
on the part of the resident magis-
trate; but it has been found to work
well in practice.
The whole business hinges upon
the character of the resident magis-
trates. There are six of these Of
fcials, each in charge of a particular
area, and generally supplied with one
or more young assistants. They all
speak Motu. the leading language.
and one or two other dialects. Under
their orders are the Armed Native
ConstabuIary. a small but efficient
body of blacks, drawn from all parts
of the Possession on a three years
engagement. The c0nstables are
loyal, faithful, and, on the whole, dis
Greet; but they need to be constantly
watched.
The fact that there are so few
native wars in British New Guinea
and no concerted action of any kind
against the Administration is largely
due to the code of law administered
by the little group of white officials
and it's black constables. This code
makes it an offense to supply the
natives with firearms opium, or in
toxicating liquors. 1t also prevents
native labor being engaged except
under a license, which places high
obligations on the employer. 1t
| further conserves to the tribes the
possession of nine-tenths of the lands,
and the retention of all religious and
local customs which are not obviously
immoral or inhuman.
Honesty compels the admission,
however, that the natives do not
warmly welcome the advance of civil
ization, even by such praiseworthy
means as those adopted by the ad-
ministrator, Captain Barton, and his
staff The truth appears to be that,
| despite energetic missionary effort,
| the primitive non-moral instincts of
the Papuan which lead him to cling
| TO sorcery and to despise progress are
as strong to all practical intents and
purposes as in 1884 when a British
protectorate was proclaimed. Though
! he acquiesces in the rule of a gov
eminent which has approached him
along the line of least resistance he
stubbornly remains entrenched in his
old habits.
British New Guinea will loom large
| in the empire when some of the
schemes for growth within her Dor
| ders of enormous quantities of rub
1 Der, coffee, cotton, cocoanuts, sisal
hemp etc have more fully matured.
| She now has a constitution of her
! own anu VIII SOOu nave "llelSSS
telegraphy connection with Australia
and a link with the rest Of the en-
pre In time she will obtain for her
products preferential treatment I'M
der the Australian tariff, and thus
| become a formidable rival to Ceylon
| in matters of commerce. Expert
mental government plantations have
been already begun, and colonization
plans are being carefully worked out
by trading and mission agencies.