National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4536077

APPEAL TO PARLIAMENTNEW LAWS NEEDED !'WE ARE NOT SINNERS, SAVAGES, AND CRIMINALS'

by the Editor.

At last the Government of New South Wales has promised tomake new. laws for. Aborigines, and a Bill will come before Parliament in the present Session. ;

ThA AhnnVinps Progressive Association makes a desperate lastminute appeal to Mr. Stevens, Mr. Gollan, Mr. Bruxner, Mr. Lang,and all other Members of Parliament.

WE ASK YOU WHITE GENTLEMEN TO LISTEN TO THEVOICE OF THE ABORIGINES THEMSELVES!

We declare that the Aborigines of New South Wales are not

savages, sinners, and criminals.There is no need for anthropologists, clergymen, and police to

look after us specially.:.,-. Give us a chance! We want education and opportunity for em

ployment.We want, doctors and teachers, and decent 'tucker'. We want

the chance for our children to. become decent respectable membersof the Australian community!

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ABORIGINES THEM??? -SELVES!--:- ?--.:,-,::?? ?. ...j-.: i ?'...-... ?'.. ;--.^.-.:. ...?-:,...-....

Law-makers of New South Wales, we ask you to STUDY thisquestion before handing us over to anthropologists, clergymen andpolice, who have been exterminating us for 150 years!

OUR POLICYThe Aborigines Progressive Association, with membership lim

ited to persons of Aboriginal blood and descent, has carefullystudied this question, and now appeals to the Government of NewSouth* Wales to show a lead to other Australian Governments.

The policy we advocate is as follows. This policy has been endorsed by meetings of Aborigines right throughout country districts and was confirmed at a general meeting of the AboriginesProgressive Association, held at La Perouse on 26th June, 1938.

Please read this carefully, and give your support to the policyof the Aborigines themselves.

We ask for NEW LAWS to provide for:

CITIZEN RIGHTS.Full. Citizen Rights for all Aborigines, including the benefit of

all social and industrial privileges enjoyed by the white community.

LAND SETTLEMENT.Special Land Settlement Plan for Aborigines, whereby Aborig

ines' who desire to take up land shall be assisted to do so, on similar principles to Soldier Settlers or Immigration Schemes.

EDUCATION.Special .education Scholarships for children of Aborigines, to

enable them to attend Technical Colleges, Agricultural Colleges,and High Schools, for the purpose of receiving occupational training*

ADMISSION TO CIVIL SERVICE.Admission of an annual quota of young Aborigines to employ

ment in the Civil Service. .'...-ABORIGINAL RESERVES

Retention of the present Aboriginal Reservations as a sanctuaryfor aged or infirm Aborigines, or for Aborigines who may be unable or unwilling to adapt themselves suddenly to the opportunities of full citizenship.

ADMINISTRATION. -Constitution of an Aborigines Administration Board, to consist

of three persons nominated by the Government, namely one expertin education, one expert in health, and one expert in land settlement; together with three Aborigines, to be nominated by the Aborigines Progressive Association; and that all Inspectors under the

' proposed new Act should be persons of Aboriginal blood.

The foregoing is the OFFICIAL POLICY OF THE ABORIG;

INES PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION for New South Wales, and? we appeal to the Government to heed our cry for justice.

We are not savages, sinners, and criminals.? We do not need anthropologists, clergymen and police!1 Give us equality of treatment and opportunity with all other

Australians! -

\Jborigines Progressive AssociationMEMBERSHIP LIST.

The following is a lirst list of full y-paid-up financial members of the Aborigines Progressive Association, whosenames have been entered in the Members'. Book as ticket-holders.

A further list will be published nextmonth in 'The Abo Call.'

All Aborigines should hurry to join,and give support to this great movement,for our progress. Member's Ticket, -z/-.per annum, obtainable from the II cadOffice of the Association, 209a ElizabethStreet, Sydney.

Ask your local representatives forfurther particulars.

Only persons of Aboriginal blood ordescent are eligible for membership.

-: New South Wales.La Perouse: j. T. Patten, T. II. Foster,

Joseph Timbury. Snr., Wesley Sims, W.G. Sherritl, R. McKeiizie, Mrs. J. Patten.

Moomih Cullalt : John Jones, HarrisonDay, William Day,' William Egan.

Brezvarrina : Valentine M ingo.Narooma: Michael Council.

Be/lbrook: William Laytbn.'West Kempscy: Amy, Woodlands,

Herbert Taylor, Alfred Ritchie, Leslie

Donovan,' Mrs. Lena Fields, StephenDonovan.

Green //ills, Kempscy: A. BoyccSmith, Allen Smith, Leslie Davis, Mrs.Janet Miles.

IJunif Bridt/e: William Kitcliie. Mrs.E. J.f Davis, 'Mrs. Charlie Bugg, Mrs.Maude Davis.

Rollins Plains'. Herb Davis.

Cummcrajunjir, Henry Atkinson.Ulijam/ahia /slain/: R. Cameron, R.

Randall, Mrs. R. Randall, Claude Randall. Mrs. Claude Randall, Colin Randall.

\hin\bncca Heads'. Joseph Bryant,Samuel Drew, James McGrath, PaddySims. Walter, Smith, James Davis, Mrs.Alice Davis.

Taree: Henry Penrith. Aruthr Ridgway. Ernest McKinnon, Edward Lobban,C. (astledine, Martha Castledine. Jack

Neville. Harriet Neville, Bert Marr,Elsie Marr, Pat Marr, W. Saunders,.Lilly Saunders, Betty Saunders, .Betty'Saunders, Mary Margaret Saunders,Kenneth Ed ward Saunders.

?Horsier: Thomas Ridgway, DaphneRidgway, Jack Simons, Percy Simons,Harrv Cunningham, Maud* Cunningham,Robert Simon, Samuel Leon, Mrs. LucyLeon.

Jervis Bay: John Joseph Johnson,Reginald J. McLeod.

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Port Keinbla : John Ardler.

Cabbatje Tree I slum/: Leo Bolt, R.'Boll, Chris. Boll, Clive Williams, T.Kapecn, II. Bolt, Aubrey Roberts, F.Robinson, Percy Craig, Laurie Ferguson,Tim Rhodes, II. Cook, G. Cook, W.Cook, K. Cook, Win. Cook,

Baryuhjil : Waller Green, Amos, Green,Herbert vYvery, Sen., Herbert Avery,

Jnr., Clarrie Hookey, Randolph Wilson,Thomas A very, Brandy Donnelly, AlfDonnelly, Thomas Donnelly, Elliot Wilson, Albert Robinson, Richard Mundinc,*William Harrington, Mrs. Lucy Daley,.Basil Robinson, Douglas Brown/

Tuncestcr: Thomas Richie, Charlotte,Richie, Katie Cameron, Steve Roberts,Jnr., Harold Roberts, Lylc Roberts, DonRoberts. Alby Roberts, Fred Cameron,John Williams, Cecil Taylor.

Queensland..' Beaudeserf: R. W. Drumley, 15.' C. VDrumley. F. R. Cool well, X. E. CoolWell. C.' CV Cool well, II. C. Sandy, W;Drumley, A. Cool well, R. Munday, L.Sandy, J. Williams, J. Geary, W. A.Geary, Mrs. L. Sandy. Mrs. C. Cool well,A: Page, H. Sandy, J. Coolwell, Mrs. C.Culhan, Mrs. E. Maloncy.

Tiiu/oora: Tom Simpson.'

Stradbrokc Island: Roy Close, AlfredMoreton. Albeit Jones, Mrs. Katie Martin, Willie Nuggan. Mrs. Ethel Close, R.J. Close, Jnr., Phyllis Close, Joan, Mar)'Close.

Mundubcrru; O. W. Wallace.

Victoria.- *Melbourne: Mrs. Grace Scott.

Aboriginal Football Team, Taree.

Premiers, Wollamba League.

Standituj: B. Simon (Sec), J. Simon, J. Ridgeway, W. Slater, F. Dumas,J. Ping, P. Simon.

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Seated: H. Cunningham, C. Leon, R. Simon, Joe Simon , (Capt.), M.^ Simon, N. Dungay, S. Leon.

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Aboriginal Football Team, Taree.

Premiers, Wollamba League.

Standituj: B. Simon (Sec), J. Simon, J. Ridgeway, W. Slater, F. Dumas,J. Ping, P. Simon.

.

Seated: H. Cunningham, C. Leon, R. Simon, Joe Simon , (Capt.), M.^ Simon, N. Dungay, S. Leon.

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National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4536078

Tour of North CoastMANY, SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS

ASSOCIATION'S POLICY ENDORSED.

During the month of June, the President (J. T. Patten), accom

panied by Messrs. McKenzie and.Charters (Executive Committee .

members), made a 'whirlwind tour' of North Coast Districts inNew South Wales, organising and recruiting members for the Abo

rigines Progressive Association.

Many successful meetings were held, and great enthusiasm was

shown for the work of the Association.

The tour was made possible by thekindness of Mr. R. T. Brown, of Sydney, in lending his motor-car and driving, the organisers on their tour of over

2,500 miles in three weeks.Petrol expenses were paid from the

funds of the Association, and by salesof the 'Abo Call', of which more than

2,000 copies were sold, spreading themessage far and wide, and rousing greatsupport for our cause among the whitecommunity. as well as among, colouredbrothers and sisters.

A first list of ?members,7' many of

whom joined up during the tour, isprinted in another, column of this issue,and further lists will be published in

subsequent numbers of 'The Abo Call'.

Newcastle - and ; Taree;.

.Arrived at Newcastle, at sundown, the,

party, slept on; the. beach; arid nex,t day..;

started selling 'The Abo Call'- ih the'

streets. A mid-day meeting was held atthe Railway Yards, where white workerseagerly listened to the policy of our

Association, and promised to bring itbefore their

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members of parliament.A call was made on Mr. Hawkins,

MX. A., who expressed great interest inour movement. *

Leaving Newcastle, the messagebearers travelled by night to Taree, arriving,at sunrise, at the Sunrise AboriginalStation, Tarecl.'; The weather; was verycold.

. '.'.';?This' station-' was- under control of

Manager Milne, just transferred fromBellbrook. A meeting was held at 2 p.m.,as the President had a written author

ity given by direction of _the*Chairmanof the Select Committee to visit all Aboriginal Reservations in New SouthWales.

When our policy was outlined, manyof those present agreecl to join the Asso

ciation. , The chief complaint here is thatAborigines have to work for their rattans of flour, tea, and sugar, and have no

opportunity, of outside employment.A pitiful sight was an aged. Aborigin

al woman, in the winter of her life, withno food except flour, tea, and sugar, andin very poor lodgings. This old lady was

very anxious for our Association to sucrceed, and gave us her blessing.

We were asked to appeal to the Gov

ernment to instal bathrooms and betterhousing conditions. here. The houses onthis Reserve are in a disgraceful con

dition, and need repair, being bitterlycold in winter.- No wonder our peopleget T.B. and have no encouragement tolive !

The Manager's house is a neat andwell-built residence,, which would be acredit to any city suburb.

The following, were appointed Representatives of the Association at Taree:P. Marr, J. Ping, and W. Sauriders.

KempseyThe party arrived Kempsey at night

fall on the following day, and camped onthe racecourse. Throughout the tour theorganisers rolled their swags and sleptout wherever they went. It was prettycold, too ! '.''.'

Calls were made on Aborigines livingat Green Hill, Kempsey, who are riot oha Reserve, and are doing their best tokeep away from the A.P. Board and allits works. Our movement got a greatreception here, and many promises ofiutuie. support.

A meeting1 was then held at the Aboriginal Station, Burnt Bridge, Kempsey,attended ,by over 260 Aborigines, whocongregated in the hall belonging to theReserve. ?????

,,No obstacles were put in our- way. bythe .manager, Mr. Jacobs, a white man

who seems to be doing his best to administer the present rotten system of socalled- 'protection' with the least evilresults.

Chairman of the meeting was Mr. Albert- Woodland, a native of Kempsey,and addresses were given by Messrs.Patten, Mackenzie, and Charters.

The chief complaint at Kempsey isthe bad water supply, the water beinglaid on from a bog-hole, although the

^.town water 'supply of Kempsey is a littlemore than a mile distant, and could beextended for the use of our people atvery slight cost.

'??

No bathx'ooms or heating* facilities,poor housing, tin huts, glassless ,. win-dows, people working for rations, makeBurnt Bridge a depressing place forAborigines.

Sydney University ? anthropologistshave, been busy here, much to the amuse- .merit of bur-people, who- are riot in atribal state, and live in the Tin Hut Age,not the Stone Age.

*

., Association's reps., appointed atKempsey: W. Mumbler, P. Davies, S.Donovan, E. Davis, and A. Woodland.

Nambucca Heads.' The next place of call was NambuccaHeads, where a colony of Aborigines aretrying to make a living away from thedisheartening influence of the A.P.Board. v

Several are fishermen, others do bushwork by contract. :

A meeting was held, and the Association's policy endorsed. The children hereattend the Public School, with white

children, and are hoping to be absorbedin the community, on equal terms, whenpenalties on Aborigines, regaining employment, ai'e removed.

Nambucca reps, of the Association: Ii.

Davis, R. Freeman.'

Bowraville.'

Housing conditions on Bowraville Reserve are deplorable, and a standing disgrace to the A.P. Board.

The supervisor is the local police officer, who has many other duties to attend to. Education is given by a RomanCatholic priest, who has a special schoolfor Aboriginal children, and provides ahot meal, for which he is allowed 3d. perhead from the A.P. Board.

The priest is doing his best, under adverse conditions, but \yhy should Aboriginal children be denied the right to attend the Bowraville Public School?. Wedo not want 'segregation'.

Bowraville rep.': W. Davis.

Baryulgil.The Aboriginal community here are

stock-riders, and Clarence River bushworkers, of a very fine type, the descendants of the Bungelong Tribe.

They are outside a Reserve, but areunder supervision of the manager of

Woodenbung Aboriginal Station, eightymiles away.' Six months ago, there were29 Aboriginal children attending theBaryulgil Public School, which they, are

? now forbidden to attend.President Patten interviewed the

schoolmaster, and. was informed that thisaction is by order of the Department ofEducation.

It would seem that the purpose of thiscruel order is to clrive Aboriginal families on to Woodenbung Reserve, to attend the Aboriginal School there, undersegregated conditions.

Aged and infirm Aborigines at Baryulgil, are also finding it difficult , to obtainmeat rations,, the policy -of the A.P.Board being intended to drive thesepeople on to Woodenbung Reserve.

Association's reps, at Baryulgil: A.Green and D. Browne.

TabulamThe next call was Tabulam, in Mr. Mi

F. Bruxner's constituency, where hous

ing conditions have been greatly improved in the past six months, followingPresident Patten's exposures in .the Sydrney press after his visit here last year.On that occasion Mr. Bruxher said that

'Jacky-Jacky is riot a good advertisementfor' Australia', and President Patten re

plied that 'Tabulam is. a very bad ad-?

vertisement for -Mr. Bruxner.'New houses have been built, some, of

them even haying ~ttie luxury of- tanks:But the houses are built of greentimber,and are already warped, but are betterthan before.

Meat ration here is irregular, andAborigines have to go to the killing yardsto beg for 'guts' on slaughfering-days.

Association's rep. at Tabulam : LenWalker; t

Tuncester.

A great reception awaited the Executive Officials at Tuncester, where 140Aborigines attended our-' meeting, withMr. W. Curtis in the chair. The Aboriginal settlement here is three miles from

Lismore, on the Casino Road. Although .there are many children here, the schoolhas now been closed/with the apparentobject of driving our people on to theReserve at Stoney Gully, Kyogle.

The Tuncester people state they haveno desire to move away from their present homes, to the demoralising atmosphere of a Government Station. Theyask urgently for schooling facilities tobe restored to Tuncester, or else for amotor-bus to take the children into Lismore for schooling.

Government help in housing is noticeable here by its absence, and the Manager comes from Stoney Gulley withrations of the usual poor quality andstarvation quantity.

Excellent support for the Associationamong Tuncester Aborigines.

Representatives: W. Curtis,' FrankRoberts.

Beaudesert, Queensland.By special invitation of Queensland

Aborigines, the A.P.A. officers next

jbrossedthe border to Beaudesert, wherea large and enthusiastic gathering wasassembled, many of those present hav

ing come from hundreds of miles around,to hear the message of hope for Aus:tralia's dispossessed original owners.

We explained that our Association is

fighting, hard for, reform in New SouthWales first, after which we shall concen-'trate on Queensland, where the Government has a quarter-of-a-million poundsin trust, being' the earnings of Aborigines, accumulated under the Apprenticeship system of grabbing our people'swages. \

While at .' Beaudesert, we saw theQueensland Government's slave-methodsin operation, as the son' of the Chairmanof our meeting was arrested' by the police and taken away from his father'shouse to -v Cherbourg Station, hundredsof miles away. We saw the unfortunate

youth bundled into the train, and taken

away from his family, as though he werea criminal, his only crime being that he

? had left Cherbourg without a permit todo so.

Look out, Mr. Forgan Smith and Mr.Bleakley ! Your callous treatment of

Aborigines has gone on too long. TheAborigines Progressive Association is onyour track, and will tell the people ofAustralia the. truth about Queenslandslave conditions!

?Local reps, at Beaudesert: W. Sandy,CvCoolwell, F. Coolwell.

Fingal, Tweed River.

Crossing the border again to TweedRiver, we came to the settlement of

Fingal, . where many South Sea Islanders and Aborigines reside. We^hope toamend the Constitution of the A.P.A.at next Annual General Meeting to include South Sea Island natives in our

membership, and meanwhile extendthem a hand in greeting.

Our people on the Tweed River havedecent homes, and support themselves byagricultural work; but colour-prejudiceis supreme in the towns of CoolangattaT weed Heads, and dark people are forbidden to attend the cinemas. A special school for coloured people at Fingalsets them apart from the community, although four white children attend it.

Aborigines here are under Police supervision, but, when unemployed, find itVery difficult to get- ration orders, and

complain that the police use 'stand-over',methods and foul language .when, approached by a coloured person asking, for relief.

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Association's. Reps, at Tweed Heads:-W. Browning, T. Slockey. , '.

Cabbage Tree Island.Arrived at the Richmond River, we

copeed to Cabbage Tree Island for aboat; and were ferried to the* Island ina leaky dinghy used ' for the transport

-of natives. It looked as though the A.P.Board hopes that some of our peoplewill drown while reaching their isolatedsettlement.

The Island itself is of fertile soil;and is. cultivated by Aborigines, farmingsugar-cane. The Island is about 150acreSj and supports. more than 150 Abo- ?rigines, who thus provide an answer tothe lie that Aborigines do not becomegood farmers, when given the chance.Despite adverse conditions, lack of modern machinery, and over-crowding, ..ourpeople have deirionstrated !'thjsir abilityand .eagerness for. 'progress., : '

The management -of this Reserve is inthe capable hands of Mr. Neville, who -is doing his best to make- the.. out-of-date 'protection' system operatei Housing conditions on the Islands are secondrate, and our people need more land,modern implements, and more modernconveniences. Their isolation on thisIsland prevents them from mingling withthe white community on equal .. terms.Why does not the Government makegood land available to Aboriginal settlersin the farming districts of New SouthWales,?

Association's reps.: T. Rhodes, A.Roberts, W. Harvey.

Return to Sydney.The Official party then returned to

Sydney, in time to attend an enthusiasticSpecial' General Meeting at the PalmsHall, La Perouse, on 26th June, as reported on page 1.

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In the course of 2,500 miles, travelledin three weeks, the organisers. .properlyestablished the Association throughout ?the North Coast, and intend to /do thesame in all other districts as soon as opportunity, offers. ?'

All monies collected by the Association'are- banked, under proper audit, and allfinancial members are issued with a receipt \R cd Member's Ticket, 1938), andbook of rules.

The Coming Fight.As the Government has promised a

new Aborigines Act during the presentsession, the Association will be very busyduring July in approaching members ofparliament to put the case for' the Aborigines themselves. We appeal to all

Aborigines to join the Association without delay, and to have their namesentered in our Member's Book.

No matter what new laws are passed,we will still need a strong AboriginesProgressive Association, to watch theinterests of our members.

Join up today! Send in your namewilh Annual Subscription (2/-) and helpus in the great fight now on!

J. T. PATTEN.

PROGRESS IN VICTORIA.Warrnambool Farm Scheme.

We have received advice trom Vic

toria that the Government intends tospend 3,000 on a scheme of farmsettlement for Aborigines1 at Framlinirham.

???'.??? v ?'?'?.?The scheme provides for building de

cent houses, and allotting ten acres toeach family for cultivation.

These farms and houses will be. at asmall rent, and the proposal has the support,, of, many influential whitemen'sorganisations.

Wake up New South Wales ! Wake upQueensland! . .

Victoria, which has only a Handful ofAborigines left, is making a 'death-bed'repentance and atonement for past crimesagainst Aborigines..

'Farms for Aborigines,' is. our cry.

Read ...'THE ABO CALL'

The Voice of the Aboriginesthemselves

2/- per dozen.

from the publishers

209a Elizabeth Street, Sydney.,1

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4536079

Northern Territory Nativesx

Shocking Police Treatment Alleged.

The following is a letter we have received from Mr. J: De Lisle, of Sydney:

Early in 1932 1 was employed, asstation' cook at X cattle' station in -theNorthern Territory, about 1 60 miles

:from the Queensland border. Aboutnoon one day I sighted a motor car coming across the plains towards the home-stead. Upon its arrival two members ofthe N.T. police came to me and askedfor the manager. I did not see themagain till next day, but in the' meantime I had learnt what their visit wasabout. -'?

A black boy had run away from Y, anadjoining, cattle station, and as he wasa good stockman, its manager wasanxious to get him back.

After two days' riding about the run,they located the boy in company. ^withtwo native women. They were all arrested and ; brought to X homestead andchained by the neck to the veranda postsof the men's quarters.

I was instructed to give them no foodor water, but I was able to disobey.

After about two hours they were placed in the back of a utility truck, whichcontained, an armed guard, and weretaken to our station's stock-camp, a gooddistance away.

There the black boy was charged with

illegally using a horse. The Court was

presided over by the manager of X, whowas a J. P., and the remainder of theCourt consisted of the police. No witnesses, were called, not even the managerof Y station who was supposed to laythe charge. .The police acted in the dualrole of prosecutors and protectors. (Allmembers of the N.T. police, arid also allJ.P.'s who are station managers, are'Protectors of Aborigines'.) -.

The charge was found proven, and theboy was. given six months in BooralooloJail.

The two women were not charged,but were remanded in custody still chained by the neck. When they arrived backat,X they were chained to the verandahposts as before. 'That will teach theblack bastards not to run away again,'said one of the police. The Jast I sawof them was being taken towards Ystation still chained.

From bagmen I afterwards learnedthat the horse in the case was. not a station horse, but one which had been givento the black boy by a stockman on Ystation.

Such treatment of the natives of theN.T. is common ; they receive no wSges,but only food and clothing, for theirwork on the cattle stations ; and verypoo'r food and clothing they get.

Commonwealth ParliamentAborigines* Citizen Rights Recognised in Insurance Bill.

As far as is known, the Commonwealth Parliament, for the first time inits history, recognised Aborigines ascitizens in its recent legislation for'Social Insurance'.

The Bill as drafted excluded 'Aborig-ines and natives of the Pacific Islands'from insurance, but Mr. Hawker, Member iot Wakefield; moved, on 7th June,to include Aborigines in the scope ofthe-Act. ???:? -f ? m--.i ? ??

After discussion, the Treasurer (Mr.Casey) announced that the Governmentwould accept this amendment, and wouldgo further, to include Pacific Islanders as

. well as Aborigines in. the scope of theAct; '

We consider this is a great victory forour cause, and our thanks are due to

Mr. Hawker for his words as follows:

'It appears to . me to be- a verygreat injustice that legislationwhich proposes to confer the benefits of a national insurance

&,scheme upon all aliens, irrespective of their age on arrival in

Australia, or their country of. birth, should exclude Australian

Aborigines, regardless of the con;editions under which they may live,

or of what educational qualifications they may have attained.'

Many speakers in the House supported the amendment, and showed that thewhite man's 'conscience' of bad treatment of our race has at last beenaroused.

'Without a Shot Fired'It is often stated that Australia was

cpnquered by the British 'without a shotbeing fired', but this is 'a British lie'and a cloak of humbug and hypocrisy.

The truth is that British shots werefired in the year 1770 by Captain Cookagainst the natives of Botany Bay, andBritish shots have since been fired in

every district in Australia to kill andfrighten away the native people.

Persecution of Aborigines an Australia has, been worse than Hitler's'persecution of the Jews', worse thanMussolini's treatment of Abyssinians,and worse than Japan's treatment of theChinese.

British hypocrites in Australia should'put their own house in order', beforecriticising other countries.

The following is a brief specimen listof British outrages -against Australia'sAborigines, taken from Henniker Heaton's well-known Dictionary of Dates,.pages S and 6 (published 1879) :

(Mote: These arc from official records.)

July, 1838: AbouV fourteen Aborigines,names unknown, shot by stockmen fromBowman's, Ebden's and Yaldwyn'sstations.

February, 1839: Nooroowoorin, andanother

'

Aboriginal of the Jajawrongtribe, shot by Bowman's servants atMaidenHills.June, 1839: Six Aboriginal men, namesunknown, shot by the Mounted Police onthe Campaspe River.January, 1840: 'Wikur, Keramburnin,and another man of the Taoungurongtribe, shot by Munro arid party betweenthe Colliban River and Mount Alexander.

September, 1840: Panumarfamin, aGrampian native, shot by J. F. Francisin the Pyrenees.December, 1840 : Bonnokgoondeet* Jojowl, Kombonngarramin, and Pertunarramin, shot by J. J. Francis in thePyrenees.February,. 1841 : Gondu-urmin, a Kalkalgoondet native, shot by, Dutton's servants near the Lodden.March, 1841 : Mokf te shot near MountCole, by a splitter.May, 1841 : Koanykruk, a native of theTaoungarong tribe, shot by Bennett'sshepherd.July, 1 841 : Two Aborigines 'shot byHall's hutkeeper, at the foot of theGratnpians.July, 1 84 1 : Kowarramin, with two otherAborigines and an Aboriginal girl, shotby three white men near Kirk's station,Purrumbeep.August, 1841: Bood Bood Yarramin,shot by Captain Bunbury's storekeeper,near Mount William.

Such are a few. incidents of Australia'sblood-stained history. It will be notedthat these killings occurred within thethree years after the dreadful massacreof twenty-eight Aboriginal men, women,and children, on Dangar's station atMyall Creek, June, 1838.

They aTe a few of the killings whichreached the official records.

Other massacres mentioned by Heatoninclude 'the slaughter oi sixty natives onthe Dawson River, Queensland, 1857;arid the wiping-out of 170 blacks, in theMedway Ranges, Queensland, in October and November, 1861.

May our slaughtered and massacredbrothers and sisters of long-ago, rest inpeace!

CAPRICORNIA^Birth of a Nameless Half-Caste

We print hereunder three more extracts from CAPRICORN J 'A,the Commonwealth Prize novel by Xavier Herbert (book obtainablefrom The Publicist Publishing Cp., 209a Elizabeth Street, Sydney.Price, 6/r.)

These extracts. deal with the birth of NAWNIM, a half castechild, born in North Australia. ,

Tlie author here shows the callousness of whitemen in regardto their children.. Although this story is fictitious, it truly portrays

? the conditions under which many of Australia's 20,000 half casteshave come into existence.

I. NAWNIM'S FATHER'.As the Maniya drifted before a dying

breeze into the creek, the sun was sink

ing. The creek lay like a mirror, fleckless but for chasings here and therewhere fishes stirred. Rich red gold wassplashing on the waters of the reachesto the west, flowing to the sea in dazzlingstreams down gently-rolling troughs. Thesun sank swiftly. Purple shade of nightcame creeping in. The red gold fadedto the hard yellow gold of coins, to thesoft gold of flowers, to silver-gilt, to

silver, to purple pewter chased with fila- ?ments of starlight. The changes passedwith minutes.

'Leggo !' bellowed. ^ Krater. Theanchor splashed. The chain snarled

through the hawse. The echoes clatteredacross the darkening creek1 to stir thesilence of the brooding bush.

A cry' from the shore 'Oy-ee-ee-ee yah-a !'

Fire leapt in the clearing above the

beach, illuminating mighty tree-trunksand the forms of naked men, sendinggreat shadows lurching, splashing thecreek with gold. High the fire leapt higher higher blazed like a greatjoy, then checked, fell back, arid died.

Again the cry. It was answered onlyby the echoes. The. lugger's crew; har-

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assed by snarling Krater, were all engaged in snugging ship. The fire leaptagain. Ragged patches were snatchedfrom it and carried to the beach. Torchesblazed for a minute or two over

.the

launching of canoes. Soon the splash ofpaddles was heard. Then ghostly shapesshot into the wheel of light shed byKrater's lantern.

'Itunguri !' cried a voice.'Inta muni it-ung-er-ee-ee-ee

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cried the crew.'Kiatulli!' shouted Krater. 'Shut y'

blunny row!'Somewhere out of the lamplight a

voice cried shrilly, 'Munichillu!' Thecry went back to the shore, 'Munichillu,Munichillu, Munichillu-ee-ee-ee yah !'.??Krater raised the lantern, so that his hairlooked like a silver halo round his head,and glared across the water.

The canoes came up to the Jugger,their crews looking like grey brighteyed ghosts. A crowd scrambled aboardto help with the snugging and to get thedunnage. Krater told Mark and Chookto go ashore and wait for hini. Chookwas shaving hastily in the cabin. Marklooked in at him, laughed at his occupation and said a. word or two, 'then

dropped into a canoe alone and wentashore with a smelly, peeping, whispering, jostling crowd.

Mark stepped into the lukewarmwater where it broke into fragments offire on the lip of the beach, and went upto the native camp, chuckling and distributing sticks of nicki-nicki, or tradetobacco, to a score of black snatchinghands. He stopped to stare at two oldmen who sat beside the fire, naked anddaubed with red and white ochre andadorned about arms and legs and breastswith elaborate systems of cicatrix. Theygrinned at him and spoke a few wordshe did not understand.

On the other side of the fire, attendinglo f. huge green turtle roasting upturnedin its shell, squatted a withered whitehaired old woman who wore nothing buta tiny skirt of paper-bark and a stick'or bone through the septum of her nose.She also grinned at him, and cackledsomething in the native, tongue thataroused a laugh.

Feeling self-conscious Mark clumsily

gave her tobacco and lounged away toexamine a pile of arms and accoutrements, 'fine pieces of work, elaboratelyshaped and carved and painted, wroughtpresurriably with primitive tools and thecoarse pigments of the earth. And therewere other handsome articles ;lying about,some in wraps of paper-bark, finelywoven' dilly-bags and slings and beltsand corroboree-regalia of strikingly intricate and beautiful design. He was $J_\surprised, having been taught to regardhis black compatriots asextreriiely lowcreature's, the verjb ragtag of humanity,scarcely more intelligent and handy thanthe apes.

He beckoned a young man standingnear, tall and well built as himself, and-,asked him would he exchange somearticle for tobacco. Having but a poorgrip of the'lingua franca called Bechdemer or Pidjin, he could not make him-

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self understood. 'I want a spear,' hesaid. 'A spe ar or something. Savvy?'

'Lubra?' asked the man, pointing withfleshy lips, to some women squatting bya gunyah. '

Mark experienced a shock. Apparentlyat a sign from the man, a young lubrawearing nothing but a naga of paperbark rose and came forward shyly. Shewas .not more shy than Mark, who'dropped his eyes from her and said \ tothe man simply out of politeness, 'Be-long you?'

'Coo wah,' said the man. 'Youwantim ?'

The girl was comely, Mark thought ;but his thoughts, were at the moment asturbulent as -his heart. A true combowould have thought her even beautiful.One who was observant and aestheticwould have. gloated over' the perfectsymmetry expressed in the curves of thewide mobile nostrils and arched septumof her fleshy nose, would have delightedin her peculiar pouting mouth with thickpuckered lips of colour reddish black likewithered rose, in the lustrous irises andfleckless white-of-egg-white whites ofher large black slightly-tilted eyes, in herlong luxuriant bronzy lashes, in thecurves of her neck and back, in thecoppery black colour of her velvet skin ?and its fascinating musky odour, andmight have kept her talking, in order todelight in her slow, deep, husky, voice,or laughing in order to delight in theI.'ash of her perfect teeth and gums andthe lazy movements of her eyes.

Mark was trying to excuse himselffor seeing beauty in a creature of a typehe had been' taught to look upon as atravesty of normal humanity. He wasthinking would the Lord God whoput some kind of beauty into the facesevery other kind of women utterly ignore this one?

''You wantim?' asked the man again.'Garn!' gasped Mark, digging bare '

toes in the sand.'Nungatta kita kunitoa,' said the man.'N-no savvy,' gasped Mark.

. 'Givvim one bag flour, Mister?'Mark did not heed. He was staring

at the lubra's feet, which were diggingas his own were. Then he looked at theman, hating him for a procurer, knowing nothing of the customs of the peoplenor realizing that the man was only doing what he thought had been asked ofhim, what he had learnt to expect to beasked of him by every whiteman withwhom he had ever come in contact, andwhat he was shrewd enough to expect tobe 'asked by the momentarily scrupulousMark. Nor did Mark- realise that the

Continued on page 4 .

National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4536080

(Continued frgyi paye'-'z) , ?? ??man and his: kiri^-' might love; theirwomenfolk just as

' much' as' ^vliitemendo, even though they were not so jealaus of. their conjugal rights. At themoment he considered the man unutter

ably base. lie said to/, him huskily,'You're a ?'dirty1 dog, '?old* man. Let the

lady do her courting for herself.'

II. NAWNIMZS MOTHERIf Mark. and his companions had Had

the energy to execute the plans withwhich they went to Flying Fox they,might have turned the fair place into atownship, and themselves into bumbles.

They planned .to build, houses, stores,curing-sheds for the trepang they intend- ?ed to bring in] by. the shipload, and ajetty, and a tramway, and a reservoir,and this was inventive Mai'k's idea -

a dam across the mouth of the saltwatercreek and a plant connected with it' for

drawing electric power from the tide.They did nothing much more in the wayof building than to erect a number of

crazy humpies of such materials as barkand kerosene-cans, into, which the}' retired with lubras to keep house ,forthem

Mark built for himself by far .the besthotise, and furnished it 'very neatly. Thelubra lie selected was a young girl named

Marowallua, who, after he had wastedmuch time in trying to leach her to keephouse to suit his finicking taste, he foundwas with child.

He sent her away, refusing to believethat the child was his, and took another

girl. It -was Krater who caused him todisbelieve Marowallua. Krater said thatseveral times he himself had been tricked,into coddling lubras in belief that theywere carying children of his, to find at.last that he had been made cukpld byblackfellows. Marrowallua went 'off tothe. mainland with her people.

The humpies were set up on the isthmus between the creek and the sea,

among a grove of fine old mango treesand skinny coconuts that Krater hadplanted. In these trees lived a multitudeof the great black bats called flying foxes,the coming of which when, the mangoesbegan to bear was responsible for thenaming of the island, Flying Fox. Backsome little distance from the settlement

lay a large billabong, screened by ajungle of pandanuses and other palmsand giant paper-barks and native figtrees..

The billabong provided jinieh of thefood of the inhabitants. Yams and lilyroots grew there in abundance ; and itwas the haunt of' duck and geese, and a

drinking- place of the marsupials, withwhich, thanks to Krater's good sense inhelping the natives to preserve the game,the island abounded.

More food was to be got from themainland, where now (here were to befound wild hog and water-buffalo, beastsdescended from imported slock that hadescaped from domesticity. And still morefood was to be. got from the sea, whichabounded in turtle and dugong and fish.

The whitemen left the hunting to thenatives. It was not long before the settlement became self-supporting in the matler. of its supplies of alcoholic liquor as

well, thanks to Choolc Menu, who discovered that a .pleasant and potent spirit:oultl be distilled from a1 compound ofyarns .and mangoes.

The month's passed, while still theLrcpang-hulustry remained in much thesame state as it had throughout all theyears of Krater's careless handling ofit./ It was not iong before Krater showed' that he -resented the intrusion of theathers. Thereafter, Mark, and Chookuid the other young, men fished forhemselves.

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Wet Season came. The Yurracummngas returned, in force to their Gifljf ithc Sea. Wet Season was drawing toi close, when one violent night the lubra\larowallua gave birth' to her child. A

Jtorni of the' type called 'Cockeye Bob'n Capricornia, which had been threatenng from sundown, burst over' FlyingFox in the middle of the night, beginningvith a lusty gust. of wind that ravagedhe sea' and sent sand hissing through thel'ees.'

.'.Then lightning, like a'. mighty skinnyHind, shot out of the black heavens andiVru'ck'the earth/ CRASH !

: The windSeattle 'a' hurricane.

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Grass was crushedlat. Leaves were' stripped from treesn sheets!' Palms bent like wire. Flash

fell up on Hash.' and crash upon' crash,blindjng,''deaf eriing.i* Out^.of nothing thesettlement' leapt and lived for a secondat a tim'c^like'1 a vision of' madness: Mis

shapen houses reeled' among vegetationthat lay on the ground with great leaves

. waving like frantically supplicatinghands. Rain stretched down like silverwires from heaven of pitch to earth of

seething mud. Rain poured through theroof of Mark's house and. spilled on him.He^ rose, from .his damp bed, donned aloin-cloth, and went to the open door.

As suddenly as it had come the stormwas over. The. full moon, raiiirwashedand brilliant, struggled put' of a net ofcloud, and stared at the dripping worldas though in curiosity. The air. wassweet. Fora while the ravaged earth wassilent. Then gradually the things thatlived, goannas, flying foxes, snakes, men,frogs, -and trees, revived, began to stir,to murmur, to resume the interrupted

.business of the night. From; a gunyahin the native camp came the plaint ofone whose business had only just begun.

Mark returned to bed. He was not

?feeling well. Of late he had been drinking top much of Chook's potent grog. Helay behind the musty-smelling mosquitonet, smoking, and, listening idly to amedley of sounds. Water was drippingfrom the roof; a gecko lizard was crying in the kitchen; mosquitoes weredroning round the net ; frogs were singing a happy chorus on the back veranda.

The silhouette of a human form appeared in the doorway. _ It was a lubra.

.Another^ joined her. Two for sure, sincetwo is dear company, at night in a land ofdevil-devils.. They stood whispering.Mark thought that they were come to selltheir favours for tobacco or grog. Whenone stole in to him he growled,* 'Get tohell!'

The lubra bent over, plucked at thenet, said softly, 'Marowallua bin droppirn piccanin, Boss.'

After a pause Mark breathed, as heslowly ? raised hi nisei f , 'Eh ?'

'Piccanin, Boss HI boy.'He asked quickly, 'What name

black'feller?'? 'No-more \\l yeller- feller be

longa you, Boss.'Mark sat staring. The lubra murmur

ed something, then turned away.'

lie satstaring for minutes. Then hastily hesearched the bed for his loin-cloth,found it, donned it, and slipped out. At(he door he stopped. What was he do

ing? Was the child his? Should he ignore it? Better see. But first put ontrousers. A whitcman must keep up hisdignity.

lie went back for his trousers. Nowhis hands were trembling. Holy Smoke !A father? Surely not! He/felt halfashamed, half elated. What should he(io? What should he do? What if peoplefound put? A halfcaste a yellerfeller! .Hut gosh! Must tell Chookniul the others. Old Ned old Nedwould be jealous. Me had been tryingto beget yeller- fellers for years. Notthat lv- had not been successful in the

past according, to his boasts. Boasts ?

Yes they all boasted if they could beget a yel.ler-feller

He. fumbled for the lantern, lit it thengot out a bottle that was roughly labelledJ-Jcjiii's- Ambrosia, and drank a peg and then another consuming excitement! Gosh! A father!

lie took up his lantern and hurriedout.

He found Marowallua in a gunyah,lying on bark and shivering as withcold. But for her he had no eyes. Ona downy sheet of paper-bark beside herlay a tiny bit of squalling squirminghoney-coloured flesh. Flesh of his ownflesh. He set down the lantern, bent overhis soil. Flesh of his own flesh ex

quisite thing! He knelt. He touched thetiny heaving belly with a fore-linger. Ohkeenest sensibility of touch ! .

After a while he whispered, 'Lil man HI man!' ?

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He prodded the tiny belly very gently.The flesh of it was the 'colour of thecigarette-stain on his finger. But fleshof his' own flesh squirming. -in lifeapart from him Oh most exquisitething!

'Smiling foolishly, he said with gentlepassion, 'Oh my HI man !'

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Tlie two' lubras who had called, himstodd at the open end of the gunyah. Beside Marowallua, fanning her with' agoose-wing, Watching Mark with glitter

ing beady- eyes,- sat the' midwife, whosehair was' as white -as the sand -beneathher and skin as wrinkled as the barkabove.

Mark remembered them, looked up,eyed each one coldly. He believed thatlubras sometimes killed their halfcastebabies. He might has guessed that they

..did not do it very often in* Capricornia,where the halfcaste population was

easily three times greater than the white.The thought that harm might, come to

his son caused him a twinge of apprehension. He looked at Marowallua andsaid sharply, 'Now look here, you, MaryAlice you no-more humbug longa thisone piccanin. You look out for him all

right. I'll give you plenty .tucker, plentybacca, plenty everything.' She droppedher tired eyes.

He went on, 'S'posc you gottim longahead for killim by cripes you lookout!'

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Then he addressed the women generally, ? saying, 'S'pose some feller hurtimbelong me piccanin,FH kill every blunnynigger in the camp. Savvy?'

They stared without expression.He turned to his flesh again, and smil

ed and chuckled over it till he found the

courage to take it in his arms. Then ina rush of excitement he carried it awayto show his friends. .

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In spite of the lateness of the hour, the.whifcmen rose from their beds and gathered in Mark's house to view the baby;At first Mark was shy; but when thegrog began to. flow he became bold andboasted of the. child's, physique andpointed out the features he consideredhad been inherited from him; and' whileit squealed and squirmed in the awkwardarms of Chook, its godfather, he dippeda finger in a glass of grog and sighed its

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wrinkled brow with the Cross and solemnly christened it after himself, MarkAnthony. When the party became uproarious, a lubra slipped in and stolethe child away.

The christening- party went on till noonof the next day, when it ended in horse

play during which Mark fell over a boxand broke an arm. His comrades wereincapable of attending him. Chook weptover him. He drank franticallj' to easehis pajn' drank drank till hewas babbling in delirium tremens. Natives found' him next morning in themangroves of the creek, splashing about

knee-deep in mud, lleeing from monstersof hallucination, while scaring devilcrabs and crocodiles he could not sec.His comrades trussed him up and tookhim in to Town.

III. NAWNIM'S CHILDHOODThree years passed. Then Mark and

Chook returned to Flying Fox with intent to ta#ke'up trepang-fishing in earnest. 'By' now. Mark had got over theshame of being the father of a halfcaste.In fact for some time he had been think

ing that most likely the child was dead.This time the natives were in occupa

tion; and with them was young MarkAnthony Shillingsworth, or, as the native's called him, Naw-nim, which wastheir way of saying No-name. Thechild's baptisimal name had not got be

yond the witnesses to his baptism.The name No-name was one usually

given by natives to dogs for Avhich theyhad no love but had not the. heart to killor lose. It was often given to halfcastesas well. Little Naw-nim's mother wasdead.

When Mark first saw the child he was

playing in sand with a skinny dog. Hescampered into the scrub when Markapproached. It was with difficulty thathe was caught. Mark picked him upgingerly, not because he was afraid of

hurting, but was afraid of being soiledby him. He was unutterably filthy.Matter clogged his little eyes and nose;his knees and back and downy head werefestered ; dirt was so thick on his scalyskin that it was impossible to judge histrue colour; and he stank.

For all his former callousnegs and the

timidity with which he had come to seethe child when he learnt that he was

there, Mark was revolted and enragedby the sight of him. With the lump ofsquealing squirming filth in his arms hepassionately reviled the natives for theirfoul neglect. Then he gave it to alubrn

to scrub.He went back to his house spitting and

grimacing and brushing contaminationfrom his hands. It occurred to him after

,wards that most of the responsibility for.the foul neglect .rested -on himself. Hewas smitten with remorse. That nightlittle Nawnim slept' on- a blanket besidehis father's bed, now as clean as a little

prince and smelling sweetly of Life LJuoySoap, and, though chafed almost raw,quite happy. His father had given ?hima large bowl of milk porridge to whichwas added a clash of rum.

Heing- bathed became a daily experience in Nawnim's life. At first he ob

jected to it strongly/ but soon becameused to it, -as he did to wearing thejquaintcostumes his father made him,; and. to

eating whiteman's food.''The food he ate was often strong far

beyond the alimentary powers of a child .as young as he, butevidently not for onewhose system had been hardened withfood snatched, from dogs and salted withsand and ants. ^

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His distended belly .soon subsidedwhen more than air was given it to di

gest ; and otherwise he took on more

comely shape, as his father observed withgreat interest. His brassy yellow skinbecame sleep and firm. His eyes losttheir hunted-animal look and shone like

polished black stones over, which goldenwater flows. Soon he became fat andbold and beautiful.

Mark loved him, and in nursing himwasted scores of hours that, should havebeen occupied elsewhere. Often whenthere was no-one near to see, stirred bythe beauty of the delicate little features*he would kiss him passionately and address him from the depths of his heartin terms that made him burn with shamew,hen He recalled in moments \;less emotional. ?? Hut -for-Chook-, -who refused totake his affection for the child seriousty.he might have adopted him frankly.

Several months passed. Then Markand Chook decided to

.make a voyage

to the Dutch East Indies. Mark leftNawnim in the care of his lubra, wholooked after him diligently till, it seemedas though his father did not intend toreturn, when. she abandoned him : to hisold friends the. dogs.

Mark was away about a year. Whenhe returned, he renewed , his attention toNawnim, but did not keep it up withanything like his former interest, becausehe took as mistress a halfcaste girlnamed Jewty, who would not have thechild in the house if his father were not.there to protect him. Jewty was one ofNed Krater's children, a wilful/spiteful, jealous creature.

Under her influence and that of Chookand , by reason of the fact that he. spentmost of his time away from the islandMark eventually lost interest in- Nawnimalmost completely.' 'And' the occasionswhen he was forced to take notice of thechild did anything but rouse paternallove in him, because they were usuallyin consequence of some foul childishailment or of the boy's escapades intheft. Nawnim, associate of nigger'sdogs, had learned to steal as he learnedto use his limbs. His father was iiischief victim.

The )'ears passed, as the years will,even in places like Flying Fox, wheretheir passage may go long unnoticed.Mark passed from youth to manhood,while spending half his time at FlyingFox and the rest in Port Zodiac andother eas3r-going places, and so withoutacquiring much more understanding ofmoral values than he had ever had/whichwas perhaps no less than that possessedby most folks.

His son spent all his time roaming withthe Yurracumbungas, growing up halfin the .style of the Tribe and half in thatof their dogs.

|Another extract from 'Capricornia'

will be printed in our next issue]

Aborigines and friends of AboriginesREAD

'CAPRICORNIA*:by Xavier Herbert:

The great novel of. North Australia, whichtells THE TRUTH about our people'ssufferings under Commonwealth Government administration. ? ?

Price 6/- (postage 4d.).from

THE PUBLICIST BOOKSHOP

2oya Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

Published for J. T. Pat Ion by Iho Publicist Publishing Co, 200u Ellzuboth Street, Sydney, and printed by Stufford Prlntoiy, bevoy .Street, Chippendale, N.S.W.

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