The Age

Tuesday, 1st August, 1939

NEWS FROM the North

THE ABORIGINAL PROBLEM

(From Our Brisbane Correspondent.)

The Anglican Archbishop, Dr. Wand, in a broadcast, has warmly commended the Queensland
Government's policy in dealing with aboriginals. Dr. Wand favours the Queensland method as
against that of the Federal Government, in which he said the anthropologists had been allowed
too much influence. The proposal of some of the anthropologists was to blend the black and the
white, ultimately breeding out the "colour." As observed on occasions in these notes, men of
lifelong experience in Queensland have seen the persistence of the aboriginal blood after three
generations from whites and half-castes.

The Archbishop mentioned with much satisfaction the development of the Torres Strait
islanders, who differ so materially from the mainland natives anthropologically, and who have
their own laws, their own administrators, including police, and whose religious welfare is in the
hands of Anglican missionaries. He reviewed the various sections of mainlanders, specially
mentioning those leading a full tribal life, and who, under the Queensland plan, are being settled
in compounds, owning and controlling their own means of livelihood.

Then there were the detrilbalised and full bloods in State settlements, with the co-operation of
various churches, "working happily and industriously." Finally came "the most perplexing
problem of all" — the half-castes. Dr. Wand praised the Queensland establishment of centres
exclusively for half-castes, with opportunity to establish themselves in the Industrial life of the
State. It is generally agreed here that good work is being done by the State and on sound lines,
but it will all be a long job. Dr. Wand reflects that it took 2000 years for Europeans to develop
from the tribal class to the present standard. Will the aboriginals survive so long?

1. How does the headline of this article present a negative impression of Aboriginal people?
2. What do the anthropologists (scientists who study people of other cultures) want to do
with aboriginal people? How does this show a lack of respect for Aboriginal people?
3. What were the 3 groups of Aboriginal people they recognised? Which group did they
like the least? How do we know this?
4. List all the words in this article that add to the negative connotation of Aboriginal people
and to people mixed race in particular.
5. How would you describe this newspaper article?