Didiman: Australian Agricultural Extension Officers in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, 1945 - 1975 Kim Elizabeth Godbold BA Hons (QUT) Humanities Program Queensland University of Technology 2010 Statement of Original Authorship I, Kim Elizabeth Godbold, the author of this thesis, am fully aware that Queensland University of Technology, Australia, will make it available for use within the university library and by microfilm or other means, which would allow access by users in other institutions. All scholars having access to this thesis must make proper acknowledgement of all information obtained from the thesis and agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in all or part without the consent of the author. I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been previously submitted to meet requirements for an award at this or any other higher education institution To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made. Kim Elizabeth Godbold Date: i Table of Contents Statement of Original Authorship ................................................................................... i Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. ii Table of Figures ............................................................................................................... iv Table of Tables ................................................................................................................. iv Abstract ........................................................................................................................ v Keywords ....................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... vii Acronyms .................................................................................................................... viii Prologue: Inspiration ....................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 : Didiman, Agriculture and Colonies ............................................................ 5 1.1 Objectives ....................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Development ................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Extension ........................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Agents of Change ......................................................................................... 10 1.5 Diffusion ....................................................................................................... 11 1.6 finding the Didiman ...................................................................................... 13 1.7 Data Sources ................................................................................................. 18 1.8 History of the Territories of Papua and New Guinea ................................... 20 1.9 Structure of the Thesis .................................................................................. 22 Chapter 2 : The Evolution of Agricultural Policy in the Colonial Periphery ........... 27 2.1 The Empires and Agriculture ........................................................................ 31 2.2 The League of Nations and Agricultural Development ................................ 38 2.3 Agriculture and Extension ............................................................................ 42 2.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 3 : Agriculture: the Economic Imperative in developing the Territory of Papua and New Guinea .............................................................................. 49 3.1 Approaches to Agriculture in the War Years ................................................ 60 3.2 The Emergence of a Post World War II Agricultural Policy ........................ 67 Chapter 4 : Didiman: The Australian Agricultural Officers ...................................... 82 4.1 The Role of the Didiman .............................................................................. 84 4.2 Recruiting Didiman....................................................................................... 85 4.3 Cadetships ..................................................................................................... 97 4.4 In-Service Training ..................................................................................... 103 4.5 Principle of Diffusion ................................................................................. 107 4.6 Retention of Didiman ................................................................................. 109 4.7 Conditions in the Field ................................................................................ 117 Chapter 5 : The Field Work of the Didiman .............................................................. 128 5.1 Didiman and Formal Agricultural Training ................................................ 147 5.2 Patrols ......................................................................................................... 151 5.3 Didiman and Smallholder Farmers ............................................................. 174 5.4 Land Settlement Schemes ........................................................................... 184 5.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 190 ii Chapter 6 : Administration, Policies and DASF 1946 – 1972 ................................... 193 6.1 Organisational and Functional Changes in DASF 1946-1972 .................... 194 6.2 The 1960s .................................................................................................... 212 6.3 Canberra-Konedobu and Didiman .............................................................. 219 6.4 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 231 Chapter 7 : Didiman and the Impact of Australian Agricultural Policies .............. 233 Epilogue: Reflections .................................................................................................... 243 Bibliography: ................................................................................................................ 246 Primary Documents: .................................................................................................... 246 Published Material: ...................................................................................................... 256 Other .................................................................................................................... 283 iii Table of Figures Figure 1.1 Territories of Papua and New Guinea Source: Papua New Guinea Agricultural Journal, vol 18, no 1, 1955, p.1 ............................................... vi Figure 4.1 ‘The Bridal Suite’, Kikimunga, Mekeo Region, 1954 ................................ 122 Figure 5.1 Plans for Siwai Extension Centre ............................................................... 133 Figure 5.2 Patrol Map of Koiari Sub District, Central District 1949 ........................... 157 Figure 5.3 Patrol Map of Normanby Island, Milne Bay District 1957 ........................ 158 Figure 5.4 Patrol Map of Saidor Sub District, 1960 ..................................................... 159 Figure 5.5 Didiman George Greenwood on patrol along the Fly River, Gulf District, 1960s ............................................................................................. 165 Figure 5.6 Didimisis Maggie van Schilfgaarde patrolling on Misima Island, Milne Bay, 1960s ........................................................................................ 165 Figure 5.7 Didiman George Greenwood patrolling in the highlands 1960s ................ 166 Figure 6.1 Sketch of DASF Headquarters, Konedobu ................................................. 196 Figure 6.2 Organisational Chart of DASF 1946, A518/1, item F852/6/7, AA Canberra ............................................................................................... 201 Figure 6.3 The TPNG Administration Organisation Chart .......................................... 209 Figure 6.4 The TPNG Proposed Organisation of DASF .............................................. 214 Figure 6.5 DASF Organisational Chart 1968 ............................................................... 217 Figure 6.6 DASF Top Structure 1971 .......................................................................... 217 Figure 6.7 Symmetric System of Decentralisation ....................................................... 230 Table of Tables Table 3.1 Quantity of Copra Exported from Mandated New Guinea, 1913 to 1933 .... 51 Table 3.2 Main Agricultural Commodities of Papua in 1914 ....................................... 56 Table 3.3 Papua's Subsidy Grants, 1928 to 1934 .......................................................... 59 Table 3.4 The Territories of Papua and New Guinea - Financial Statistics, 1941 ........ 79 Table 3.5 Australian Grant-in-aid* to Papua and New Guinea, 1946 to 1952 ............. 80 Table 4.1 Positions in Division of