REPORT on the ADMINISTRATION OP THE NORTHERN TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE, 1946. c 0 o I COMMONWEALTH Digitised by AIATSIS Library 2007 - www.aiatsis.gov.au/library 1. CONTENTS. Report of the Acting Administrator. Page 1. General. 2 2. Resumption of civil Administration at Darwin 3 3. Return of the civil population. 4 4. Production figures. 6 5. The pastoral industry. 7 6. Marketing of fat cattle from Central Australia. 8 7. Manbulloo abattoirs. 10 8. Gold and mineral production. 11 9. Pearling and fisheries. 11 10. Native Affairs. 13 11. Education. 13 12. Police and judiciary. 14 13. Shipping service to Gulf ports. 14 14. Road and rail transport service. 15 15. The Stuart and Barkly Highways. 15 16. Municipal administration of Alice Springs. 16 17. The Alice Springs gaol. 17 18. Quarters for gaol staff. 18 19. Leichhardt Memorial at Roper River. 18 20. "Overlanders" film. 18 21. Aboriginal artists. 19 22. Wet season isolation. 19 23. The Public Service. 20 APPENDICES. Reports of - The Chief Veterinary Officer. 'A' The Acting Director of Mines. 'B' The Acting Director of Native Affairs. 'c' The Supervisor of Education. 'D' The Superintendent of Police. 'E' The Clerk of Courts. The Public Trustee. 'G' The Registrar-General, Births, Deaths and Marriages. 'H' The Chief Surveyor. 'I' The Sheriff. 'J' The Gaoler, Alice Springs. Digitised by AIATSIS Library 2007 - www.aiatsis.gov.au/library 13. smoking. Natives readily adapt themselves to the work and, given marketing facilities, this industry should again be of great productive value without much outlay. Arnhem Land, from Coburg Peninsula to opposite Groote Eylandt, however, is an aboriginal reserve and no licences for fishing operations along this coastline would be issued except under conditions imposed by the Director of Native Affairs. 10. NATIVE AFFAIRS. In his report for 1944-45 the Administrator dealt at length with the natives of the Northern Territory and the problem generally which is the responsibility of the Department. The report of the Acting Director of Native Affairs, which is attached, shows how the difficult transition period, which occurred during the year, was met and the steps taken to rehabilitate full-bloods employed by the Army, those indirectly affected by the impact of the war and returning half-caste women and children who had been evacuated from the Territory, It was difficult to predict exactly the reactions of natives who had been employed by the Army. Allowances were made for a possible lag in re-adaptation. It was thought that sustenance might need to be provided until fresh employment was found. Happily, these fears were not realized; the natives, in many cases on discharge, first "went walk-about" and then found private employment themselves. Officers of the Native Affairs Branch watched the transition period with efficient care which is reflected in the absence of problem cases. This was carried out in all districts despite lack of transport and, at one stage, a temporary shortage of funds. The latter was speedily remedied by the Treasury. The return of half-caste families from southern States was no mean undertaking, but which, with sound staff work and complete co-operation, was effected without mishap of any kind. The patrolling of reserves, inspection of Missions, staffing of settlements and general administration carried out during the year reflect great credit on the officers concerned who have performed the difficult task of adapting their interpretation of policy to each individual problem. The native, for his part, Philosophically accepts what is being done for him as in his best interests and Native Affairs officers, on the whole, endeavour to maintain a rising standard of service designed to justify and consolidate this faith. 11. EDUCATION. Mention has already been made of the re-opening of northern schools during the year. The reports of the Supervisor and the Assistant Supervisor deal very fully with education and the staffing of schools. The arrangement with the South Australian Govern­ ment for education administration in the Territory is proving most successful and of great benefit to all concerned. The approval given for the erection of additional buildings at Alice Springs for the Higher Primary school is proving well justified by increasing attendances. / Another Digitised by AIATSIS Library 2007 - www.aiatsis.gov.au/library 19. Ealing Studios. The picture was produced in the Northern Territory under the direction of Mr. Harry Watt with an all- Australian cast. It has a purely local theme and setting and good use has been made of the uncanny beauty of the country in the vicinity of the MacDonnell Ranges, the limitless horizon and wide open spaces of Central Australia as well as the tropical Roper River near Elsey station. It is hoped that this film will be the forerunner of many others as the Territory has many points of interest including the natural setting of aboriginal life and the historical background of early exploration and settlement. 21. ABORIGINAL ARTISTS. Albert Namatjira, the now famous Arunta artist, continued to have great success with his work during the year. Mr. Rex Battarbee reports that the demand for Albert's pictures in Australia and overseas far exceeds the artist's ability to supply it. In March, 1946, an exhibition of Albert Namatjira's water colours was held in Adelaide at the Royal South Australia Society of Arts Gallery when the whole collection of fortyone water colours was sold at catalogue prices to the value of £1,008. The attendance at this one-man exhibition averaged over one thousand persons daily. The artist's interests are managed by "The Albert Namatjira Advisory Council" which advises him on the use of his money which is all paid into his bank account. Albert has invested in the Commonwealth Loans and, during the year, he bought a motor truck from the Army Disposals sales. This will help him in his work. While Albert Namatjira is the first Australian aboriginal to hold a one-man exhibition there is a group of native artists painting at Hermannsberg who are already making a living out of their art. Edwin Pareroultja, one of the three artist brothers, is booked to hold his first exhibition of water colours at the Athenaeum Art Gallery, Melbourne, in November, 1946. 22. WET SEASON ISOLATION. An instance of the complete isolation of certain Police posts in the northern part of the Territory during the monsoonal period occurred in February, 1946, when the wife of Constable Fitzer, the Police officer at Daly River, became seriously ill. The pedal wireless was out of order and the road to the railway line was closed by flooded rivers and bog. Constable Fitzer therefore sent an aboriginal on foot with a letter to the Adelaide River Police for medical assistance. Many stories have been told of the devotion to duty of aboriginals in emergency and the succouring of airmen shot down on the coast during the war. This blackboy covered a distance of about 70 miles in record time, swimming flooded rivers and negotiating country which was otherwise impassable. There is no landing ground at Daly River except a small dry weather strip for Moth planes fifteen miles below the Police Station. This was under water at the time. / On Digitised by AIATSIS Library 2007 - www.aiatsis.gov.au/library APPENDIX 'C'. REPORT ON NATIVE AFFAIRS 1945-46. During the war years approximately 1,000 aboriginals were employed by the Armed Services on work about camps and on general labouring work. The duty performed by natives was excellent and resulted in the release of an equal number of enlisted men for fighting service. Separate camps were established for natives and they and their dependants were maintained as part of the remuneration paid. The actual cash payment amounted to only ten pence per head per day. Amongst those employed were many who had had little previous contact with, the white population and who had not previously been in employment. In March, 1946. the Army abandoned all its native settlements and the Branch was faced with the problem of absorbing and rehabilitating approximately 1,000 natives. This task was rendered difficult by almost complete absence of any accommodation and staff, and the extreme difficulty in obtaining supplies of foodstuffs. However, these difficulties were overcome in most part by resorting to expedients, which conditions still obtained at the close of the year under review. Lack of shipping, the withdrawal of Army supplies and disorganisation in local merchant circles imposed severe dis­ abilities not only on the Branch but on private employers who desired to employ aboriginals, Many natives from control camps chose to return to their country. Some elected to proceed immediately to private employment. The transition from Army control to departmental control, despite the difficulties enumerated herein, was without incident and natives generally adapted themselves well, to the changed conditions. A few displayed acute restlessness and would not remain in employment for any long period. Food and clothing rationing did not impede the Depart­ ment's efforts as complete co-operation was obtained from the Rationing Officer in Alice Springs. At the close of the year the Branch succeeded in acquiring an extensive range of valuable equipment which will assist in the Department's development of the various native settlements. However, the provision of accommodation on settlements for married officers is a matter of urgency. At present the staff are compelled to live under conditions both primitive and un­ comfortable and with an entire lack of any amenities such as refrigerators and wireless communications, etcetera. From the industrial aspect natives are enjoying conditions much more favourable than those existing prior to the war.